More Old Testament Slices of Bread

Some times we can become so familiar with certain passages--or slices--that we go, essentially, "Yes, yes, I know that," while missing the value--inestimable--of such verses.

Take these: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" [Prov. 3:5-6]. It is one of the first parts of Proverbs most learn. Or at least memorize. But how many times have you really seen this applied, or applied it yourself? What do the "alls" in your heart and in your ways mean, really? Are they all or just mostly all?

Likewise, Psalm 46, which begins, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling" [verses 1-3] --presents a picture of significant distress and simultaneous comfort. How do we access that comfort? God Himself tells us in verse 10: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" We need to still ourselves to know, and recognize, that when He says "I will," He will.

Ruminations on This Day
The women's Bible study I participate in is working through the book of Ezra now, with visits to some of the prophets. As we looked at Cyrus (Ezra 1), the question arose, Was he a believer in the God of Israel? or did God chose him to bring about His will for His people at that time even w/o Cyrus' faith in Him? We could ask the same question later in Ezra about Artaxerxes (Ezra 7.) According to Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." We are reminded in Lamentations 3:37-38, "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?"
Daniel provides us with a portrait of another king: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had been warned by God in Daniel 4 regarding his pride and its outcome if not repented of. Daniel put it to him this way in 4:27: "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
Nebuchadnezzar did not take Daniel's advice, and suffered the consequences. He came to his senses and this conclusion, also recorded in Daniel 4: "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'"
God speaks through Isaiah, also: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble." [Isa. 40:21-24]
Although generations have passed since then, still it is true that none can stay his hand or say to him, "what have you done?" He is still the One who raises up and takes down. As He was sovereign then, so is He sovereign now.

Define "Fair"

I rather ranted and raved over the weekend. Something I had looked forward to was finally going to happen. And it didn't work out as I expected. So did I say, "praise the Lord; it is as He planned" No, I questioned the fairness of the situation--or the rightness of His will, to be blunt about it.

One of the most frequent thoughts any of us have in response to a given situation is--"it's not fair!" Oh? This whole matter of "fairness" can range from the computer not working even after being repaired to the check which ought not to have bounced because there were sufficient funds to cover it to changes being made to a ministry we're committed to which we don't understand the rationale for. And in each instance the reaction--"It's not fair!"--is something we need to rethink.

What's not fair? That our expectations are different from reality? That we don't have control we think we deserve? That someone else has made a decision which impacts us without asking for our input in it?

When did God stop being in charge? Is He only sovereign when His will is the same as mine? Is His will not always perfect, even when my perception of it isn't?

And when I realize that His will is always perfect, I can stop ranting and raving and start worshiping and resting--after repenting.

More from my "bread" box

Before Christmas, the memory verse assigned was John 1:14: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Providentially, both pastors in my fellowship group (Gracelife, Grace Community Church of Sun Valley--access through http://www.gracelifepulpit.com/) spent time expounding the Incarnation over several weeks. I don't think we will ever, even in eternity, comprehend what the Incarnation is--fully God and fully man--a condition which continues. Christ's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension took place physically. His return will be, too. Yet with the continuing mystery, we have the continuing comfort. Christ faced every experience, including every temptation, any of us can--yet he never gave in to any temptation. Since His ascension, He continues to intercede for His own.

And someday we will see Him--full of grace and truth.

We will also understand what was written in Psalm 16:11: In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more.

Let me conclude this entry with these words--1 John 2:28-3:4: And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.