April 20, 2020 -- Psalm 119:154 -- Who pleads your cause?

Plead my cause and redeem me,

give me life according to your promise!

Psalm 119:154 English Standard Version

Those of you who have a good study bible will know that the first word of our verse today comes from a courtroom setting. The Psalmist, using the expression plead my cause is crying out for someone to act as his attorney or mediator. When the LORD chooses to put a crook into our lot (see April 19th to understand that phrase) who can undo what He has done? In His great mercy and love the Father has given us such afflictions to drive us to Himself. Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, praying for us. He is our mediator. He is ready to hear us when we in our desperation and longing finally turn to God. It is at that moment we realize our need for a mediator strong enough to engage the Living God.

Revive me, or as it is written, give me life—that is the very work of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God animates us and gives us what we need so that we will not be crushed under our loads and burdens. Rather than sink down into despair and listlessness the Spirit of God reinvigorates us as our troubles and afflictions drive us to Jesus Christ, in Whom we have the exact mediator we need.

Jesus is fully human. He understands the weakness of the flesh. He knows how sin and temptation are constantly banging at the door of our hearts and randomly shooting wayward arrows of fiery thoughts designed to lead the vulnerable astray. In His humanity Jesus was fully equipped and revived by the Spirit of God to withstand every single temptation. At the Garden of Gethsemane, the night He was betrayed, just before Judas the betrayer arrived, Jesus’ prayers were so intense His sweat became drops of blood. One aspect of the victory of Jesus is seen in the fact He was tempted in every way we are and He never yielded, not even for an instant.

Jesus is fully divine. In His divinity He took the punishment meted out by the Father, Who is holy. This is what is so difficult for us as mere mortals to grasp. How utterly perfect and holy God is. How vile is any act of sin on our part. We are ready to justify away what we do. We are ready to obfuscate and try to distract God the glorious and holy from what we are doing. None of it works. The holiness of God cannot endure any slight movement towards sin. Therefore, Jesus in His divinity was able to bear the full weight of God’s anger against sin.

Recently I was chatting with a group of guys and one of them had a crusty hanging from his nose. It was obvious. It was gross. It was observed by all except the bearer of that particular grossness. There are only three possible ways for this to be addressed. The friends would point it out. The man would see himself in a mirror. The man would happen to wipe his nose and realize this awkwardness. We humans are not aware of the filth of sin that clings to us like an unwanted crusty billowing from the nose. Amazing how such a small thing evokes a strong reaction from us. How much more is our sin an affront and grossness before the the utter perfect holiness of God.

He has provided the way for us to be cleansed. He has provided the Word, the promises of God which are like a mirror for our souls. And He has given us the Spirit of God so that we will have the strength and courage to go to the throne of grace where we find Jesus Christ—seated at the Father’s right hand—the Friend of Sinners Who is our mediator and salvation. How gloriously has the psalmist’s urgent prayer been answered. Run to Jesus this day and find in Him all hope, cleansing, and help.

Reviving Spirit help us. We often don’t even know what to pray because of the turmoil churning within us. Bring us to Jesus our intercessor and king. Cleanse and heal us we pray. Amen.

April 19, 2020 -- Psalm 119:153 -- Fighting our Reflection

Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.

Psalm 119:153 English Standard Version

This morning as I was making my coffee I happened to look out the window and saw a robin attacking my neighbor’s basement window. The robin would strut by in the garden and a little further out on the lawn, see his own reflection in the window and attack it. He’d fly against the window. He would ruffle his feathers, pace back and forth and fly against his own reflection yet again. It was funny at first. A few minutes later it was more sad than funny. That robin was looking disheveled. Feathers seemed to be askew. Something pretty drastic would have to intervene to break the robin’s misguided determination to hurt to his own reflection.

Sin makes us humans follow a destructive pattern. We are prepared to go down the same foolish path repeatedly. Unless something drastic breaks our concentration and directs us away from our sinful behaviour we might sin ourselves to death.

Thomas Boston, a Puritan preacher and writer, describes such drastic actions on God’s part as putting a crook in our lot. A crook is an affliction, a malady, something painful that will tear us away from our self-destructiveness. Our lot is our life, our circumstances, or the things and events and people which together constitute our life’s course. Consider the various people the LORD afflicted, and how He afflicted them so that they would turn from destructive self-focus, or sin, and rely on God:

Zechariah, the aged priest, had an angel visitor tell him he would become the father of John the Baptist. Zechariah protested, asking how this could be since he and his wife were old, past child-bearing years. He was afflicted, struck so that he became mute, unable to speak until his son was born (Luke 1:18-23).

Paul, the incredibly gifted evangelist and writer of half of the New Testament books, had a thorn in his side (II Corinthians 12:7-9). He cried out to God . Yet the King of Mercy did not remove it, instead telling Paul His grace is sufficient to meet Paul’s needs…and govern him from uselessly shadow-boxing his own sinful flesh.

Hebrews 5:8 teaches us that although Jesus was the Son of God, He learned obedience through what He suffered. Just let that sink in for a minute! His obedience was tested and perfected by His sufferings and afflictions. He grew into manhood understanding this constant suffering refined Him, proved His moment by moment need to cry out to the Living God in order to find help and relief. No other helper, no other rescue would ever be able to deliver. God alone is His joy His salvation His rescue and His rock..

What is the crook in your lot this day? Perhaps it is the Covid-19 isolation? You are climbing the walls in frustration—have you cried out to God? Have you learned what He longs to teach you? Perhaps you are facing financial ruin because the markets have plummeted and your retirement savings are evaporating? The LORD is your strength and song. He is more precious than gold or silver. I write this as one who has seen a huge drop in his own LIRA (locked in retirement account).

Ah sinner, hurtling yourself like a robin against a window, be aware of God’s intervention in your life. Remember the instructive words of C.S. Lewis: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." In our suffering God our Father is seeking to awaken us from our stupefaction and bring us fluttering to the safety of His nest. The Spirit of Power is near, ready to hear and bring your urgent requests to Jesus, the LORD of Glory, Who is strong to deliver you and loving enough to bring the exact circumstances into your life which will prepare you for eternity in His glorious presence.

Teach us, O LORD, Your way of truth and from it we will not depart. Perfect us through suffering and by Your Spirit show us that we are never alone, never abandoned or struck down instead You in love and faithfulness have put the various crooks in our lot which will inevitably lead us to You. Spirit of God, guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Jesus, You, Who for the joy set before You in expectation of the glory You would enjoy with Your Father in heaven and the Plenteous Wonders of the Holy Spirit, endured the cross, scorning its shame. Triune God of Majesty, Worthy of all we have to give in blessed service to You, sustain us through every trial, direct us in every heart-ache so that we will be suited for eternity with You. Amen.

April 17, 2020 -- Psalm 119:152 -- What history proves

Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them forever.

Psalm 119:152 English Standard Version

As was mentioned yesterday this eight verse stanza of Psalm 119 ends with a two-verse resolution and the verse we have before us today is the second of those verses. The writer of this Psalm has experienced various hardships yet he remained steady in his faith in the LORD God. Why?

The writer of this Psalm has known about the testimonies of the LORD for a long time. This is the instruction ingrained since his youth. At the very end of the little Bible-history book of Ruth there is a brief genealogy of King David’s family. The mercy God as shown to David’s family is traceable through the generations. No doubt his father instructed David concerning the tremendous faithfulness of the LORD proved by their own family tree.

While yet a young man David was anointed to be the next king. King Saul, the reigning king of Israel at the time of David’s secret anointing, had designs for his own son to be the next king and he grew to hate David. Yet King Saul’s own son Jonathan loved David as a dear friend and accepted God’s decree that David, rather than he, Jonathan himself, would be the next king. In this Jonathan proved to be faithful and obedient to God rather than acquiesce with the wicked intentions of his power-hungry father. All of this evidence of the LORD’s decree and testimonies which are trustworthy.

These strange days of Covid-19, where governments decree people are to socially isolate, ordered to stay at home as much as possible, are in fact perfect days to return to the Bible. We have an unprecedented opportunity to read the Bible. We have more time than ever before to listen to Christian podcasts and explore the beauty of the LORD’s testimonies and see that He has founded them forever.

Reading the Bible now, in larger chunks and chapters, you’ll see the faithfulness of the God the Father. How He preserved for Himself a people from which Jesus would trace His human descent. Jesus was fully human, of the line and Royal family of David and He was fully Divine. The Spirit of God overshadowed the virgin Mary and she conceived and bore a son.

Interestingly, no matter your philosophical system, you will believe in a “virgin birth”. If you deny the testimony of the Bible, you must believe some version of the secular story that there was nothing, no universe, and suddenly, for no reason that can be explained, there was an explosion. And from this big bang, no thing became everything and order came from the chaos of that explosion [an impossible virgin birth of everything!]. Or you believe the LORD of Heaven and Earth, Himself outside of time, eternally Self-existent, spoke creation into existence. You have the time now: contemplate this. Pray over this. Study the Bible. Listen to good bible instruction. Now is the opportunity unparalleled to learn, grow and know God.

Ruler of Heaven and Earth, glorious Creator, Father in heaven, thank You for the Bible. Thank You for the stories of Your faithfulness—told by believing parents and grand-parents, shared by Sunday School Teachers and our mentors all of whom You had appointed so that we would learn of Your terrible, majestic, splendor. King Jesus, blessed are You, described in the Gospel of John as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Thank You Spirit of God for directing our seeking and searching so that we find ourselves directed to the Light of Jesus. We pray, Triune God of Wonder, use these days for our good and instruction in Your faithfulness.

Healer of the Nations, bless and strengthen those who are struggling against this terrible sickness. Sustainer of the weary bless the health care workers and frontline medical staff who so heroically serve. We pray for the nursing homes where it reported that the coronavirus is quickly spreading and there are critical staffing shortages. There are so many vulnerable populations which include those in prisons and hospitals, in Your great compassion and mercy provide the relief that is so urgently needed.

We pray to You because You are All-powerful. You have invited Your people to ask so that we shall receive. We have confidence in You because through-out history You have proved to be loving, able and willing to help those who cry out to You. Thank You that You hear our prayers because of the powerful Name of Jesus Christ—Your Son our Savior. Amen.

April 16, 2020 -- Psalm 119:151 -- Proving the nearness of God

But you are near, O LORD,

and all your commandments are true.

Psalm 119:151 English Standard Version

The Psalm writer has been awake in the night and praying to God. The Psalm writer has experienced troubles and cried out to the LORD. Now there is a two-verse resolution. This day we consider the first verse of this couplet of resolution. It could almost read: despite all of these things I listed before, You are near, O LORD.

Evidences of the nearness of God include:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork (Psalm 19:1). Creation itself tells us of the LORD our God’s glory and nearness.

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” Genesis 8:20-22. After the world-wide flood that wiped out all of humanity except believing Noah and his family, God promised humanity His covenant faithfulness and nearness verified in the day and night, and in the way one season follows another. These declare He is near and faithful. I believe this is one of the reasons Spring makes us leap like calves loosed from their winter stalls.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:14-16). The Spirit of God Who lives in us reminds us that we are sons and daughters of God because of Jesus’ accomplished work.

Even the commandments of God remind us of the nearness of the LORD. As we live for Jesus, obeying Him and denying ourselves our old sinful ways we see the fruit of new life taking hold of us. This too convinces us of the nearness of God and His goodness! Matthew 7:15-19 notes that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit, nor can a good tree produce bad fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit’s work in us, producing Christ-like character in us.

Some of you may object: but I don’t feel His nearness. Understood. Let me ask you a few questions:

Are your feelings always accurate? No, they can deceive you. Our churning emotions can be too hard to interpret or understand. These feelings can change in an instant, inexplicably rising or falling

Are you cultivating the awareness of His nearness? Are you speaking with Him, accepting the promise that He is near and His Spirit lives in you?

Are you reading the Bible which proves the rock-solid promises of God while revealing how unreliable feelings by themselves are?

Test God by His promises. He has promised He is near. Take up the gifts which evidence His nearness: read the Word. Pray. Obey. You will see He is near to You in each step and such knowledge will be like the parting of storm clouds pierced by the rays of His radiant light of love and faithfulness.

Blessed God, You promised us in Your Word that You are near. Help us this day to know the Spirit’s witness to our hearts, speaking to us in the very depths of our need and loneliness: “Abba, Father”. Spirit of God, as we recommit to reading the Word and prayer, let us know the glorious work of Jesus Christ which caused us to be sons and daughters, not by our human efforts, but Your divine decree. Renew in us the joy of Your salvation. Amen.

April 14, 2020 -- Psalm 119:150 -- Influence Leaders

They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

Psalm 119:150 English Standard Version

There are a wide variety of translations of this particular verse; and these variants helps to uncover what this text is telling us. Consider these two alternate translations of our passage:

Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Thy law. (Ps. 119:150 NAS)

They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. (Ps. 119:150 KJV)

The difference in these translations is uncovered in those first two phrases. The English Standard Version (at the top of the page) seems to make the identity of the evil intending people more obvious. The English Standard Version makes the evil intent most blatant. If we weren’t in the current coronavirus I’d suggest it almost seems as if the ones drawing near were masked as prepared to rob a bank or rob your soul. [Of course, everywhere we go now, everyone is masked!) As a matter of fact, the NAS and KJV translations show us the approach of evil is much more subtle.

All three translations agree there is a degree of friendship or familiarity between the writer of the Psalm and the evil-doer. The one bent on evil draws near—as if by right of friendship or as a servant or as a coworker or as one in some other such relationship with the writer. What is less clear is the approach. Someone whose eyes are alight with mischief is one who seems the least threatening. To our modern senses there is almost a playful sense in the KJV translation. Mischief is not so ominous sounding to our ears. Yet the final phrase of this verse clearly identified the problem: “they are far from your law”.

There is a comedian, Drew Barth, who is on the You Tube channel: Dry Bar Comedy. He has a disheveled handsome air about him, slightly affected drawl and a very dry wit. As part of his routine he looks right at the camera and says:

Just surround yourself with smart people, if you can. I know dumb people are fun.

I am not going to deny that. And if you are dumb, thank you. You are really entertaining.

So, thank you. [At this point the audience is laughing, obviously many can relate to this].

If you swap out your dumb friends for smart ones you are gonna cut way down

on the texts you receive at 3 A.M. that read “I need $200 right now and I can’t explain why”.

[Again the audience is laughing, as if self-consciously relating to a common problem.]

Isn’t that how mischief or evil begins? It is a text message, an invitation, a casual call from a friend, leading to something that seems edgy and funny and in hindsight you know it is not really well-thought-out.

The evil purposes of others, their mischief isn’t fully apparent from the start. In joining with them you are setting your foot on a pathway that leads further and further from safety until you sort of shake your head exasperatedly and ask: “How did I get here?”

The law of God reveals the difference between good and evil.

The law of God plots of the course of our pathway: away from evil to Jesus our Savior-King.

The law of God quickly separates those who are bent on evil from those who are seeking good. The law of God is distasteful to those who are, according to scripture “dumb” or “fools” (Psalm 14:1).

Those who are dearest in your life, who are your closest advisors, let them be ones who love the law of God and therefore, more importantly, love the Father Who gives the law. Those whom you are trying to reach in the Name of Jesus are ones who are bent on mischief or evil—you may love them, but do not let them be your advisors and coaches in your life. They cannot steer the ship of your life anywhere else but to the rocks and shoals.

The Spirit of God takes the Law of God and makes it precious to the believer and the same Spirit empowers holy living so that it becomes our desire to honour God by our obedience. Even the comedians of our world observe: Just surround yourself with smart people.

Mighty God of All Wisdom, You declare: “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts^”. Lift us, God of Wisdom, from the empty and foolish ways of our life. Set our thoughts and pathway on the way of Jesus Christ and by Your Spirit’s mighty presence in our hearts guard us—hearts, thoughts, minds and actions—for all good. Let us be influence-leaders for good and godliness—in Jesus’ Name we pray this: Amen.

(^Isaiah 55:8)

April 13, 2020 -- Psalm 119:149 -- Inspired Prayer

Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O LORD, according to your justice give me life.

Psalm 119:149 English Standard Version

Why does the Mighty One of heaven and earth hear us? It is not based on whether or not we are sincere. It is not based on our holiness or lack thereof. The LORD of All Glory listens to His people because of His steadfast love. His love for us never ends. He acts first. He approaches us even though He knows the full weight of our sinfulness and our waywardness—in fact, He knows unless His steadfast love restrained our wandering feet we would never return to Him.

God the Father hears us because of His justice. He does not ignore sin. We have just celebrated Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead and His rising to newness of life. Good Friday celebrations acknowledge that Jesus’ body and soul bore the full weight of God’s rightful anger against sin. Our was punished. Jesus took on all our sin, He became sin for us, so that sin would be punished.

Therefore God is just in loving those who love Jesus and who demonstrate such love by obeying Jesus. All who believe in Jesus rise with Him from death to life. Our old sinful lusts and passions become distasteful to us. All who believe in Jesus find in Him a joy that theretofore had been absent in their lives. All who believe in Jesus have their sins utterly and completely forgiven. This is the justice of God that gives us life.

It is the Spirit of God Who makes such things known to us. We read the Bible and it seems like just so many words until the Spirit of God makes its truth white-hot and precious in its relevance to us. The Spirit of God restrains us from wandering away from God. The Spirit of God lifts our voice so that our cry goes out to the throne of the Living God Who can help and is willing to help and is able to help.

Holy God thank You for Your persistent love that would not let us go! Thank You Triune God, Blessed and Glorious beyond all imagination, for the new life You have poured out on us in Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Let the wondrous truth of the Bible soak into the deepest parts of our mind and heart and will. In these days of being quarantined Faithful Father whet our appetite for greater knowledge of Jesus and our devotion to Him. Spirit Who lives in us, awaken our conscience and fire our imagination with devotion for Jesus as we read the Word. Inspire us to raise our voices in prayer to You, the God Who hears. Amen.

April 11, 2020 Psalm 119:148 So shall no part of day or night from sacredness be free

My eyes wake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promises.

Psalm 119:148 English Standard Version

You’ll notice that verses 147 and 148 are quite similar. This is a stylistic devise called parallel intensification. As modern readers we do much of our reading alone. Also, rather than reading audibly, we read silently. Jewish culture of the time had very few copies of the Old Testament scriptures available. So, the people would listen to the reading. Some of the things that make the reading particularly powerful for the listener, then and now, includes the fact that each of the eight-verse stanzas of this Psalm begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So we have in the QOPH stanza and eight verses of this stanza all begin with the Hebrew letter QOPH. This makes the verses immediately identifiable as to which stanza it belongs and aids memorization.

As mentioned earlier the ideas of 147 and 148 are parallel, they are quite similar and the repetition of them makes an even stronger impact on the listener. Remember that the Bible is meant to be heard. It is meant to be read out loud for the benefit of the reader and the listener. Consider reading the bible aloud in your personal devotional times and see the difference it makes for understanding and the greater impact it has touching your head and heart.

When you read the Gospel of John you’ll see many times there is a sharp contrast between darkness or night and day or light. The darkness is the time when sin reigns. The darkness is when dormant evil rises (consider the fact that Judas, when we was identified as the betrayer, he went out and it was night (John 13:30). He departed from Jesus, the Light of the World (John 8:12).

The psalmist is meditating on the promises of God before the watches of the night, such thoughts and meditations keep him from straying towards sin when the night is long and sleepless frustration grows. The promises of the LORD become richer and sweeter than the siren call of sin. Rehearsing the promises of God helps us to understand more fully Who He Is. The promises of God show sin to be the path of defeat, hell, and death and the light of Christ to be victory, heaven and life.

I wonder if the hymn writer had this portion of Scripture in mind when he penned Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God, especially the last verse:

3 So shall each fear, each fret, each care
be turned into a song,
and ev'ry winding of the way
the echo shall prolong.
So shall no part of day or night
from sacredness be free,
but all my life, in ev'ry step,
be fellowship with thee. 

(Horatius Bonar, 1863; public domain)

You can see the lyrics of stanzas 1 and 2 below. If you have time, find a rendition of this hymn on-line and praise God as you listen to it.

Mighty God, thank You for the wonderful truth that You rule day and night. Thank You for the fact that even dark is as light to You. Spirit of the Living God guard our hearts and minds in Christ, anchoring us on the promises of God so that the wiles of the devil are disarmed and the temptations hurled at us or arising from within us are exposed as tawdry and shame-filled. Blessed Triune God, fill our lives so that every part is filled with praise.

1 Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
in ev'ry part with praise,
that my whole being may proclaim
thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
of praise in ev'ry part:

2 Praise in the common words I speak,
life's common looks and tones,
in fellowship enjoyed at home
with my beloved ones,
enduring wrong, reproach, or loss
with sweet and steadfast will,
forgiving freely those who hate,
returning good for ill.

April 9, 2020 -- Psalm 119:147 -- Awakened watchfulness

I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

Psalm 119:147 English Standard Version

Recently in casual conversation a friend asked me: “How’d you sleep?” Before I tell you my reply, you need to know that the filters between my brain and mouth are not always fully up. Sometimes I blurt things out before I’ve had a good chance to consider the words and their potential impact. So, in reply to my friend’s question I answered: “Like a baby” and my friend smiled and was about to say something like “that’s good” or “I’m glad” and into that brief space before he spoke I added: “Like a baby: I woke up every hour and felt the need to fill a diaper”.

There was a bit of an edge to the answer. It was humor with a bite to it. Honestly, I can get quite irritated with interrupted sleep. And then the Spirit shows me the Bible. A verse like the one we have before us today is a great call to faithfulness in our waking hours in the watches of the night. King David, the writer of this psalm, had many trials and troubles—little wonder then that he rose in the night to cry out to God his Father for help. And the very act of crying out to God the Rock of our Salvation reminded King David to renew his hope in the word of the LORD. The word of the LORD teaches us Who God is—here is a start, some verses to reflect on when you can’t sleep:

He is powerful. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure (Psalm 147:5).

He is in charge of all circumstances: For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations (Psalm 22:28).

He is able to direct us no matter the storms (Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus is sleeping in a boat during a terrible storm, when He is awakened by the disciples He calms the storm with the command: “Quiet! Be still!”)

Jesus, our Savior, often rose up in the night to speak with His Father—He prayed! (Look up two examples: Mark 1:35 and Luke 6:12). In fact, on the night when Jesus was betrayed, He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying. It was such a common event that Judas the Betrayer, knew of it and knew to lead soldiers to Jesus’ night-time praying place (read the full account John 18:1-2 and Matthew 26:36-46).

Next time you wake up in the night, pull out your bible and pray. Find a Psalm, maybe a familiar one like Psalm 23 and use it to guide your speaking to God. If you find yourself awake unexpectedly, ask God why you are awake at that moment. Perhaps the Spirit of God will put a name, or names, on your mind people you can be praying for and bringing to the throne of grace so that they will find grace and mercy for their times of need. If you already know the reason you are awake—a situation that is like a needle in your brain, or bitterness against a person too nonchalant to even notice or whatever else might disturb your slumber—bring it to God. Ask for His divine help.

When you wake up in the night I encourage you to praise the LORD. Recognize that Jesus’ day and night-time watchful prayers and urgent pleadings before His Father’s throne strengthened Him in His flesh so that He withstood the onslaught of the anger of God against our sin. Jesus our Savior is the prayer warrior Who leads us to victory. We are His soldiers. We are an army in prayer—so that every victory is not our own, but ever and always credited to Jesus the Captain of our Salvation.

God I confess how I have taken my sleep for granted. I confess before You how I’ve wasted the waking times of the night and become frustrated or angry or watched something inappropriate, rather than drilled down to find out why I’m awake. God of Mercy, forgive me. Spirit of God, direct me to the example of Jesus and the powerful promises of hope which are found in the bible so that day or night, my wakeful times are filled with the blessings You are prepared to pour into my life. Faithful Savior, my Prayer Warrior King, blessed are You. Help me to follow You now and always, Jesus, until I see You face to face in glory. Amen.

April 8, 2020 -- Psalm 119:146 -- Increasing Assurance

I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

Psalm 119:146 English Standard Version

Notice the purpose for which the psalmist calls out to God that I may observe your testimonies. The fact of the matter is that there are many things which are thrown at us so that we are knocked off course from such dedicated service.

We need to be saved:

~from our sins, this is the most obvious reason for such crying out to the LORD our God

~from the temptations of the world, distractions which pull us from sacred service to God

~from the circumstances of our lives, such as social distancing and being confined to our homes

~from our insecurities which undercut our confidence in God

~from bitterness which easily rise up at the least promptings

~from our false pictures and understandings of Who God Is and what He approves or disapproves

~from our inclinations to amuse ourselves to death rather than serving our Heavenly Master

When the LORD saves us, we are prepared for holy service. Such service, offered in view of Jesus’ resurrection and powered by the Spirit means that:

~our life’s purpose is beautifully fulfilled

~the LORD our God is honored and praised

~bitterness and anger are conquered, drowned in the love of God poured out on us because of this we

rise up and respond living out the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

~our neighbours and family and co-workers see in us a consistent witness to His glory

~Jesus Christ and His sacrifice is applied for the healing of every part of our lives

~we show ourselves to be sons and daughters of the Father in heaven

~we are humbled to see the wretchedness of our sins and hate them all the more as we rise to bless

God our Father and renew our dedication to living for Him

~such service confirms we are sons and daughters of the Most High God and fruit of such service is

precious assurance of our faith.

With the psalmist we cry out to You God the Rescuer of sinners and healer of wounded souls. Save us from our sins. Save us from ourselves. Save us from the hazards we don’t even realize are rising up all around us. King Jesus, Savior and Healer, with the psalmist and the redeemed through-out the ages, we rededicate ourselves to You. Send Your Spirit so that we will not feel we have stumbled beyond the grip of Your grace. Cause us, O LORD, to be a blessing to one another and encouragers who seeing those around us in sore need of Your love will prayerfully lead them to Your glorious presence. Amen.

April 7, 2020 -- Psalm 119:145 -- Grab this time for Glory!

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!

I will keep your statutes.

Psalm 119:145 English Standard Version

Today’s verse is the first verse of a new stanza known as the Qoph stanza because in the Hebrew language the first word of each verse begins with the letter Qoph. The whole psalm opened with the blessing pronounced on those who “seek the Him [the LORD] with their whole heart”. And that expression whole heart echoes through-out 119. We’ve read it at verses 10, 34, 58, 69 and now in our verse once again. The writer is crying out and each of those four verses gives a particular faceted reason for crying out to the LORD. That Name LORD is is the Self-revelation of God; and in the Bible God the LORD declares the significance of His Name.

• The LORD Who was, Who is and Who is to Come (the Self-existent God as in Exodus 3:14).

• He is the LORD Who will show grace and mercy to whom He chooses (Exodus 33:19).

• He is the LORD Who abhors, hates, all evildoers (Psalm 5:5-6)

Here is why this is so critical for us to understand: we are sinners—our inclination is to turn away from God. Unless the LORD, Who is rich in mercy, poured out His Spirit on us, we would leave the God we claim to love. The LORD Who hates all evildoers chose to crush Jesus, and pierce Him, and wound Him so that God’s proper and holy wrath is fully poured out on Jesus rather than on us, who are sinners.

So the LORD God chooses to remember our sins no more when we trust in Jesus Christ.

So the LORD God has grace and mercy on all who believe in Jesus.

All who trust in Christ know our sins are removed. The LORD will remember our sins no more. Because of Jesus’ suffering and the fact that He bore God’s punishment in our place the LORD says, “I have absolutely no record of anything having gone wrong in your life” (quotation from David Platt).

As the pandemic continues to ravage our lands rather than watching sports reruns of faded glories past, or gorging on movie channels and bingeing to the point of numbness instead let us be gripped by the knowledge of God, the LORD. In our isolation let us cry out to God the LORD until we seek Him with our whole hearts. Instead of watching that movie or watching that series again, find sermons to listen to and ask God the LORD to awaken your soul so that you will love Him with a freshness you have never experienced before. Here are two websites, rich with free resources on all kinds of Scripture, topics that are relevant and bursting with information on knowing God:

https://www.monergism.com/

https://www.ligonier.org/

This is the opportunity like no other, this is the space of time you’d asked for so that you could catch up on your rest and reading. Let the LORD and the splendor of His salvation grip your heart as never before so that this time of confusion and terror becomes transformed as the time when you encounter God the Glorious, the LORD Who is rich in mercy and mighty in His salvation. Do not lose this moment.

Oh LORD God Almighty, I read that the psalmist is crying out with his whole heart to You, and I admit how often I keep a corner of my heart and bit of myself for myself as if You can not perceive this. And I wonder why I am discontent and struggle to keep Your statutes—little wonder when the chamber of my horded heart is the perfect entry-way for evil. Answer me, O LORD, purge the evil from me. In view of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, cleanse me from the inside out and give me a holy zeal for Who You Are. Blessed are You, Jesus, and incomprehensible is Your sacrifice. Teach me to love You as I ought to love and serve You with my whole heart. Blessed are You, Spirit of God, may this time of pandemic and confusion become a sanctuary in time where I am completely renewed in my knowledge of God the LORD and have a passion for Him that ever grows burning with ever-greater intensity. Amen.

April 6, 2020 -- Psalm 119:144 -- Living in times of contagion

Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:144 English Standard Version

What is striking is how relevant scripture is for every generation and all times. The psalmist is celebrating that fact as he declared ‘the testimonies of the LORD are righteous forever’. Consider the times we are living in now. Our government has implemented bans on social gatherings, work gatherings and closed schools and universities, even the sacred cow of sporting events has not been left untouched! Award ceremonies have been cancelled! These last two points should underline for us how serious this situation is. Now Resurrection Sunday (a.k.a. Easter Sunday) is about to be celebrated and for many of us it will be unprecedented: no gatherings for worship services. What does Scripture teach us?

1. The man who had a suspected case of leprosy was required to live alone in his house for seven days. If the priest confirmed the disease, he was to live outside the camp of Israel (Leviticus 13). This was done so that the people of Israel as a nation would be spared any contagion.

2. Numbers 5 reiterates this command, that those who have a discharge, are leprous, or are unclean are to remain outside the camp of Israel (Numbers 5:1-4).

3. The testimonies of the LORD also remind us that we need pray for our leaders (I Timothy 2:1-2) as well as obey them (Romans 13:1-2).

4. Such regulations for living separate were to be in place until a confirmation was made that the person outside the camp was in fact healed (even Jesus required this in Luke 17). After healing ten lepers He required them to present themselves to the priest to confirm their healing. It was the priest in those days, not a medical officer, who approved the return to society after such an illness.

What we learn is the deep compassion of God for the individual and for the whole community. A man was not cast out on the suspicion of an illness. There was an opportunity for this illness to be verified and only when the disease was confirmed did this man have to live away from the rest of society.

When there is a chance that a contagion might sweep through a whole population, it makes sense for the ruling authorities to protect the people. Whether our rulers acknowledge it or not, they are appointed by the LORD our God to govern in such times.

The beauty of Scripture is that Jesus went “outside the camp” and bore our sin, guilt, sickness and shame. Jesus was crucified on a hillside outside of the city of Jerusalem. He was treated as leprous, unclean and despised. Yet, because He bled and died in this fashion, He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.

Christians are not being singled out or persecuted by these regulations. All Canadians are bearing them together. If the government tries to ban worship services after this corona virus threat has abated, then Christians must rise up and protest. For now, Christians must be model citizens—honouring the government, praying for our leaders, helping our neighbours, using all means available to help and encourage others through these times.

God our Father, faithful to Your people through-out every generation, give us as Christians the understanding we need so that we can face these times in loving submission to You. Merciful King of Heaven thank You for Jesus Christ Who bore the shame of going outside the camp, out of the city to be punished and humiliated in order that Your holiness would be honored as holy and sin would be forever judged as sinful. Thank You Jesus for the restoration You bring so that believers can call God the Father, our Father. Spirit of God teach us new ways to be obedient in these difficult times. Show us, Spirit of God, what it is to worship God in our homes, while we are alone or are with family members. Build up in us a holy anticipation of the glorious day when we shall be able to gather as believers in our churches, but far more importantly, increase our holy anticipation of that day of matchless glories and wonders when we shall be gathered with all the saints, elders, living creatures and angels before Your blessed throne and we shall worship You perfectly. Amen.

April 2, 2020 - - Psalm 119:143 - - Making Disciples in Times of Anguish

Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my delight.

Psalm 119:143 English Standard Version

These words certainly speak to our times. As the crisis deepens and the number of those infected with Covid-19 races to the million person mark, so much of what we used to know as stability is now in upheaval. Gas prices are crazy—we haven’t seen them this low in years. For many people retirement savings have been wiped out. Couples who kept busy in order to avoid one another are now finding they are cooped up together and conflicts which used to simmer under the surface are now blazing. As the plague increases it is reaching a point where all of us know people who are directly affected by Covid-19. The second line of our text is filled with grace: ‘but your commandments are my delight’.

Now, more than ever the question needs to be asked: whose disciple am I? In order for us not to be overwhelmed with the relentless, dire newscasts and predictions of disaster, we need to be brought to the feet of Him Who is our Delight. Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations and included in that commission “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Those who disciple others read the times, know the vagaries of the world and her leaders and remain steadfast, standing firm on the Rock that is Jesus.

Find a Christian whose faith you admire and ask to spend time with him or her. Use video chat or phone calls and ask your questions. Find out why he is so steady when so much in our world seems to be tottering and on the verge of collapse. Times such as these are given so that we examine our assumptions and are catapulted out of our comfort zones in order that we might be confronted with the glories of Him Who holds the universe in His hands and guards in peace His beloved children. Do not waste this moment.

Fearless saints, be prepared today for those in your life who question you, asking things like: “How can you be so filled with peace while it seems the world is burning?” Be prepared to give an answer for the peace that in you. Such peace rises from the knowledge that we anchored to our sure hope Jesus Christ. May the LORD our God use these days of trouble and anguish to build our faith and to use these times to increase opportunities for us to tell of His love so lavishly poured out in Jesus Christ and the assurance of His love guarded in us by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

With the hymn-writer of old we praise You, singing from the depths of our hearts: “Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father!” Thank You for the lessons of history, where we read of wars, plagues, famines, violence and all manner of anguish and above the din and noise of clashing catastrophes we hear the rising tide of praise and hope-filled testimonies of Your deliverance. Thank You for the lessons of our own lives, where we know You have rescued us in Jesus Christ and sealed to our hearts Your Spirit so that we would know ourselves to be in the grip of Your grace. Faithful God our Father, help us to disciple and mentor those who are living in fear. Gentle LORD, for those among us who are feel the vise-grip of terror and anguish we pray, let us serve as wise friends and steady mentors leading them to the throne of grace where all of us will find grace and mercy for our times of need. Let the wonders of Your salvation shine forth in all its brilliance. Amen.

April 1, 2020 -- Psalm 119:142 -- What is Righteousness?

Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is true.

Psalm 119:142 English Standard Version

Hmm, righteousness? That exact term is used six times in Psalm 119, a total of 308 times in the Bible, plus there are the variants like righteous which are frequently used as well. What does this word mean? God alone is the highest possible standard by which all other laws and standards and actions are judged. Louis Berkhof, in his tome Systematic Theology notes that righteousness and justice are closely linked. Berkhof notes that righteousness includes within it this aspect of justice: “He maintains Himself over against every violation of His holiness and shows in every respect that He is the Holy One…Justice manifests itself especially in giving every man his due, in treating him according to his deserts” (Berkhof, Systematic Theology, page 75).

The challenge for us as humans is that we tend to treat the bible like a smorgasbord. We pick and choose what we like, what we agree with and what we’ll submit to and judge the rest as not applicable or too hard, unfairly stacked against us, or not something we choose to submit to. The Psalmist puts such cherry-picking to rest. The righteousness of the LORD is righteous forever. It was applicable in ancient times, in Jesus’ day, and for us today and for all times and places. His standard is perfect, His law is our high calling.

There are potentially two responses to this. The first is: God is unfair. Requiring too much and people then reject or despise Him. The second is the pathway of Christians. We recognize we fail at every point of the law. We know the good we should do and leave it undone (sins of omission). We know the standard of the law and we intentionally violate it (sins of commission). And as those who recognize their sins we cry out to God to rescue us from this body of death. The glorious response from heaven is that Jesus was punished in our place, bearing on His person the weight of God’s wrath against our sin and exchanging His righteousness for our sinfulness. All who cry to Jesus and obediently follow Him know their sins are forgiven and our Father in heaven sees our lives through the perfect obedience of His Son Jesus.

Ah, what joy there is in obedience. What peace in believing. God’s righteousness is perfect. His law is holy and true and altogether wonderful as we walk in the pathway of life. We confess our sins—and confirm each time we do so, that He is fully righteous forever and just in His condemnation of sin and every violation of His will—and we grow in our dedicated love for this tender Father Who would not leave us in our sin and misery, but provided for us the way of salvation. We give thanks to God as we read the word and live in obedience to Him, obedience empowered by the Spirit of God He has given us as the guardian of our ways and One Who lifts us to Christ.

Thank You, Father in heaven, for Your faithfulness. Thank You, King Jesus for Your extravagant love. Thank You, Spirit of God, Guardian of our souls. Forgive us our sins we pray You, Holy and Triune God. Direct us in Your righteousness and help us to explore the richness, the wonder and multi-faceted glories of all You command. Most Blessed God, let Your glory and goodness be made known especially now in these times of crisis when so many are filled with fear. May we as believers live in the peace of Christ with such fullness that others will be drawn to Him, Who is the Desire of all Nations. Amen.

March 30, 2020 -- Psalm 119:141 -- We are small, God is Infinite

I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

Psalm 119:141 English Standard Version

While taking my morning stroll I saw this driveway chalk message which was obviously scrawled out by a child. Surrounded by rainbows and in multi-coloured tall, wobbly, letters it read:

Together we are stronger than Covid-19.

How sweet. How wrong. How misguided.

The pathway to victory begins where the psalmist begins: I am small and despised. The fact is we do not have strength to save ourselves from this or any other crisis. Ironically, together we are vulnerable to infection. We truly are small and so helpless in the face of this pandemic. The psalmist continues and gives the reason we do not abandon all hope and just wait for death: yet I do not forget your precepts.

The precepts of God are the works He commands or appoints to be done. God the great and glorious ruler of all things calls for Christians to be faithful no matter their circumstances. He has appointed the rule for living—and He Who appointed such things already knew of wars, of pestilence, of financial ruin, of pandemics, of locust plagues and so on. I believe the challenge for us as Christians in the West is that we have grown accustomed to times of stability so that we have learned to rely on ourselves, our bank account, our government, our own skills and our own resourcefulness. This pandemic teaches us once again to lift our eyes to heaven, to the God of our salvation.

Today we are confronted with the fact we are small and despised. We are powerless to help ourselves. All our help comes from the LORD Who has appointed for us rules for living. We are called to worship Him alone. We are call to trust Him. We are called to live as people who love and trust God above all else. We are appointed to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. This morning the sun rose at its appointed time, as it did pre-pandemic and will post-pandemic. The seasons are changing as they did pre-pandemic and will post-pandemic. Christians who are awakened to how much we took our faith for granted will now realize we are to offer faithful service to the Living God of Glory and serve Him in fruitful times and lean times, in sickness and in health, in poverty and riches, in every circumstance because we know our King is fully in charge.

Lord our God, help us in these days when so many around us are consumed with fears to place our trust fully in You alone. We are Your children. We know we are small and despised—all our efforts cannot add one minute to our lives and all our worry cannot even change the colour of our eyes. But You have numbered our days according to Your vast wisdom. You have appointed the colour of our eyes and the timing of our lives to fulfill Your purposes. In view of this help us to trust You more and more as we worship You and serve You. No matter the opinions of the world and dire pontifications of so called experts You are the Rock of our Salvation. Blessed are You, O LORD, Triune God of majesty. Amen.

March 29, 2020 -- Psalm 119:140 -- Tried and true followers of Jesus

Your promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

Psalm 119:140 English Standard Version

There is a famous quotation from G. K. Chesterton that speaks directly to our culture’s current view of Christianity:

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting;

it has been found difficult and not tried.

Have you noticed that our Prime Minister as he leaves the front door of 24 Sussex, descends the steps each day, arrives at the canopied podium, will somberly give a national address without reference to the glory of God? While striving to be calm with his theatrical heroics he seeks to reassure Canadians. He is actually failing mightily. In his speeches there is no reference to prayer. There are no references to our great faith. There is no reference to God. Early on in his first term as Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife sought audience with the Pope. There was a show of his Roman Catholic faith. Such faith is now thunderous by its absence. Christianity has been found difficult and not tried.

In sharp contrast along with the psalmist we, as Christ-followers, know the promises of God our Father. In the New Testament book of James we are reminded that trials test the faith and produce steadfastness. This steadfastness produces in us wisdom that is bound up in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God is poured out on those who look to God our Father and we know God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:2-18).

The very purpose of our lives is to understand we are servants of the Most High God. He is our Master in good times and in trying times. He is faithful in all circumstances. This life is preparation for eternity. We are being taught of the Sovereign Rule of our Great God—all things work together for good for those who love Jesus. Those who have no hope for eternity will abandon all hope and despair as stocks plunge and store shelves empty. But for those who serve the Heavenly Father, we have the great and unshakable assurance that even these times are being used by the Spirit of God for good.

Pray during these times, that:

~your faith may increase

~our Prime Minister and all his advisers and all MP’s and MPP’s will lead well and most importantly, that they will understand they are servants of the Master in Heaven

~these times will be used for the increase of faith and many will be brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Your promises are well-tried in these trying times, Faithful God. Blessed are You and worthy of praise and glory. Spirit of the Living God, direct our national leaders, provincial and territorial leaders, and civic and municipal leaders in the ways of truth. Bring many people to believe in You, Living God. Let the powerful truth of Jesus Christ be for our nation and the nations of this earth a refuge in these times of uncertainty. Thank You, Holy and Triune God, for the confidence we as Christians have that these times too are in Your hands and You will accomplish Your perfect purposes in us. Amen.

March 27, 2020 -- Psalm 119:139 -- Consumed with purpose

My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

Psalm 119:139 English Standard Version

The Psalm writer is jealous for the honour of God. He is so committed to living with eagerness and joy in the ways of God that those who reject Him spur him on to even greater heights of obedience and service. In Psalm 69:9 the writer of cries out:

For zeal for your house has consumed me,

and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. (Ps 69:9 ESV).

Here the writer so identifies with the worship of God and the joys and awesome privilege of service that he willingly endures the insults and mocking and hatred such service brings to him. It is Jesus’ disciples who see His dedicated service to God His Father and they quote the first phrase of Psalm 69:9 in reference to the works of Jesus.

Last night I was scrolling through some memes related to the Corona virus pandemic and came across this one:

For once of the future of humanity

is in the hands of those who stay at home and watch TV.

Let’s not mess this up.

I laughed at it. And then became sad. This certainly reflects the world’s view of how purposeless our lives are. For us as Christians, more than ever zeal for the LORD our God consumes us. We pray for our unsaved neighbours. We can call our friends and reassure people who are afraid, we have Rock-solid confidence in God—to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). We can guard our eyes and our hearts from the onslaught of worthless shows and mind-numbing movies that are being offered. Now is the time to renew our zeal for the LORD and to grow in our trust in Him.

O God our Father let our zeal for You and Your glory consume us. While we hear more and more bad news from all of sources, may we turn with greater ardor to the source of all Good News, Jesus Christ and His Word. Let Your Spirit fill us with renewed hope and joy. Spirit of the Living God increase our capacity for dedicated service to Jesus Christ. Forgive us, God of mercy, for the vast amounts of wasted time and the tears we have spilled over non-eternal things, such as finances and stock-market nose-dives. Triune God, holy and forever blessed, renew in us an awareness of our purpose as Your beloved sons and daughters living as the fragrance of hope among the people of this world who are stuck in the stench of fear. Be glorified Living God, great and glorious! Amen.

March 24, 2020 -- Psalm 119:138 -- Appointed for Faithful Living

You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

Psalm 119:138 English Standard Version

This past Sunday my pastor Michael Jaatinen used this quotation in his sermon:

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room,

I would not fear a million of enemies.

Yet the distance makes no difference.

He is praying for me.

Robert Murray McCheyene

What a great encouragement these words are for us as believers. At every point of crisis in the New Testament we see Jesus praying for His disciples as they face tremendous challenges to their faith and temptations to rebellion.

Even when, perhaps especially when the disciples failed, Jesus proved Himself faithful. Think of the disciple Peter who had vowed he would never abandon Jesus. Jesus replied that Satan has asked to sift him like wheat and offering wondrous reassurance Jesus promised “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-34). To our eyes Peter failed. Most spectacular was his failure. But Jesus prayed. And Jesus brought Peter back to Himself, restoring him in love (John 21:15ff).

When we face crises, financial ruin, trials in our family situation, opposition to our precious faith, when the world seems to be running amok, God is not surprised. More importantly, we have the great assurance that Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, praying for His Church. Think of Him praying in the next room. The Spirit of God is gathering up believers and preserving us. What glory is ours.

Therefore fellow believers, therefore, do not falter in serving God. He has appointed His testimonies in righteousness. His rules and laws, His instructions for holy living suit every circumstance of our lives and every crisis in the world. He has designed it so that the obedience of His children in the times of crisis will shine like a lighthouse piercing the fog and gloom of frightening times thereby shining the light of hope found in Jesus. His light reflected in the lives of believers is used in bringing many sons and daughters to safety in Jesus’ loving protection.

God has appointed His testimonies for a time such as this. God has given us all things we need for godliness. Read this and be reassured of His unstoppable love and faithfulness:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, 

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, 

and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control 

with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with

brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours

and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge

of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:3-8 ESV

The Father has given us Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ prays for us. As surely as Peter was picked up and restored in holy service after each failure (cf Galatians 2:11ff). This is the divine power we need. Jesus’ Spirit Who has sealed us to Christ Himself so that our failures are not our undoing, but ever point us to the Savior, Jesus Christ, Who brought glory to the Father in heaven by atoning for all our sins and thereby bringing many sons and daughters to glory.

Faithful Father in heaven thank You for the tremendous assurance You give to Your people. Thank You, Jesus Christ our Savior, for Your work as the Faithful Prayer-Mediator Who is ever bringing our needs to our Father. Blessed are You, Spirit of God, keeping us close to the promises of Jesus and making Scripture white-hot in its relevance for every circumstance in our lives. We know this: soon and very soon we shall see the King! Spirit of Truth use these times to bring many people to the safety which is found in Christ alone. Help us as Christians to serve faithfully relying on all the divine strength Your word promises. Ah Jesus, come soon and let the glory of the Holy and Blessed Trinity cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. Amen.

March 22, 2020 -- Psalm 119:137 -- Look to the Captain of Salvation

Righteous are you, O LORD,

and right are your rules.

Psalm 119:137 English Standard Version

The word “righteous” carries the meaning of one who is just. The LORD—here His Name all in capital letters emphasizes He is the God Who keeps His covenant promises—is the God Who is just in His actions towards His people. There may be a day, a moment, a decade or a situation where the believer in the LORD may wonder: “Now what is happening? Can even this be used for good?” The resounding answer of Scripture is always YES! One of the great blessings of Scripture is to read of God’s dealings with His people. His people are faithless, He is faithful. His people (even when striving to do good) fail at so many points, He is perfect in all His ways and shows Himself be to just and the justifier of all who call on Him.

He is righteous, acting with perfect justice in all His ways. What people see as arbitrary and unfathomable actions of God often can not be discerned for their true purposes until He reveals His goodness. When God cast His people into exile, we read that the land enjoyed her Sabbath rests (II Chronicles 36:21). When God cast His people into exile, He was keeping His covenant promises. Way back in Deuteronomy, before the people entered the land of Milk and Honey, God the LORD gave instruction, His rules for life in the land. There were curses for disobedience—famine, war, barrenness and even, if the people continued in their stubborn disbelief, they would be exiled (Deuteronomy 27:9 - 26). There were blessings spelled out for people when the nation obeyed the LORD (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). And again, the curses for disobedience are laid out (Deuteronomy 28:15 - 68). Ultimately, the purpose of such things is to bring the people of God to repentance—turning from sin and going to the LORD.

All the curses and all the wrath of God for the wickedness of His people was punished on the Person of Jesus Christ. Now, as New Testament Christians reading this, we understand in Jesus Christ we are a new nation—new Israel. Jesus is the new Adam, the final Adam, the Head of all those who believe and in Him we are a new people drawn from every tribe, tongue, nation and language. And we see the justice and righteousness of God written large in the pages of history.

Even now, in an age of Covid-19 fears, where our government is making veiled threats about mandatory quarantine rules for Canadian citizens (see article below), Christians live with the Rock Solid assurance the LORD our God is fully in control, fully aware of what is happening and this is not beyond the grip of His grace. Now, more than ever, Christians can stand tall for Jesus. In an age of fear, we live by the right rules of God: as those who live with great assurance and peace, as peace makers in an age of fears. Christians do not place their trust in scientists and governments, while we are obedient to those whom God has placed in power, we have our confidence and faith firmly fixed on Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ rules and governs all things, He is defeating every enemy until even death itself will be defeated. Then Jesus will hand over the fully conquered kingdom to His Father and all evil-doers—all who refused the authority of Jesus Christ—will be swept into hell along with the devil and all his demonic angels. Then believers in Jesus, those kept faithful in Jesus Christ, will be brought to the new heaven and the new earth where there will be no more sin. There believers will delight in the presence of God and be given the capacity to enjoy Him and live in true community with God, the Triune Holy and Blessed, and with His people.

Of course, things are chaotic now. We are in the ranks of milling soldiers, awaiting orders from the Captain of our Salvation. He directs the battle. He sees the distance fronts and the feints and tactics of the enemy. He anticipates them, even as he prepares His soldiers who cannot see the entire field of battle—such as the distracting skirmishes and preparations for a major frontal assault—to withstand them.

Therefore we trust Him all the more and do what He calls us to do. Or we wait on His orders as He calls us to wait—reading Scripture, praying and braiding confident trust into every part of our mind, heart, soul and life. One thing is sure, God the All-Powerful declares:

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.' (Isaiah 46:10).

Hallelujah to You, God Holy and Blessed forever. Great and awesome is Your power Ruler of all nations, Divine LORD over all authorities, dominions and powers in the heavenly realms. In these times where so many are ruled by uncertainty and fears, let Your people shine as those whose confidence and trust in Jesus Christ will be like a fear-calming, peace-making wave that sweeps across the beautiful land of Canada. May believers live in such confidence of Your righteousness that the perfections of Your rules will be embraced as true and Rock-solid in an age of fear. Spirit of the Living God draw many people to the throne of grace where Jesus Christ is seated. Thank You, LORD of all blessing, for truck drivers who bring needed supplies to far-flung places in our country. Thank You for those who serve on the front lines, despite their fears. We look to You, Jesus, seated in power and glory and pray: in our homes, in Your world, be glorified O LORD. Amen.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/quarantine-act-trudeau-coronavirus-1.5499071

March 18, 2020 -- Psalm 119:136 -- Streams of tears for the right reasons

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your laws.

Psalm 119:136 English Standard Version

Beloved in the LORD my eyes are streaming tears as well this day. As Christians we are abandoning our posts exactly when we are most needed! We are commanded not to give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:23-25). We are to place our trust in the LORD God of Heaven and Earth rather than in human rules and regulations.

Hands up those of you who watch crime shows. Hm. That is a lot of you. When you watch the show, you get to see the criminal up close. You know the crime he has committed. Then the police bring in a psychologist. This man reconstructs the crime and determines the criminal to be this age and pieces together a psychic profile and so on. As viewers we are so impressed. Wow, this man knows so much. He is playing the part of god on these shows. It translates to us, people in the audience, as instruction on how to view authorities in our world. They are oracles from on high. We are fooled into keeping our eyes earth-bound rather than on Him Who rules the heavens and the earth.

How does this play out today? Consider the heroes of previous centuries in times of plague and disaster. The Christian Post (an on-line opinion piece) of Oct. 16, 2014 notes in the times of plagues in 200’s in the Roman Empire, it was the Christians who ran towards the scenes. They stood out as examples of steadfast confidence in God in the times of disaster counting themselves blessed to be counted worthy to suffer.

Far more recently, in the Ebola virus scares of the previous decade, it was well documented that Christians helped out. While so many ran in panic, Christians were prepared to stand their ground for the glory of God. Please read the article at the end of this devotional blog. And long after these plagues, many Christians adopted orphans, provided schooling, and protection for these who’d otherwise we targets for child prostitution or recruited for various factional guerrilla armies.

We do not need to huddle in fear. Now understand me correctly. I believe Christians should be wise! We should not run and seek to get sick. We should do all the hand-washing while taking other precautions as outlined by our government. However, I believe we must gather. We must pray. We must declare our faith to be of infinitely more value and worth than our health. There are to be no other idols, no other prizes in our life other than the greatest prize of all: Jesus Christ as King of our hearts.

Believe me, I preach this to my own heart as much as I preach it to you this day. Consider, dearest readers, how we can stand as lighthouses of hope in the Great and Glorious Name of Jesus. We are not those who cower in fear. We have the Spirit of Sonship (Romans 8:15) , the Spirit of Adoption (Ephesians 1:5) so that in sickness and in health, in times of poverty or riches, in times of famine or plenty, no matter the circumstances of our lives we declare triumphantly we belong to the High King of Heaven—our Saviour and our God.

Mighty Father in heaven, we praise You with thanks for the work of all those on the front-lines: nurses and doctors, paramedics and police officers, fire-fighters and researchers, palliative care workers and nursing home staff. We mention before Your throne of mercy prisoners and prison guards, grocers and truck drivers and so many others who work behind the scenes. We bless You for all those in key positions who You have placed in these positions for Your glory and for the good functioning of our society.

King Jesus, we bless You for the assurance of our salvation. We thank You that neither death or life, angels nor demons, plague nor peace can steal our salvation from Your glorious protection Great and blessed are You.

Spirit of Truth, thank You for our government leadership at all levels. Thank You for the men and women who serve to the best of their abilities. We praise You with thanks for those who are Christians and who are on their knees interceding for our land. We confess, Spirit of Truth, how feeble we are. We confess how we can waver and succumb to fears which are not warranted where You are guarding us in Christ. May the Church of the Risen Saviour once again rise up and show herself to be the Bride of the our Bridegroom Jesus Christ—the Desire of All Nations, the Hope of the hopeless.

Triune God, Holy and True, direct us as Christians to live out our faith fully and courageously in these times. As the world lurches towards the end times, strengthen us as Your people, to stand firm so that at the Day of Jesus’ return He will find faith on the earth. Amen.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/running-toward-the-plague-christians-and-ebola.html

March 17, 2020 -- Psalm 119:135 -- Walking in Blessedness

Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

Psalm 119:135 English Standard Version

As in verse 132, so it is here, we have a reference to Numbers 6:24-26:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance [face] upon you and give you peace. (ESV)

Those who desire to keep the precepts and laws of the LORD live in the awareness of the LORD’s blessing. This echo of Numbers 6 carries with it the sense that the face of the LORD brings light or shines light on the servants He delights in. Just like a parent, who catching his child’s eye across the room might light up with a smile of love and encouragement, so our Father’s face shines upon us.

Once again, remember the twin verses which begin Psalm 119:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart, (1 & 2 ESV).

No matter the enemies, no matter the circumstances, no matter the trials of one’s life, there is ever greater joy to be found in following the pathway of the LORD our God. He is our Source of blessing. He is the Desire of Nations.

One of the glories of God’s grace shown to us in Scripture is the fact that He gives constant references to His blessings and goodness. So often people dismiss the Bible as a long series of dreary laws and commandments and prohibitions. What is forgotten are the constant references to the blessing of God, the goodness of God poured out on His people. Especially as the world finds itself gripped with all kinds of fears and terrors, the people of the LORD walk in the light of His favour.

This is true because Jesus Christ has taken away our curse. When the Father in heaven sees us, He sees the perfect life of Jesus credited to us. The Spirit of God is sealed to us, we have the blessings of God delivered into our hearts and held there by the power of God. I heard Voddie Baucham preaching and say: “If you think it is possible to lose your salvation, then you would all day and every day and twice on Sunday”. If this all depended on us, our strength, our character, our good works we would fail. The glory of God’s shining face would long ago have left us. Thanks be to God all of this does not depend on us! We are guarded in the grace and love of God by the Spirit of God Who brings to us the fullest blessings of Christ’s salvation work.

Faithful Father in heaven with the psalmist we plead before Your throne: make us aware of Your blessings poured out on us. Teach us the way of salvation so graciously given to us in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the sealing work of the Holy Spirit so that our lives are bound up in Jesus’ accomplished work. Let the glorious knowledge of Your goodness cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. Let the missionaries and preachers who bring Good News see a revival. Let the world, frightened and bewildered as it is, learn of Your majestic goodness and may many, many kneel before You and declare: “my Savior and my King”. We pray this in Jesus’ glorious Name. Amen.