- Published on
PSALM 121
I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
This Psalm takes me back to my childhood; to school assembly; to the things my parents (particularly my mother) taught me. The words of the hymn, which has been included in this meditation, resonate clearly in my early experience. The words of Proverbs 22:6 come to mind ….
Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Well, like so many of us, I departed from it. The thing is that it did not depart from me, although I did not know it, and now I believe that it serves me well, and the words ingrained from my early years reverberate in my mind and are readily recalled without effort… and dare I say, without intent on my part. That is the wonder and the mystery of our Lord’s touch on our hearts at that time in our lives.
What I say could be taken as a condemnation to any who do not train their children to know Jesus in their formative years. It is not my intent, and indeed it is readily seen that The Lord can touch any heart at its deepest level at any time, young or old. The call to lift your eyes to the hills… or if your prefer, to look to the heavenly realms and see salvation, can come at any time, in any place, in whatever state we are in. I am convinced with Paul that…
What I say could be taken as a condemnation to any who do not train their children to know Jesus in their formative years. It is not my intent, and indeed it is readily seen that The Lord can touch any heart at its deepest level at any time, young or old. The call to lift your eyes to the hills… or if your prefer, to look to the heavenly realms and see salvation, can come at any time, in any place, in whatever state we are in. I am convinced with Paul that…
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2 TIMOTHY 1:12
Just look at His promises in this psalm…
These seven promises are the complete and abiding cover over every aspect of a life submitted to Him, one which looks heavenwards and acknowledges that my help comes from The Lord and from Him alone. But see that these promises are also the nature of our God. He promises to be Himself to us for all time; indeed beyond all time, for He is not bound to such restrictions. What all this resolves as — for me at least — is Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord.
- He will not allow your foot to be moved.
- He who keeps you will not slumber.
- The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
- The Lord shall protect you from all evil.
- He shall preserve your soul.
- The Lord shall protect your going out and your coming in.
- Even forevermore
These seven promises are the complete and abiding cover over every aspect of a life submitted to Him, one which looks heavenwards and acknowledges that my help comes from The Lord and from Him alone. But see that these promises are also the nature of our God. He promises to be Himself to us for all time; indeed beyond all time, for He is not bound to such restrictions. What all this resolves as — for me at least — is Fear not, for I am with you, says the Lord.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS...
‘Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
ISAIAH 41:10
I TO THE HILLS WILL LIFT MINE EYES
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP...
THE REASON PRAYER is so important is, first of all, because our Lord told us that prayer is the most mighty factor He has put into our hands, and second, because of the personal presence of the Holy Spirit in the day in which we live. We receive our knowledge of the Holy Spirit not by experience first, but by the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The testimony of Jesus Christ regarding the Holy Spirit is that He is here, and the real living experience the Holy Spirit works in us is that all His emphasis is laid on glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ. We know the Holy Spirit first by the testimony of Jesus, and then by the conscious enjoyment of His presence.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #532 LOVE FROM A PURE HEART
- Published on
1 PETER 4:7-11
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
War erupting in Gaza has brought the idea of the end of all things to the forefront of our minds, coming as it does, hot on the heels of the Russian war in Ukraine. We stand horrified as our world seems to crumble about us. Surely we are in ‘the end times’ and yet the apostle Peter stated 2000 years ago that the end of all things is at hand!
The ‘End Times’ and the ‘End of All Things’ is an oft repeated concept in Scripture, and furthermore, one whose meaning fluctuates depending on the context. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle uses the word ‘all’ to mean ‘all, any, every and the whole thing’ — which can be taken to refer to us either individually or collectively. We understand, of course, that God is in control…
The ‘End Times’ and the ‘End of All Things’ is an oft repeated concept in Scripture, and furthermore, one whose meaning fluctuates depending on the context. In 1 Peter 4, the apostle uses the word ‘all’ to mean ‘all, any, every and the whole thing’ — which can be taken to refer to us either individually or collectively. We understand, of course, that God is in control…
The Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The LORD of hosts is His name.
JEREMIAH 10:16
Jeremiah’s verse tells us that Our God is the Maker of all things, and thus all things are His to dispose as He wills, indeed that we are all His inheritance. Everything is under His hand. It is therefore our expectation that this end of all things is either more ‘at hand’ than ever before, or that maybe this is an exaggeration for effect. Certainly we are beset by life-threatening events at every turn, so that if it is not climate change, or war, or the rise in charismatic (to some) world leaders, bent on crazy agendas, or the spread of civil discontent and disorder across the earth, then it is the besetting sin of humanity that is pulling the rug out from under itself.
The truth is that the end of all things is an ever present state of affairs. We neither know nor can ever know when that moment will finally dawn, even though we may think that we discern the signs. Only God knows, thus as believers with the hope of glory deep in us, we should turn our eyes from the Satanic work, focussing instead on The Lord. Look to the light is the only way.
JOB 37:21 says Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them, but Matthew Henry makes this observation…
The truth is that the end of all things is an ever present state of affairs. We neither know nor can ever know when that moment will finally dawn, even though we may think that we discern the signs. Only God knows, thus as believers with the hope of glory deep in us, we should turn our eyes from the Satanic work, focussing instead on The Lord. Look to the light is the only way.
JOB 37:21 says Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them, but Matthew Henry makes this observation…
And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself, and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and base ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he and they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself and his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion; and nothing but glory through Christ Jesus, is solid and lasting; that abideth for ever.
MATTHEW HENRY
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
... "the whole world has gone after him" Did all the world go after Christ? "then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan."
Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan? "Ye are of God, little children", and the whole world lieth in the wicked one".
Does the whole world there mean everybody? The words "world" and "all" are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the "all" means all persons, taken individually.
The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts -- some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile ...
C.H. SPURGEON considers ‘all things’, from a sermon on ‘Particular Redemption’
ALL THINGS — David and Nicole Binion
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP...
PRAYER IS THE instrument of the life of worship, it is not worship itself.
[from ‘Christian Discipline Volume 2’ by Oswald Chambers]
LISTEN TO THIS MEDITATION HERE…
COMING NEXT… #331 I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES
- Published on
MICAH 5:7
Then the remnant of Jacob
Shall be in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew from the LORD,
Like showers on the grass,
That tarry for no man
Nor wait for the sons of men.
What do we mean by the remnant of Jacob? A thing that is in the midst like the dew from The Lord. Our belief is that this refers to the Holy Spirit, and that ‘the remnant’ — a group of God’s people who will always be, no matter what may betide — will be or not be according to their holding to The Holy Spirit of The Lord God Almighty. Make no mistake, there will always be a remnant, it is whether or not you and I will be in that company that is the issue at stake here.
If we look at what Micah is saying in chapter 5, he is referring to the coming Messiah and a judgement on Israel — and we mean spiritual Israel — the Lord’s chosen. This seems to be particularly relevant in these present times with what is dominating the world news. We do not wish to comment on that, as this is a sensitive subject that inflames attitudes on every side. We shall thus always stick to scripture.
You will see from the reading later, that Micah makes plain what our Lord’s intention is. He will ‘cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.’ Horses represent our flesh nature, that part of us that would go the way of our choosing, and the chariot is the place of controlling that creature; the saddle on the beast. Our God will destroy that control and seek to restore us to His favour…
If we look at what Micah is saying in chapter 5, he is referring to the coming Messiah and a judgement on Israel — and we mean spiritual Israel — the Lord’s chosen. This seems to be particularly relevant in these present times with what is dominating the world news. We do not wish to comment on that, as this is a sensitive subject that inflames attitudes on every side. We shall thus always stick to scripture.
You will see from the reading later, that Micah makes plain what our Lord’s intention is. He will ‘cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.’ Horses represent our flesh nature, that part of us that would go the way of our choosing, and the chariot is the place of controlling that creature; the saddle on the beast. Our God will destroy that control and seek to restore us to His favour…
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
MICAH 6:8
The remnant of Jacob — and this is ‘Jacob’ before he became ‘Israel’ — are His people who have yet to wrestle with The Lord, or rather must wrestle with Him to get to that greater revelation of His presence within. It is the call to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. We can see that Micah has laid out for us exactly what our Lord will do to bring us before Him, and all that must be cast aside before we can know Him in His fullness. We need His transforming power. Change us to be more like You, Lord. Show us the way.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…
“And it shall be in that day,” says the LORD, “That I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots.
I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.
I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no soothsayers.
Your carved images I will also cut off, and your sacred pillars from your midst; You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
I will pluck your wooden images from your midst; Thus I will destroy your cities.
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the nations that have not heard.”
MICAH 5:10-15
JACOB’S SONG — Bri Babineaux
PRAYER REQUIRES WORSHIP…
NOWADAYS the thing is to worship prayer; stress is put on nights of prayer and the difficulty and cost of prayer. It is not prayer that is strenuous, but the overcoming of our own laziness. If we make the basis of prayer our effort and agony and nights of prayer, we mistake the basis of prayer. The basis of prayer is not what it costs us, but what it costs God to enable us to pray.
[from ‘IF YE SHALL ASK’ by Oswald Chambers]