You know my way!

And you know the way I should go.

This is the way, walk ye in it,

        The Psalms speak to so many of our struggles and our dramatic moments. God knows what to do and He tells us. So we must take time to listen!

When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! Psalm 142:3 ESV

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. Psalm 142:3 KJV

        “The bravest spirit is sometimes sorely put to it. A heavy fog settles down upon the mind, and the man seems drowned and smothered in it; covered with a cloud, crushed with a load, confused with difficulties, conquered by impossibilities. David was a hero, and yet his spirit sank: he could smite a giant down, but he could not keep himself up. He did not know his own path, nor feel able to bear his own burden. Observe his comfort: he looked away from his own condition to the ever-observant, all-knowing God; and solaced himself with the fact that all was known to his heavenly Friend. Truly it is well for us to know that God knows what we do not know. We lose our heads, but God never closes his eyes: our judgments lose their balance, but the eternal mind is always clear.”   --Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892, Treasury of David, III, 324

      And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 KJV

        “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:19-21 ESV

     The Psalmist feels painfully alone: “there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.” Psalm 142:4 ESV

He feels all alone. He feels painfully alone—but he's not! “ I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 142:5 ESV

      And in the next Psalm it becomes even clearer:

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 143:5-6

      And again he asks for God's guidance: “Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. . . . O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! . . . for I am your servant.” 143:8-12

The Lord Reigns

         “The Lord reigns, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he has girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.” Psalm 93:1

           It is reassuring to know that as the world orbits in space, it will stay on course and not collide with some other great planet!  Or get too far from the sun that we freeze to death or too close and burn with heat.    “Upholding all things by the word of His power,” Heb. 1:3

through Christ all things “hold together.” Col. 1:17 He created all things in the first place and now He governs and sustains them by His sovereign will. God not only will reign in the future when “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” but He reigns everywhere right now.

          “The conviction that God reigns is the ultimate antidote to doubt and despair.” ESV Study Bible, p. 1056 Despite confusion, despair, and dismay in the general culture all around us, we have the assurance, ^“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33:27

          We understand that there is a spiritual struggle going on in this world and we're part of it. But the Lord reigns and is bringing all things to the conclusion of history just as He has always done. “In the fullness of time” God sent His Son on that First Christmas morning and also “in the fullness of time” He will return just as He promised. Remember what the angels told the assembled apostles when Jesus ascended back to His throne in heaven, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

         In the meantime, “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10 “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.”

Psalm 103:19

Psalm for Discouragement--42

Psalm for Discouragement

This is a wonderful Psalm for these difficult days in which we live–especially for those going through a hard trial of affliction. We don’t know who wrote this Psalm so we can think of it as a universal Psalm for all who know the Lord in the very difficult and low times of life. These things of trouble, trial, affliction are in everyone’s experiences. If you really understand what scripture says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” And you see all the terrible things that human beings do to each other, the wonder is that in spite of all that there is so much good and beauty in the world. And we know why–because God restrains and prevents a lot of the evil that men would do to each other. In His Providence He preserves us–until His time for us–“the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” Psalm 139:16 NIV--but allows us to suffer. That’s what this Psalm is about: how do we go through suffering and hardship victoriously and joyfully? “As sorrowful and yet always rejoicing?” The answer is here.

Psalm 42

“As the deer pants after streams of water, so pants my soul after thee, O God.

Picture the terrible thirst of the wild deer in a dry and thirsty land where no water is!

The Hebrew word translated “pants” here is the “distressing cry of the doe making a mournful sound and eagerly seeking the cooling water. It seeks the streams of water with intense desire and plunges into the cooling streams probably seeking to escape from a lion seeking to kill it.

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Or “when shall I see the face of God”?! 43:4 The Psalmist wants to go into the very Presence of God Himself, “unto God my exceeding joy.”

Fellowship with God was far more important to him that anything in this life–all earthly enjoyments, riches, pleasures, honors. Do you have that intense desire for fellowship with God? Jesus said, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Mt. 5:6 If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you are thirsting after Christ for He alone is our righteousness.

Be glad with exceeding joy if you have intense desire for God–for that’s why God created us in the first place. Nothing in this world will satisfy the deep longings of your heart. Nothing. “Our souls are restless until they rest in Thee, O God,” St. Augustine wrote so many years ago. And C.S. Lewis put it this way, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

And so we were. 2 Cor. 5:5 “God created us for this very purpose”–and you read the context the purpose was to share the glories of heaven and eternal life with us–in fellowship with Himself.

The Psalmist had this same intense desire for God–probably especially since he was being persecuted with the taunts of the wicked, in the midst of trouble, “Where is your God?!” surely said with a sneering tone. Satan’s goals have always been the same from the garden of Eden onward: first he wants you to doubt God’s sovereignty or God’s wisdom and then he wants you to doubt God’s goodness. He did so with Eve and he does so with all of us. He is a liar and the father of lies. But we have the demonstration of God’s power and goodness throughout history and throughout our lives in His daily providence, “God daily loadeth us with benefits” we’re told in another Psalm.

But he is discouraged in the midst of his troubles. And he doesn’t feel joyful or even thankful (and that may be a hint of his problems because those are the two things we need–spiritual joy given by God and a thankful heart so that we can say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Or with the writer to the Hebrews,

“be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Heb. 13:5-6

But in Psalm 42 the Psalmist is discouraged and THREE times he asks himself the same question, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” WHY indeed?! There’s no reason to be! The future is still as bright as the promises of God.

“Why are you cast down” literally means “Why do you bow down” to temptation and taunts?! In the Hebrew it’s in the active voice–it’s something you do; it doesn’t just happen passively. (That’s why Jesus said, LET NOT your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.”)

But the Psalmist wisely starts talking to himself, “Hey, man! Cut it out!” God didn’t “cast you down” you did it to yourself increasing your own troubles unnecessarily. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. God is still on His throne. He’s still the same sovereign Lord who said not a sparrow could fall without the Father–and “be of good cheer, Little Flock, you are of more value than many sparrows.”

An important truth is not clear in the KJV which says “hope thou in God.” The Hebrew word yachal means to wait; by implication, to be patient, to hope. And hope is a perfectly good word, of course, but in scripture it always means to hope or wait or look forward expectantly–look to God for He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Actually there are three different Hebrew words for wait that mean about the same thing but they all have expectation as part of the meaning. Two NT words mean “to expect” or “to expect fully.”

Ponder these other verses in the Old Testament about waiting on the Lord:

Psalm 37:7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Jesus gives you the power to control those dismal feelings when he said, “LET not your heart be troubled, neither LET it be afraid.” He said that twice in John chapter 14:1. "Let not your heart be troubled;” and again in verse 27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The Psalmist realizes that God is “my exceeding joy” and He knows from experience God’s goodness and kindness to him. So he complains once again in verses 6-7 NKJ “O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. “

He’s talking about the marvelous waterfalls falling from snow-covered Mount Hermon, water roaring down the mountainside until it reaches the source of the Jordan River and eventually winds its way to Lake Galilee that marvelous source of fresh water for all of Israel even today.

He feels like the waterfall is crashing down on his head and pulling him under the rapids. But Isaiah 43:1-2 “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. . . .”

And the Psalmist knows that because the very next verse 8: “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. [There you have it! Praise God in spite of your troubles.]

I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” [He knows God has NOT forgotten Him, but it does seem like it sometimes, so he will quit “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy.”

“I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Three times: v. 5, 11 & 43:5– God is the health of my countenance–He can put joy back into my face. The expression on our face–our countenance often reveals the thoughts and emotions of our heart. And He is “my God.” Well, if God is your God, then that means He has taken responsibility for you! So don’t worry about it. He is the Living God, the faithful God who does all things after the counsel of His own will. Trust God’s timing and God’s way.

“God my exceeding joy.” 43:4

Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22) Jesus said that He wants His disciples to have “His joy”–“fulness of joy.” Joy is a gift from God and rejoicing is something we can do! It’s an ATTITUDE of thanksgiving and trust in God.

You rejoice in the midst of trials. “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, [you’re being tested] being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” 1 Peter 1.6-8

There it is! That’s what we want: joy unspeakable and full of glory.

What blocks our joy that God gives? Sometimes it’s the sin of unbelief. Or the sin of bitterness! Or complaining! How can you complain against our God of grace? “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Phil. 2:14 NIV.

Bitterness or an unforgiving spirit destroys joy and your whole relationships not only with God but with others. Heb. 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God [fail to accept and use the grace and strength God is giving you; reach out and take it–with your empty hands of faith just as you did when you received Jesus as Savior–] lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby MANY be defiled. . . .”

It’s is a serious sin to become resentful towards God or His providence in your life. Confess that sin to God. Don’t have an unaccepting attitude towards God’s Providence in your life. Be willing to accept whatever comes to you from the good hand of your God! For He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you and promised also that NO TESTING would come your way but that which He gives strength to endure. 1 Cor. 10:13

You say you don’t know WHY God allows certain things to happen to you? Well, Job had a LOT more trouble than you or I have ever had and he asked God the “why” and God answered him! Read Job chs. 38-42 and you’ll see God’s answer. “Then God answered Job out of the whirlwind. . . .”

And what did God say? (Paraphrase) Job, where were you when I created the world? Tell me about the depths of the sea and the heights of the stars and the way the planets stay in orbit. If you can’t explain the most basic of questions, how are you going to understand all my good and gracious purposes.

Actually God has given a precise reason for what He allows in our lives. It’s in Romans 8:29 He tells us we have been “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” so He is in the process of making us more like Jesus and 2 Cor. 3:18 “we are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory”–by the Holy Spirit who is gradually changing us to be more and more like Christ.

And the Psalmist Asaph put it in a beautifully poetic way in Psalm 77:19 “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”

You cannot see God’s footprints but you can see the results of His actions in your life. Like a tapestry when you only look at the back side and see a helter-skelter of loose threads, but on the right side, on God’s side, His work in your life is beautiful, just like a magnificent tapestry.

And in that same Psalm 77 he changes the figure of speech and shows you the point of verse 19 by verse 20. “ Thou leddest thy people like a flock. . . .” “God leads His dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.”

Come back to our passage: why did the Psalmist appear to have lost his joy?! The answer is clear: because he became discouraged. How do you avoid that? Very simple: do exactly what Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled or afraid. “Be anxious for nothing but in everything let your requests be made known unto God–and then you’ll have not only joy–but the peace of Christ which passes understanding shall keep your hearts and minds on Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7

Where is your ‘MIND’? Is every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? Col. 3 tells us where our minds should be: “Set your affections and set your minds on things above, not on things of the earth.” For you died with Christ and you live in the heavenlies with Him right now. Eph.

Don’t forget how Psalm 43 fits with Psalm 42. 43:2 “Thou art the God of my strength”–it’s to His strength we must look and not our own. Remember in 2 Cor.1 Paul said these troubles happened” “that we might not trust in ourselves but in God.”

Where do you find joy? In the Presence of God Himself. And where do you find God? In His Word (and He indwells your heart also if you know Him)–but look in His word and find joy. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” Jer. 15:16 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Psalm 119:103

Remember: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

“Be of good cheer,” Jesus said, “it is I. Be not afraid.” Mt. 14:27

                                                                          --Pastor Burnside

Take pleasure in life. God does. Psalm 16

Take pleasure in life. God does. Psalm 16         You will not have as much trouble with discouragement or depression if you learn how to rejoice in the Lord, be thankful to Him always, and learn to take pleasure in life and delight in the things that God Himself delights in. Search the scriptures that tell us what God delights in or takes pleasure in. There are MANY! And He also tells us that "the living God gives us richly all things to enjoy" [in His time and in His way, of course.] 1 Tim. 6:17

         "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."
Psalm 16:6 Or, "delightful inheritance" (NIV) Be thankful to God for the heritage He has given you in this life as well as the inheritance that is yet to come "reserved in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:4 Be thankful and enjoy what comes to you "from the good hand of our God." This "song promotes contentment with the arrangements of one’s life, seeing them as providentially ordered." (ESV Study Bible note)

         Then King David rejoices in God’s constant Presence with Him. The Living God, Creator of heaven and earth, actually indwells us after He caused us to be "born again" into His family after we had been alienated from Him by our sins. "Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’" John 14:23 ESV Our real home is in heaven "in my Father’s house" but during the time of our sojourn on this earth, God’s Presence goes with us and "Christ in you the hope of glory" and presence of the Holy Spirit surely brings joy as well as strength and peace and love and the "fruit of the Spirit" to all who know Him. If we have God dwelling with us, "His divine power has given us all things we need for life and godliness." 2 Peter 1:4 And He has promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb. 13:5 Nothing can separate us from Him. Romans 8:38-39 A dear friend wrote to me just a few minutes ago, "My favorite part of
that passage is the word "life." Life can't separate me from His love."


        And then the Psalmist, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, adds a Messianic promise, "nor will you let your Holy One see decay." That is interpreted in the New Testament as referring to Jesus’ resurrection in Acts 2, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." Acts 2:32 His resurrection was the first step in bringing to pass the hope or certainty of eternal life. Jesus’ resurrection was the "firstfruits" as an historical guarantee that we, too, continue to live after death and our bodies shall be raised from the dead.

        We can take pleasure in God’s Presence, in God’s works, in God’s providence, and in the inheritance He has laid up for us, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God. The hope–meaning "expectation" or "anticipation"–of everlasting joy fulfills "the human yearning to be near to God and to know the pleasure of His welcome forever, beyond the death of the body. . . ."
                                                                    –Pastor Burnside        "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:7-8 NIV    "Therefore"–because of God’s constant presence, "my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave. . . ." My wife’s body is in the grave in a military cemetery in Washington State, but Jesus immediately took her spirit to be with Him in heaven when she died: "absent from the body, present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:8(ESV Study Bible note) "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

"Thy Way is in the Sea"--Psalm 77.19

        Psalm 77 tells us that trouble turns us to the Lord!  "In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord." 77:2  And verse 3 "I . . .  was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed."

        So the Psalmist cried out to the Lord and what does God do? "He gave ear unto me." He listened to me! What a privilege for the great God who created this mighty universe and each one of us individually listens to us and answers our prayers. He doesn’t always give us the answer we would prefer, but He is the omniscient, all-wise God and we are not. He certainly demonstrates that "His grace is sufficient for us"–as you have seen in your own life.

        Have you ever had Asaph’s experience, "I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. . . . I am so troubled that I cannot speak." vv.3-4 Sometimes we can simply "rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him." Other times we feel overwhelmed with the events that are "coming down on us."

        So what does Asaph do about it?? [5] "I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."

        He remembers God’s faithfulness in the past and the mighty deeds He did in "days of old, the years of ancient times." Then he remembers how God had put a new song in his heart, even praise unto the Lord and had given him joy and made his heart sing. He didn’t feel like singing now, but he knew he would again because "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

        Then he remembered some more things: "I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings." Notice how Asaph suddenly quits talking "about" God and begins talking directly to God Himself: "I will remember Thy wonders of old" and meditate on "thy work" and talk about "thy doings."

        We don’t always understand God’s ways, but we can see God’s Providence in our lives. "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." Psalm 103:7  And yet Asaph, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us something of God’s ways. He says two things about them: v.13, "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders. . . ." And in v. 19, "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known."

        We see God’s way "in the sanctuary" in the holiness of God so we know His ways are always just and right and good and best. Asaph goes into the sanctuary of God to worship Him. Worship of the Lord is our first consideration always as a way of life. Acknowledge God’s providence and thank Him for it. View everything in the light of God’s purposes and grace and wisdom, then we can see that the ends, the end results will be right. We have an immediate problem but God is accomplishing His purposes through it.

        But His way is also "in the sea" where His "footsteps are not known," they leave no tracks so we don’t always know where God is going. But we do know that His way is holy and that it is right and that one day that which is hidden will be made clear. There is mystery in life, but God is in control of that mystery. God will accomplish His purposes but the means by which He does so are often hidden from us.

        And we do know that through it all God is leading us: "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." We are His people, the sheep of His pasture and He has obligated Himself to take care of us. And so He does and so He will. That’s why we trust Him. Notice that it was not Moses and Aaron who led the people, but it was God who led them. There is but one who is the "great shepherd of the sheep." Heb. 13:20 Focus on Him and not on your problems, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

                                                                                                                                                               

God tests us–and He does it for a purpose

God tests us–and He does it for a purpose--and He tells us what some of those purposes are

"For you, O God, have tested us;" Psalm 66:10 ESV

         And then by "parallel structure" explains what that means. "Parallel structure" is a major characteristic of Hebrew poetry in which a truth is restated and in the process the second part helps to explain the first. In this case "you have tried us as silver is tried" enlarges and explains what kind of testing God does. God’s "testing" was to burn out the dross the way silver is "tried" or "tested" by melting it in a fervent heat.

          And what kind of "testing" did God send? Many kinds–
1) You brought us into the net [you did it, God!]
2) You laid a crushing burden on our backs; [you did it, God!]
3) You let men ride over our heads;
4) we went through fire and through water. 66:11-12

           Have you had difficulties that could be characterized by any of those? How do you deal with it? Keep in mind the purpose and the end result–look to the future for what God is accomplishing and producing in your life. Here it is: "yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance."

         The end result. The arrival at your destination. The accomplishment of God’s purposes–some known, some hidden. Your usefulness to God and your ministry to other people is being developed and enhanced. Your "patient endurance" is being developed. That’s why the New Testament tells us to "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 ESV

      The Psalmist goes on to tell us what he did while he was being tested: he went into the presence of God and he reminded himself of how God ministered to his soul and spirit and sustained him in the midst of the painful trial. "I cried to Him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue." 66:17
He knew he would eventually be "brought out to a place of abundance"–probably in this life, but certainly in that which is to come–so keep focused on that which is above and the glory that awaits when the journey is ended.

       "Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!" Quite the contrary–He is ever faithful. God is our refuge and strength–and underneath are the everlasting arms. Always.

The Voice of the Lord in a Thunderstorm--Psalm 29

Psalm 29
The Voice of the Lord in a Thunderstorm

“In these verses there are six descriptions of the voice of the Lord, of which the thunderstorm is an emblem. The reader should imagine a magnificent storm coming eastward from the Mediterranean Sea, making landfall to the north in the mountains of Lebanon, and heading south to sweep through Israel, from Sirion (i.e., Mount Hermon, Deut. 3:9) in the northern end to Kadesh at the southern end. The faithful, worshiping in the temple in Jerusalem, see the awesome power of the storm and from it know that the voice of the Lord is even more powerful and even more full of majesty, hence their responsive cry, Glory!”
–ESV Study Bible note, p. 972
With that in mind, read Psalm 29 ESV
A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
[2] Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
[3] The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
[4] The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
[5] The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
[6] He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
[7] The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
[8] The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
[9] The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
[10] The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
And KJV has the last verse: “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.” Listen to Spurgeon’s comments:
“There is a peculiar terror in a tempest at sea, when deep calleth unto deep, and the raging sea echoes to the angry sky. No sight more alarming than the flash of lightning around the mast of the ship; and no sound more calculated to inspire a reverent awe than the roar of the storm. . . .
“The Psalmist’s ear hears no voice but that of Jehovah, resounding from the multitudinous and dark waters of the upper ocean of clouds, and echoing from the innumerable billows of the storm-tossed sea below. The waters above and beneath the firmament are astonished at the eternal voice. When the Holy Spirit makes the divine promise to be heard above the many waters of our soul’s trouble, then is God as glorious in the spiritual world as in the universe of matter. Above us and beneath us all is the peace of God when He gives us quiet.”
“The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” “The King of kings speaks like a king. As when a lion roareth, all the beasts of the forest are still, so is the earth hushed and mute while Jehovah thundereth marvellously. ‘Tis listening fear and dumb amazement all.’ As for the written word of God, its majesty is apparent both in its style, its matter, and its power over the human mind; blessed be God, it is the majesty of mercy wielding a silver sceptre; of such majesty the word of our salvation is full to overflowing.”
–Spurgeon, Psalm 29, I, 2, pp. 30-31

"I direct my desire"

“I direct my desire”
What a helpful Psalm we have this morning! Psalm 25 begins with an idiom: “Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” The ESV Study Bible explains that “to lift up my soul” means to “direct my desire” or “set my heart on.” It’s talking about the affections of the heart and implies a “longing” for something or someone.

Where should you direct your “desire”?? You must “take pleasure” in something or someone. What or who will bring you that deep satisfaction to the longings of your heart? Happiness, pleasure, fulfillment, satisfaction, delight–these are all good words which God alone can ultimately satisfy.

So “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 As a deer thirsts for flowing streams of water, so “my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. . . .” Psalm 42:2 What a picture of great desire! Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Mt. 5:6 And the promise is still in the Bible, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

The next two verses of Psalm 25 tell us that we will never be “put to shame” or disappointed because we have a solid basis for our faith in the Living God who made heaven and earth. Those who found their hopes on vanity or emptiness and what doesn’t actually exist or is transitory and fleeting will be chagrined or put to shame. But those who trust in the Lord and look to Him will experience His saving grace and sustaining strength.

They “wait for Him” expectantly and He strengthens them in all He calls on them to experience. Our “solid rock” is “the God who is There,” His actual existence and Presence here and now. God is not just a “concept” or merely “an object of faith,” but a real Person who has eternally existed and who created the heavens and the earth and has all power in heaven and in earth.

King David then leads us in prayer,
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
“ Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.” 25:4-5
“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
“The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
“Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.” 25:16-18
I look expectantly to you, O Lord.
–Pastor Burnside

A Thanksgiving Prayer

A Thanksgiving Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for being who you are, for the marvelous works you have done, and for what you are presently creating for the future glory that awaits us who know you as Savior. May we rejoice in your works and may we be satisfied with what comes to us from the good hand of our God.

And yet, Lord, we know that our full satisfaction will come only when we can say, “ As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a beautiful inheritance. I thank you, Lord, that you lead me and guide me and give me counsel even in the night watches as I meditate on your goodness and your providence and your grace and you bring marvelous truths to my remembrance from your Word.

You are always with me. Because you are at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Satisfy us each morning, O Lord, with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen sorrow and suffering. Let your work and your purposes be shown to your servants and your glory unto our children and grandchildren. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and your glorious power demonstrated in our lives.
We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen *Psalm 17:15; 16:5-11; 90:14-17

"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times." Psalm 77:5 We don't have to go quite that far back to remember the good Thanksgiving holidays God has given us in the past. God has made us in His image so we can transcend time and space in our minds and go back and remember so many of God's blessings from the past and the sweetness of fellowship with those we love and laugh together and enjoy each other's company. And do what you can to make the present pleasant and memorable in kindness and cheerfulness towards others. "We spend our years as a tale that is told" so, under God, let's make it a good story!

We are in a special season of thankfulness so thank God for who He is! 1) "For the Lord is good; 2) his mercy is everlasting; 3) and his truth endureth to all generations."--including this one! Psalm 100:5 Share with every generation whatever age God's goodness, His mercy, and His truth. "The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." Psalm 33:11

God was faithful in the past; He is faithful now in the present; and He will always be faithful for He changes not. "The contrast between being and becoming marks the difference between the Creator and the creature. Every creature is continually becoming. It is changeable, constantly striving, seeks rest and satisfaction, and finds this rest in God, in Him alone, for only He is pure being and no becoming. "You remain the same, and your years will never end." Heb. 1:12 Hence, in Scripture God is often called the Rock. . . ." (Herman Bavinck)

Acknowledging our dependence on God is one of the ways we glorify Him. "Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." Psalm 31:2-3 We pray for God to be our Rock because He is our Rock and we look to Him for stability and strength--and then thank Him for His leading and guiding. Leading and guiding are almost the same. "We require double direction, for we are fools, and the way is rough. Lead me as a soldier, guide me as a traveller! lead me as a babe, guide me as a man. . . . lead me by thy hand, guide me by thy Word." and by thy Holy Spirit. (Spurgeon) " He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness." Psalm 23:2-3 --Pastor Burnside

"Strength in my soul"--Psalm 138

“In the day when I cried you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.”

Today’s Psalm is just what we need on a Monday morning–strength in our soul! And we begin as always “with my whole heart”–not half-heartedly following the Lord:
Psalm 138:1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
[2] I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. [What God has exalted, we should also.]

[3] On the day I called, you answered me; [He answers us more quickly than we realize sometimes, but He often gives an answer we had not expected–or strength that we didn’t realize He had already given us: “as thy days so shall thy strength be.”]
“and strengthened me with strength in my soul.” (kjv) “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Cor. 4:7

[4] All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
[5] and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
[Learn His ways so that you will know how to live.]
for great is the glory of the Lord.
[Aye, indeed! Catch a glimpse of the glory and beauty of God and you will never be the same! “Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. . . .” Psalm 90:16-17]

[6] For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, [Take your proper place before the Infinite God who made heaven and earth and now holds it in place and sustains the universe just as He gives you life and sustains you. Humility always before our Glorious God.]
but the haughty he knows from afar.

[7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble, [Isn’t that where we all walk?! Thank God when things are going well and pleasantly because it won’t always be so! “But He giveth more grace!”
you preserve my life; [That’s the only way you got this far in life!]
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.

[8] The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; [Aye! and He will! But His purposes may not be your purposes. He tells us many of His purposes (and keeps hidden other purposes from us so that we will walk by faith and not by sight.) A major purpose is to make us more like Christ. Romans 8:29 Another is to share with us the glories of eternal life “at home with the Lord”: “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose. . . .” 2 Cor. 5:5 NIV And yet a third purpose is to “work all things together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 There’s “purpose” again! God has made so many of His purposes in life clear in scripture if we but have eyes to see and hearts to believe!]

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. [Do you really believe God loves you! Not because of who you are but because of who He is! “God is love.” “Herein is love not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [“sacrifice” or payment–atonement] for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 Then live like it! Walk in His love and thank Him for it. And remember, “God disciplines those He loves!” Heb. 12:6]

“Do not forsake the work of your hands.” [How could He do that! He has promised–by His Word, by His past actions, by who He is in His character and attributes–that He will “never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5]
Be well assured that “He who has begun a good work in you will perform it [or bring it to completion]. . . .” Phil. 1:6 Aren’t you glad that it is God Himself “who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Phil. 2:13 NIV
–Pastor Burnside

Attitude of a weaned child

"Hey, I'm not only 'OK' with the new arrangement, I'm actually better off because now I have solid food and not just wonderful milk."
"Just as a weaned child is content simply having his mother's presence, so the faithful worshiper is content with God's presence, even when there are many things he would like God to explain (such as how one's own little story relates to the big story." (ESV Study Bible, p. 1109)

Psalm 131
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up [with pride];
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me. [Meaning "matters beyond human powers to comprehend"]
[2] But I have calmed and quieted my soul, [You can calm and quiet yourself just as the Psalmist did. "Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid" Jesus told His disciples. Jn. 14:27]
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
[3] O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.

[See also yesterday's blog, "Like a weaned child."]
"To the weaned child his mother is his comfort though she has denied him comfort. It is a blessed mark of growth out of spiritual infancy when we can forego the joys which once appeared to be essential, and can find our solace in Him who denies them to us . . . and every childish complaint is hushed. If the Lord removes our dearest delight we bow to His will without a murmuring thought. . . . This grows out of humility and lowliness, and it is the stem upon which peace blooms as a fair flower. . . . Blessed are those afflictions which subdue our affections, which wean us from self-sufficiency . . . which teach us to love God not merely when He comforts us, but even when He tries us." (Spurgeon, Treasury of David, III, 131)

“The Lord is my Keeper”

“The Lord is my Keeper”
It's wonderful for us to know that “The Lord is my Shepherd”--especially since it's 'MY' shepherd—so personal and real. But what does it mean to say “the Lord is my Keeper”? The Hebrew word is shamar meaning “to keep, guard, watch over, attend to carefully., to preserve.” We see God “keeping watch o'er His own” throughout the Bible concluding with this wonderful benediction and doxology, “Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, [25] To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1.24-25
Let's browse through this beautiful little Psalm together Psalm 121 ESV “A Song of Ascents” which means it was sung on the way to Jerusalem and during the three annual feasts of Israel: Passover, Pentecost, and the Harvest Feast of Tabernacles. Verse 1: “I lift up my eyes to the hills” as we draw closer to Jerusalem and the road becomes steeper and I see the beauty of the mountains in front of me. And he asks, “From where does my help come?” And his response makes the whole pilgrimage a parable for his life, “[2] My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Where else are we to look for help but to the Lord and in His providence He will send you people and circumstances that will help you while He Himself sustains your spirit. He who created the heavens and the earth and preserves it is quite able to preserve, protect, and care for you as well.
“[3] He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” It matters not what time of the day or night, God is there watching over you. It's personal: He's watching over “you” individally. And then His watchcare is for all of us so it's inclusive: “[4] Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.” There is an interesting play on words here. Shamar comes from shemuroth meaning the eyelids, i.e. “keepers of the eye” as God is called shomer Ishrael, “the keeper of Israel” (and by extension, the keeper of the Church, the body of Christ.)
Then it's individual and personal again, “[5] The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. [6] The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.” How can you be “smitten” by the sun? In that hot arid land of Palestine sunstroke and dehydration were frequent dangers. The hot sun withers the plants and can blind the eyes. How wonderful shade is on a hot summer day. And what about the moon at night? [Some of the commentators suggest that if you sleep out on a clear moonlit night you need to cover your eyes or face to protect from “moonstroke” (whatever that is, I'm not sure.) Click on Comment and let me know. I couldn't locate it in my reference books. Maybe the Psalmist mentions the moon simply to show God's comprehensive care by night as well as by day. Another Psalm mentions, “You will not fear the terror of the night” 91:5 “The day is thine, the night also is thine. . . .”. Ps. 74:16]
“[7] The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” Surely you are aware of God's providential protection in your life. From the time God formed us in our mother's womb and protected us and gave us birth and life [Ps.139] so has God often protected and preserved us and kept us from danger. But what about those Christians who were killed or martyred or simply “died in an accident”? Were they not protected? The answer is clearly seen in the life of Jesus. Jesus was obviously preserved and protected throughout His life, in His birth and protected from the murderous hands of King Herod when He was less that two years old and was directed by the angel to flee into Egypt. And later when they sought to kill Him, they could not so much as lay a hand on Him even in the confines of the Temple where his enemies controlled the Temple police and when they were sent, they returned empty handed. Earlier in Nazareth they tried to push Him off a cliff, but He simply “passed throug their midst” without anyone being able to stop Him or grab Him. Why was this protection given Him? Scripture tells us: “because His hour was not yet come.'
Then in the last week of His sojourn here on earth, Jesus told His disciples, “My hour has come.” And then the events of the Passion Week unfolded just as prophesied in the Old Testament.
At the time of His transfiguration Jesus told Peter James and John, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” Luke 9:22 And He gave all of His disciple more details just days before He was arrested by His enemies,. “And taking the twelve, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise." Luke 18:31-33 ESV
Why didn't God protect Him from those things the way He had protected and preserved Him all His life here on earth? The answer is simple: His death was in the Plan of God to provide redemption and eternal life to all who would turn to Him in repentance and faith. Peter on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection and ascension 40 days later told the Jews, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Acts 2:23 Their actions were done by their “wicked hands,” but God had determined “before the foundation of the world” that Jesus would lay down His life so that we might be saved.
Jesus' death was “foreordained before the foundation of the world.” 1 Peter 1:20 Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13:8
Jesus is our example in so many things. We, too, are protected by God (not from our own foolish folly and we will reap the results of our actions--”whatever a person sows, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7) until His purposes have been accomplished in our lives and then He comes to take us home to be with Him. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16 NIV
Now back to this wonderful little Psalm and the last verse, “[8] The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” God is not only all-powerful and all-wise and the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep and loves them, He is also our Great Protector and Preserver, ever-watchful even of the small details of our lives. God feeds and cares for the birds, shall He not also take care of you? “Be of good cheer, Little Flock, you are of much more value than many sparrows!”
“Your going out and your coming in.” That speaks of all your actions, does it not? “None are so safe as those whom God keeps; none so much in danger as the self-secure.” (Spurgeon) We should be aware of our weakness and vulnerability so that we will depend on the Lord. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Cor. 1:9 NIV 2 Cor. 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Cor. 4:7
God protects and preserves us “from this time forth and forevermore.” He who has taken care of us all of our lives is certainly not going to abandon us when we get sick or old and weak and unable to take care of ourselves. “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life” and then take you home to be with Him. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:6
--Pastor Burnside