a desired dwelling place

For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it."

Psalm 132:13-14

The Lord chose to be with Israel in a visible way through the temple worship in Jerusalem. In that sense He chose Zion as a resting place. Until that time, the worship of GOd had been mobile, conducted in a portable sanctuary in the tent of meeting known as the tabernacle.

But David had a vision for a permanent temple for worshipping Yahweh on Zion in Jerusalem. He drew up the plans. Solomon built the magnificent structure. It was a wonder of the ancient world. And God blessed the commitment with a promise to forever rest there.

Of course, this doesn't in any way diminish God's universal presence. There is today no temple on Zion. But God's promise is to "be there" still, even as He is everywhere. And He still deserves all the best that we can give Him in our worship. We must give Him His holy desire.

humility, contentment, & hope

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 

Psalm 131:1

This is a song about contentment. In verse two David says he is content in God's presence like a small child is content in the presence of his mother (Ps 131:2). He has weaned himself away from incessantly demanding answers and things from God and instead just rests in the presence of God.

This all began with an attitude of humility willing to let God handle the unknown. David did not demand from God what he did not know. He chose to let those deeper mysteries remain with God and in God's timing. David realized his limitations and leaned on God.

This contentment was David's hope. From it he calls all of Israel to always hope in God (Psalm 131:3). David had learned humility, simple joy in trusting God rather than demanding from God, and he called others to know the confident hope of a contented son.

reasons for hope

O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 

Psalm 130:7

Those who know God are never without hope. God's love is shown to us daily through our redemption. There is always before us the living hope in Christ that keeps us trusting Him despite the uncertainties that surround us. There is always hope, because there is always God. What a blessing to never take for granted.

This encourages me in a season where I am tempted to lose perspective on that hope. Life changes are hard both personally and among people that I love. I am pressed in by change everywhere I look right now... and it is not all change that I would say I wanted. Yet I know that the steadfast love of The Lord has not changed. My life changes. People change. Institutions change. Things break and decay and fall down. God is still steadfast in His love and His plentious mercies in redemption are unchanging!

"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, it's glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see --

O Thou Who changest not, abide with me."

affliction's song

The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. 

Psalm 129:4

This song is the cry of a soul afflicted by the evil actions of others. It is a sad but true fact of life that this sort of thing is a daily reality. People sin against us. They can be cruel, heartless and completely evil to us. But we have a resource and refuge. We can cry out to God.

When people are bad to us, God is still good. He can deliver us. He can free us. He can cut the cords even when we are being bound by the hatred of another person's actions.

The African-American church was born out of the evils of American slavery. It arose in affliction. Yet even today, worship in an African-American church is lively and free! The cords were cut by God's goodness and still show that freedom a century and a half later. God sets the captives free; God rewards the righteous because He is righteous.

4 blessings

The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! 

Psalm 128:5-6

There are four distinct blessings for the worshiper of The Lord. The first is that God would bless through worship. The "souvenir" of a trip to Jerusalem to worship at the temple was the real blessing of God upon the worshiper.

The second blessing was for Jerusalem itself to prosper, thus ensuring a lifetime of secure worship there. It is the blessing of continuous worship.

The third blessing was for a long life and a full family. It is the request to see healthy grandchildren and to know full circle the blessings of God in another generation.

The fourth and final blessing in Psalm 128 is for the peace of the nation. This is not so much a national security prayer as it is a hope for the true peace of God to pervade hearts and lives that obey The Lord and love His law.

the family & worship

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

Psalm 127:1

Two things stand out about this psalm. First, as a song of ascents it was meant to be memorized and sung by Israelite families as they pilgrimaged to Jerusalem for feast days. This explains the family perspective of this psalm, particularly its celebration of children and family in verses three through five. I envision parents singing this song with children in tow. Probably entire inter-generational extended families travelled together, singing of the blessings of family, children, and God's goodness to them.

Secondly, it was penned by Solomon. As such, it would have been a "new song" in its day. It must have been composed early in the history of the Temple then, showing us the "family-centeredness" of Israel's early Temple worship traditions. To worship God then is a family activity meant to bring all generations together before The Lord.

top ten: praise for great things

The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 

Psalm 126:3

God's work, His care and His provision for us, is a source of unending joy. God is good and His love for us is always on display in the reality of the gospel. Jesus has provided eternal life AND abundant life. There is joy in knowing what God has done has forever changed us. And we are glad to be the recipients of God's good grace!

My "short list" of the great thing God has done for me:

1) He led my parents to Christ when I was 7 years of age.

2) He led me to understand and believe the gospel at that same time.

3) He surrounded me with solid gospel preaching and loving Christian influence.

4) He taught me through key relationships with other Christians.

5) He gave me a great Christian wife.

6) He blessed me with loving children.

7) He led me to serve in awesome ministry!

8) He gave me the chance to work among Christian leaders with integrity who challenge me to lead correctly and for the glory of God.

9) I am blessed to be able to provide for my family during difficult economic uncertainties.

10) I could add to this list substantially because God's goodness is profoundly abundant!

Surrounded!

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 

Psalm 125:2

I love the majesty and security of this poetic picture. I am a mountain man living in a semi-contented exile in the prairie lands! When I can spend time in the high countries, I can relate to this vivid imagery. Now I know that Judea is not the Rockies, but mountains are mountains, no matter how tall.

So as Israel marched up to Zion for feast days, approaching the high hills surrounding Jerusalem must have immediately incited hope of the worship that awaited them at the temple there. The mountains brought hope and security.

And God so surrounds His people. Hope in Christ is always around me. It is as close as the reading of God's Word. It is as dear as a favorite memory of a pleasant journey. It is as beautiful as a mountainous panorama.

escaped!

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 

Psalm 124:7

Psalm 124 celebrates deliverance. It is a song that knows oppression and attack from an enemy. But it reaches a joyful refrain when God delivers out of the teeth of the enemy. The trap that was set was horribly ineffective. God delivered in such a way that snares are broken and the escape was easy with Him.

A quick observation is that God still allowed the attacks and the traps. He did not take away the enemy, just the effectiveness of the attacks. God's people still felt the fear. God's people still had to trust in God. God's people still prayed.

This is one reason why I believe prayer is very important for me today. God does not take away opposition. He simply empowers us to withstand it and His truth will never be defeated even as it is attacked regularly. He will lead us out and we can escape by His grace. Even death is an escape from the snare! But we must pray precisely because the attack is real, even if nobody has ever succeeded in working against a sovereign God.

Cue Bill Maher

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. 

Psalm 123:3-4

This prayer is still very appropriate in an age when New Atheists now wildly attack Christianity with all the subtlety of a mixed martial arts cage fighter. It's Thunderdome in the religious arena. And contempt for faith is a new kind of cool in this world.

This is scorn for God and contempt for His rule. And God will easily fend for Himself quite nicely, thank you. But we His people should pray for His strength, protection, and grace to permeate our interactions with those who oppose Him. Why? Because He will use us to make His case!

We are still the means God chooses to spread the message of salvation and love to the world. Even those who oppose God are people for whom Christ willingly and lovingly suffered. We may wind up doing the same for His sake. Jesus promised His disciples they would be persecuted. It's OK. God is in control. He is easily winning. No atheist attack alarms Him or ever diminishes His authority. The fighters are swinging at air. But He will have mercy on us when we are held in contempt for being His people.

worship... together

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" 

Psalm 122:1

Standing in the "tent of meeting"

sharing hearts, with happy greeting

we sing and pray

and bless the day

we gather to worship The Lord.

Joy in our hearts resounding

praises and songs among us sounding

we praise His name...

we share God's fame...

together in the house of The Lord.

Encouragement spoken from God's word

as directions is given from our Lord;

covenanting together as one

we live to see His kingdom come

glorifying our sovereign Lord.

Leaving assembly from where we gathered

into the world the gospel is scattered

in personal lives changed by gospel's grace

we serve God beyond the gathering place

together each one of us serving The Lord.

anticipating worship

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

Psalm 121:1-2

This is a "song of ascents". It was meant to be sung by worshipers as they made the trek to Jerusalem in order to worship at the temple. The city is built on a raised hill, so to go to Jerusalem was something of an upwards hike. The pilgrims looked to the hills of Judea as they journeyed. And even in the city, worshipers ascended the Temple Mount to worship.

To "look to the hills" was to anticipate worship. It was a way to long for God's presence and activity. To look for God's help by lifting eyes to the hills was a kind of prayer. And this psalm gives the built in answer to that prayer.

What the pilgrims sang about in anticipation of entering the temple was meeting with God Himself, Creator of all. The worship anticipaed an encounter with the mighty Creator God. The song hopes for just such a moment with the Almighty. It is real, and very powerful worship. And I can know it every time I open God's Word, let His Spirit speak to me in its understanding, go to God in prayer, and let Him transform me by doing what His Word says.

culture of lies

In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 

Psalm 120:1-2

The damage done by liars is profound. In a universe governed by a holy, true God Who cannot lie, the existence of even one falsehood is an affront. And people lie all the time. The effect of compounded lies upon lies is staggeringly intense.

Lies exist for many reasons... none of them good reasons. We think we can protect ourselves by deceit. We often lie to keep from admitting a sin or a weakness. We lie to impress others. We lie to keep ourselves comfortable. All of those kinds of lies show our lack of faith in God.

The prayer to be delivered from lies and deceit is still daily prayed. We cannot act like God's children and lie. And we are left to navigate a world built on lies. We NEED God and His truth in order to successfully live beyond the distress our lying culture brings to us with every encounter.

my soul in the dust

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! 

Psalm 119:25

Honest faith is real enough with God to admit when the soul is down. Christianity is for just those times. It isn't a fake optimism. It is real hope and strength. And for hope to be real, times need to be hard and the soul needs to be hurting... reaching for perspective.

Life is full of disappointments and pains. There are periods of time when sadness and difficulty attend our every move. And at those times we must fall upon The Lord and trust in His Word.

When my life feels like it has been drained from me, God's Word brings me life. When my hope is distant, God's Word is near. When sorrow is my strongest emotion, God's Word brings comfort. There may be moments of pain, but God's truth and the presence of His wisdom can ease the heartache. He can lift me up from the dust, reviving my soul by His Word! Amen!

God of Rescue

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 

Psalm 118:5

I called on You;

You heard me.

I needed You, Lord

and You helped me.

I was bound in sin;

You cut me free.

I had done You wrong;

You forgave me.

I had no hope at all

and You comforted me.

I had no answers;

You answered me.

I was lost in the dark

and You saved me with light.

I could not move on

so You carried me.

I was dead in sin;

You resurrected me in Christ!

God's steadfast love for the world

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:1-2

The shortest psalm, the shortest chapter in the Bible, reminds us that God loves all the people of the world. It is a call to worship issued to a world loved by God. It calls us to the global mission of worship. It is a mission-setting mindset in miniature.

The global focus could not be more clear: "Praise the LORD, all nations" and again... "Extol him, all peoples". "All" means everybody, without exception, worldwide. If you are a "people", you are in this call and experiencing to one degree or another the great steadfast love of The Lord.

God loves the world. God wants me to love the world. He wants me to make His name great through worship and the proclamation of the Word. He wants the gospel to move forward through the words and actions of His saints so His steadfast saving love is known worldwide!

I cannot repay.

What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 

Psalm 116:12-14

Lord,

I cannot repay the great cost of Your love for me. My salvation came at the price of Jesus' life and death. It is secured in the reality of Jesus' own resurrection from the dead. My life is filled with the benefits of my great salvation. Even when some things in this life hurt and are very hard, nothing takes away the joy of such great salvation!

I come to You in Your Word and find direction, comfort, and sustaining strength. When life circumstances get strange or out of control, You bring stability. I will praise You for this. I will give my energies, efforts, and abilities that You have created in me for Your praise and glory. It is worth the cost because it cannot equal the gifts of Your grace that cost so much to You.

Amen

Help & Shield

O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 

Psalm 115:9

Sometimes I am

at the end of my rope

needing hope

barely holding on to a thread

and in my dread

I call out...

You are my help

Other times I am

being besieged

cut off at the knees

attacked by enemies

starting to bleed

I reach out...

You are my shield

how God gives

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

Psalm 114:7-8

This psalm celebrates how God led Israel out of Egypt and into the Land of Promise. As such, it is very abbreviated, focusing on the power of God to save, not the history of rebellious Israel at that time. This song sings the mighty power of God in leading His people and giving them a land to possess for their own.

GOD DELIVERS FROM SLAVERY. He took Israel out of Egypt and set them free. No longer were they bound in slavery. They were freed to follow Him.

GOD GIVES A POSSESSION. He led Israel to possess the Promised Land. He kept a covenant with Abraham and made a new land covenant with the children of Israel.

GOD PROVIDES FOR NEEDS. In the wilderness God's people were fed. Water sprang from rocks at God's miraculous supply. His provision displays His caring love for His people.

Who is like The Lord our God?

Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 

Psalm 113:5-6

Dear God Whose perspective sits above the universe, I know that You see me and care for me. And in the mass of billions of human lives on planet earth, You see into the depths of my heart. You have that same perceptive gaze into every person who ever has lived, or ever will live. And You love us so much that You gave Yourself to us in Your Son, so much that He died for our sins so that we may know You.

Lord, no one is like You. No human can be. We did not make the universe. You, however, sit over it and could pinch it all between Your fingernails! So my worship must go to only You and not the things You have made. As I think about the rhetorical question of who is like You, I realize that there really is only You in my life.

I am amazed at the love of God in Christ. The God Who sees and knows every intimate detail of everything, (including my sins) that God is my Lord and my Savior. And my life is safe with Him! I will live my life in Him. Amen

taking the bad news

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. 

Psalm 112:7

This song celebrates the benefits that come to a righteous soul that walks in God's ways. And a godly person can handle bad news. I think it is important to realize that the text does NOT say that a good person never has bad news come into his or her life. On the contrary, it seems to imply that bad news comes at times to good people. They just handle it better.

Instead of fear, a righteous person responds with firm faith, trusting God in difficult times. That is the big difference. Bad news may come, but God does not change! Faith in God will carry the good man through bad times.

Now, on "Good Friday" I remember the bad things that happened to Jesus. He suffered and died for my sins. He endured the cross, despising its shame for my sin because it was a "joy set before Him" to bring many sons to glory! What started out as "bad news" in the death of Christ is now very much "good news" in the gospel. He is the only hope for mankind. No other way to the Father exists except by Him. Easter is coming, and life will be secured in a resurrection. My heart is firm, trusting in The Lord.

God's Word... forever

The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 

Psalm 111:7-8

The outstanding duration of the work of God is that it will always last. God builds things that last... forever. Even this current universe, marred by sin, groaning as all creation, waiting for redemption, will be remade as the new heavens and the new earth. Once created, God's will is for the universe to remain. He does lasting work.

The same is true of His Word. It is established. His precepts and principles are trustworthy. They are eternal truths that last forever with God. We, His people , are bound to His Word forever to live faithfully by His leading.

One reason why I must remain faithful to God's Word despite the chaos and change all around me is that it maintains my eternal priorities. I know that I feel the "forever" in its pages. I can handle any of life's unexpected bumps with the power of God's sustaining truth forever settled for me. In His Word is my strength.

mighty Ruler

The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 

Psalm 110:2

I write this so Far East on the globe that Passion week began yesterday. The time to reflect on my suffering Savior and His sacrifice is here. It will culminate with the celebration of His resurrection when I am once again with my home and family at the start of next week. So landing on this Messianic psalm at this moment is interesting timing.

I worshiped in a tight, hot room packed with believers yesterday. We shared the unique fellowship of a common meal around the table after we were first fed by the strong exposition of the Word. And Jesus rules over us! His scepter circles the globe. Even in places where men oppose Him, Jesus reigns! He does indeed rule in the midst of His enemies.

Rule Lord Jesus! Lead Your bride to love You and to declare Your rule among Your enemies. Save Your foes to make them Your friends. The gospel of Your love turns your enemies into Your servants! Amen.

when accused

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. 

Psalm 109:4-5

David was under the scrutiny and attacks of evil men when recording the words of this psalm. It could have been a snapshot taken at many points in his life, whether early in his service to Israel when running for his life from Saul, or later when running from the rebellious uprising led by his own son, Absalom. David knew the heartbreak of misunderstanding and the fear of persecution.

But David trusted God when accused and attacked. He said, "I give myself to prayer." The Hebrew is literally, "I am prayer". I like that. When under pressure, we should make our lives a constant prayer to The Lord. There is a peace and consistency that will pervade even the most perilous times of persecution when God's people pray.

I long to have David's heart. To make my life a prayer is to seek constant communion with God. And so I wish to be today.

Among the Peoples

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

Psalm 108:3

Yes, Lord I will sing

my own praises I will bring

with the joy of all peoples of the earth

I will sing of Your great matchless worth

Among the peoples I will sing

Yes I will sing

Yes, Lord, I will always tell

of the glory of the gospel

offered hope to every nation

You give us more than conceived in imagination

With love our hearts around the world proclaim

of saving love, heavenly home, spreading Jesus' fame

Among the peoples  I will sing

Yes I will sing

prayer for perspective

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD. 

Psalm 107:43

Lord,

My need for wisdom is great. I am a foolish person. I focus on me. My periphery barely extends beyond the reach of my fingers. I can't see beyond the tip of my nose. I am pathetically nearsighted in my "wisdom". It is why I need to attend to the reading, understanding, knowing, and doing of Your Word.

In the pages of Your book, Lord, I read the story of Your steadfast love, played out over generations, through centuries, among nations, to the entire world. It takes me out of my narrow tunnel and gives me the forced perspective that I must have. It opens my eyes to a vast world. I see humanity as You do, at least in part, and my focus shifts beyond me. Help me to always consider these things!

Amen

two types of leaders

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! 

Psalm 106:2-3

This is the call of all the Lord's people. It is particularly vital for leaders to heed because the people best prepared to make a difference in uttering God's mighty deeds are leaders. Those who rise up to share in that duty are blessed to serve The Lord in gladness. It is a joy, a responsibility and ultimately a delight to do so.

This psalm mentions leaders at key points in Israel's growth. Moses and Aaron were Israel's great Exodus leaders, but they suffered at the mumbling indifference of the nation. Leadership is always tested. Don't lead if you don't think that you can handle that.

Phinehas was a leader of opportunity. When he saw how far Israel's idolatry had come into the camp, he stopped it single-handedly, dramatically and for the glory of God. And instanteous leaders like him are needed now as well.

Rejoice!

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 

Psalm 105:3

Calls to worship don't get much louder than this one. It is a call to rejoice in The Lord. We know God is great. We believe it. But do we let it be known by what we say about Him? Do we really act like God is a big deal? We should rejoice!

That rejoicing must come from the heart. It should well up from our soul and emotions spilling out into all that we say and do. We should be a peple that invite others to know God's deeds that have been made known among us. Rejoice!

God is better to me than I deserve. I know that every day that I live. And I praise Him for a daily sustaining grace that gets me through. I will rejoice.

Biblical Meditation

May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD. 

Psalm 104:34

One of the deepest of spiritual experiences is the richly rewarding practice of biblical meditation. But to understand what the scriptures mean by meditation we must dismiss from our thinking any concepts of Eastern mysticism. Our modern view of meditation is that of "emptying the mind" (which is an impossibility). But God's Word teaches us that biblical meditation is the opposite: It is filling the mind with what scripture teaches.

Biblical meditation is closely linked with memorization. It is the deliberate process of centering our attention on scripture, its meaning and its application to our lives. It is not easy to do. It is work. It requires deliberate use of time. It involves backstudy of the text prior to thinking on it, continued study as we think, and further thought as we evaluate its application. But it is hugely rewarding.

Bible-saturated thinking renews our minds. It builds us up. It is worship. It grows us and builds others. It shapes a Christian worldview. Meditation then is careful, deliberate thinking about God through His Word.

the steadfast love of The Lord

But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 

Psalm 103:17-18

God is faithful to all generations. He does not fail in displaying His everlasting love. The relationship He had with David, marked by His faithful love to His servant, is the same sort of relationship that I enjoy in Christ. Millennia and history have moved on, but God remains steadfast through all generations and the march of time.

God's vision for humanity is so much bigger than my experience can fathom. God is faithful generationally. He enters into relationships that last thousands of years and extend into eternity. 

God could see in Abraham a nation of countless souls whom He loved. He made covenants to preserve future generations. My day to day moments are so microscopic in comparison, yet God's steadfast love is carried into my neediest single moment. That is faithfulness that reveals a carefully created past, protects my present, and preserves the future, not only for me, but for all those who will come after me!

through generations

But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. 

Psalm 102:12

From beginning to end

Your kingdom will not end

Ruling forever

Failing us never

Each generation sings Your praise

Your power never ceases

Your greatness increases

Our voices we raise

in grateful praise

Each generation worships You

Christ's love given

Securing hope and heaven

Repenting of sin

We enter in

Each geneartion cleansed by You

Salvation's story

Bringing You glory

Your church will sing

Her worship to bring

Each generation surrendered to You

a vow of integrity

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 

Psalm 101:2b-3

This entire psalm is a vow of integrity that David made before the Lord. Some of it is unique to his role as Israel's king. Other parts are the kinds of things the covenant of the Law demanded. But the personalization of David's obedience in this matter is still quite instructive. Holiness means something when we own it and apply it to our own circumstances.

Part of our call to holiness should compel us to commit to personal holiness. We have to stay at the task of letting God change us. We must purpose to be true to Him. Our efforts do not save us, but they do keep us safe. 

For David, integrity started in his own house. He vowed to not even look at worthless idols. He would not let idolatrous desires cling to him. He knew that God was deserted first at that long, lusting look. And integrity crumbles when worldly longings cling to our hearts. Integrity starts in the purposes of the heart.

The Preacher's conclusion

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

The book of Ecclesiastes ends with one final clear observation. There is one overarching truth that sets the framewok for living in a fantastic and sometimes frustrating world: "fear God and keep His commands." That is the driving philosophy Solomon found to make sense of things.

So when I share in Solomon's sarcastic observations about the world's absurdities, I pause and recall that God is in control. It is His plan to sort it all out in righteous judgment. No person gets away with anything. No secret sins go unpunished. No hidden charity goes unrewarded. That is why my entire duty is to know, fear, and obey God.

Solomon processes earthly observations with heavenly wisdom. He factors in the reality of God's holiness and everything falls in place, including human duty to God. God makes everything else make sense.

a kingdom portfolio

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Ecclesiastes 11:6

The message from this little observation is to invest your life carefully in a diverse portfolio of opportunities. It is not wise to keep your eggs in one basket. Better to explore and expand than to sink into one opportunity alone and have it fail. That makes sense with money and with our life choices.

I realize that I should contemplate how to follow this. I have a tendency to get comfortable and settle in to the numbing sameness. It is soothing. I don't take risks very much. But I might be missing the wise move in the process.

I am thinking now in terms of ministry. I tend to sow seeds of gospel ONLY in the context of local church ministry. But what if the potentially prosperous "field" that needs more gospel sown into it is outside the established Christian culture and I miss it? I think that is the case. I need to think bigger with the gospel driving all facets of my life experience. Most of the needy sinners in the world are not in the church (although there are plenty of us there as well!). And Jesus wants to reach them. My kingdom portfolio seriously needs to diversify.

an absurdity

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7

Solomon comments on the absurd realities of human decision-making. Just because a person has power and influence does not mean they also utiize proper wisdom. From his observation, Solomon concludes that rulers often display folly. Politics is then something of a fool's game. It does not always lead to a satisfactory view of humanity, but instead has the opposite effect.

That is why no power or control system devised by humans is worth emulating. No business plan, no denominational structure, no system of government can guarantee wisdom. God is the center of wisdom and only thoughts that start and end with Him can prevent folly from taking over.

Human culture apart from God's truth leads to absurdity. A Christian worldview must center upon this, hold fast to it, and demand its answers from God. Errors proceed from any other rulers.

"under the sun" or "under heaven"?

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

From a finite, human perspective these observations hold as reality. I know I see them. There are exceptions to almost every expectation. This verse however is not a concession. It is reality. And scripture has recorded Solomon's observation for us to ponder.

These are "under the sun" notations. That phrase is shorthand for a limited, naturalistic, human perspective that only takes into account physical observations and not spiritual revelation. As such, these notations reflect life in a fallen world. Sin twists lives and ruins our experiences and expectations. And so even the best of human efforts come up short... fast runners may occassionally lose races, battles are won by unseen fortune, wisdom goes unrewarded, and chance accidents occur.

But "under the sun" is different than "under heaven". And when our periphery extends to eternity, these obervations don't sting as much. God has given us Himself and that relieves the ache of our heartfelt disappointments on this earth. It brings much needed perspective. Faith is a power greater than disillusioning experience. And the gift that God gives of Himself lasts forever!

Fearing God is its own reward.

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 8:12

Solomon addresses an apparent inconsistency. Sometimes it appears like wicked people prosper despite what we believe about God's justice. But there is much more to the story. He observed that a wicked sinner may seem to have a full life, but that really amounts to nothing without God.

What the Preacher knows is that real satisfaction of soul abides with those who fear God. God is their source, their sustaining life, and their joy. Because of this they do well... more so than someone who only has the stuff of this world.

That same observation can be made today. Wealth and worldly success mean nothing in comparison to knowing the pleasures of God. Fearing God is its own reward because those who do so have God as their king. And God has everything.

song of fools

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. 

Ecclesiastes 7:5

Correction and learning are much better for a person than entertainment and amusement. But don't tell that to our culture! People may not be able to look away from their 60 inch plasma screens long enough to understand. Entertainment is an idol and amusement is very big business. But we may just be amusing ourselves to death. This tendency has always been part of the human struggle.

The words of Solomon ring out to us. But can we hear them? Are we too distracted by Hollywood glitz, flashing video games, and the constant demanding attention of social media on our cellphones to even listen? Wise words rebuke us and call us to change. But it requires effort for us to first even listen to the call to do so!

Lord,

in my culture of ceaseless info-tainment I probably miss many wise words. Help me to set limits. Let me learn from Your rebuke. Keep me focused on You and not my endless demanding false "need" for more of my world's mind-numbing amusements. Amen

eat then die

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

Ecclesiastes 6:7

There you have it. The end of naturalism as a motivating lifestyle is absolute frustration. It is not a good thing. We work hard, we feed our faces, yet we will be hungry again until the moment we die. That is not very exciting. It is a drudgery and just a mere existence.

I don't see how mere naturalism can be a joy to the heart of anyone. I watched Neil DeGrasse Tyson exult evolution as a personally spiritual experience for him as last night's episode of "Cosmos" did its best to defeat arguments for a Creator. But evolution is just the epitome of "eat and then die" morbidity. Hardly spiritual... in fact it is a logical fallacy to suggest that naturalistic processes create "spiritual" experiences. DUH!

I enjoy the philosophical merits of Christianity. It places the natural world in a created order. It is not an "eat then die" conclusion. But instead it finds a fulness of joy in the nail-scarred hands of Him Who gives Himself for us so that we may enjoy life! It is life beyond life. That is a spiritual experience that is impossible via naturalism.

worship is dangerous

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Worship is a serious matter. It is not generated by programs or liturgy. It comes when an individual approaches God and means business. It should never be flippant or casual in its meaning to the worshiper. That is why we are told to "guard our steps" when we approach God's house.

The key is to come to hear from God. That is contrasted with committing to meaningless ritual with much flair. It is better to be true to simply appoint our hearts to hear from God than to impress anyone with loud music, colorful lights, and fog machines that cause us to miss hearing from God!

It we miss the chance to listen to God, we missed Him. And to do that is called "evil" in this warning. So if we are not attentive, our false worship will do much harm. Hearing from God is a priority in worship.

the grass isn't greener

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:4

They color envy green

...like money

...like my neighbor's yard

...like a manicured country club

I think I know what they mean

...more cash

...keep up with the Jones's

...prestige in what I own

But money is good

...it clothes the cold

...feeding hungry kids

...saving lives with medicine

Motives can be bad

...driven by greed

...dominant selfish need

...ignoring others that I see

Unhappiness results

...when envy and greed

...override holier views

...materialism is cruel

Contentment is achieved

...with godliness joined

...to eternal commitments

...money's just equipment

a heart filled with forever

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

This is one of the major observations of The Preacher in Ecclesiastes. It is Solomon's solemn realization that God does good work. And one of God's important creative designs is the very nature of the quest that we were made to pursue. It is "beautiful" because it is made by God.

We were designed to ask big questions because built into the heart of every human is this big eternal gap. In that canyon that only God can fill are the echoing existential questions of the soul. It is the seed that grows our worldview. It makes us aware of "something more". It is an aching source of longing to know... anything or everything. It drives us to "find out what God has done". In that "heart filled with eternity" is the desire and drive of all of humanity. It is exhibited in art, in science, in human achievement, in civilization and in contemplation.

But Solomon also notes that the same drive that compels us to understand, to ask big questions and to search for the truth of things is frustrated by human limitation. And that too is God's design. We want to know it all. We physically cannot do so. Hence the need for trust in the God we are driven to seek out.

I like to put Solomon's observation this way: My life was made to make sense with God. Anything else will engage the wonder of the search (which feels powerful) but not the pleasure of satisfying it with full answers (ultimately frustrating). I was made by God to know God. That observation puts it all into perspective, even if I am still looking to Him for more answers.

nothing gained

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

We like to tell ourselves that hard work is its own reward. But that is not entirely true. Work cannot be an ends in itself. Neither can money, or things, or pleasures. All of these are just temporary moments of fulfillment at best. They all must focus us to a greater purpose.

Solomon vents his frustrations at the pursuits of wisdom, pleasure, leisure, accomplishment, and treasure. All those kinds of things would not really bring a full joy. In the end they left the big questions unanswered and the needs of his heart unmet. They all led to the same frustrating chasing of the wind that plagued Solomon's soul.

This is the way of the world. We were made for more and we know it. This knowledge is why we pursue almst anything with the rabid devotion of a starving person, hoping for those answers to settle. And it is what should lead us to pursue our pleasure in God Who is the Source of those things. We mistake the signs for the destination every time.

There is nothing to be gained under the sun if we ignore the call to live under the Son. When we begin to live with an eternal viewpoint, things change. There is still the vanity of earthly things. But there is a deeper purpose that lifts us out of the blowing, worthless wind and into the joy of our Father's love.

chasing down the wind

I said in my heart, "I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:16-17

Solomon's intimate personal journal details are found in this book. It is a record of his personal quest to figure out his world. It is a philosophical masterpiece of human reflection. But it is not a slappy-happy feel-good kind of diary that would sell well in a modern Christian bookstore! You  can't really market coffee mugs, wall paintings, and T-shirts from Ecclesiastes. Don't try it. It is a darkly written notebook stinging with the cynicisms of a man who burned out on everything but finally found Something in the ashes. It is worth sorting through the tougher, bitter observations to get at the kernels of life truth Solomon found.

Solomon had it all. He did it all. He had the wealth of a nation in his palace treasuries and he utilized it to gain the finest education on every possible subject. He pursued wisdom and pleasure equally lustily, wringing them out for every last drop of personal experience possible for him to have. And ultimately they did not satisfy. His final verdict on all of that endeavor over his lifetime: chasing the wind.

There is a human perspective in Ecclesiastes that is just as real today as in Solomon's troubled soul. Only most westerners can be like Solomon in the pursuit of the wisdom of this world. We often have access to a university of human thought in the palm of our hands... literally. But there is an error at the beginning of this search that leaves us trying to catch wind in our jars. It is the mistake of assuming that the cosmos is all there is and has all the answers within itself. (Sorry, Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson) The physical universe is the source of a big wind chasing race. And like Solomon, hearts today burn out in the passionate run after the breeze. We were made for a deeper purpose focused on a strong center. Knowledge is good and the universe is worth exploring. But to make that pursuit the center is to miss out. And Ecclesiastes will eventually show this later as we read Solomon's reflections at the finish line. 

God is always the same.

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

Psalm 100:5

God is good. God is faithful. His love will last forever. He will always be faithful to each new generation. These are facts that were true in ancient Israel. They were true when Jesus taught in Galilee and brought them to life. They have been true for countless generations. They are certainly true now. And the future will be defined by these truths as well.

God is timeless and His actions toward humanity prove this. What He was when Israel worshiped Him is Who He is now and Who He will be for succeeding generations and forevermore. 

Trusting God is an action and a lifestyle that generations past have lived and they were not disappointed. And God will not fail that trust now, even in our generation's challenges. He will carry each generation in His faithful love. These assurances transcend culture and time. They encourage us as we remain faithful to a faithful God.

Exalt

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! 

Psalm 99:9

I can't make You greater

than You already are.

So when You call me to

exalt You, I don't raise the bar.

I add nothing to You.

I don't increase Your glory

or make You more worthy

or even complete Your story.

You are higher than the

universe, unknowable in full.

My life has chased Your presence

grasping at the edges of the whole.

Nothing compares to You.

Magnificent in power,

filling up ambition's flower,

in my every breathing hour.

I am a meager, finite man

with an infinite God before me.

I drop down to my knees,

the only place I can adore Thee.

Worship just seems right.

It's the only explanation

for my heart's avocation,

loving You in adoration.

worship worldwide

The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

Psalm 98:2-3

And what was true for Israel so many thousands of years ago is true for me as well. Through Christ's work and the visible evidence of His redemptive love the world can see the salvation of our God. It is the heart of God that His love be known in His people in the sight of all the nations. There is a mandate then that we who are God's people will share His heart for the people of the world. We are called to demonstrate His salvation and God's righteousness to all the earth.

God is steadfast and faithful to His people so that we in turn would be faithful to His desire to make His glory known in all the earth. Worship is not just a cloistered cluster of Christians on Sunday. It is a proclamation of God's glory and the great power of the gospel to meet the need of all the world! Worship has God's glory in mind with a desire to make it known to all the world. And if I have not considered my part in that picture, then I may not have ever really worshiped God.

Lord,

In Jesus Your salvation is made known. Your righteousness is revealed. And I am called, like all believers, to make that righteousness known so that the world may rejoice in it. Use me in Your way so that the ends of the earth may see Your salvation.

Amen

Loving God and the promises He makes

O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 

Psalm 97:10-11

When we love God, it is a necessary result that we also love what is right, for God is holy and righteous. And when we love what is right, we must hate what is wrong. We hate evil. We don't hate evil PEOPLE who are wrong, but rather the evil that is done. And when we do so, there are certain blessings that attend a love for God and what He is in all His holiness and goodness. That is displayed to us by God. We are blessed by loving God.

We are promised deliverance from the hand of the wicked. But...this promise has a dark warning in it. Wicked people oppose God and if we represent Him well, we will probably be opposed. But God will deliver us. We will face a struggle because good and evil are in opposition. But God will preserve the lives of His saints since He uses them for His good purposes. They cannot lose. Even in death, good will be known by God's graces.

God is doing something bigger than just any one life. I see that in the language of light being "sown". The seed is sown with the promise of future harvest. And loving God and hating evil work that way. Sometimes the promise is sown to be enjoyed in another season. It may not be immediate, but God will be glorified and His saints blessed by our worship of Him... our love and obedience to God right now will yield blessings. I trust that truth.

Exclusivity is a necessity for worship.

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 

Psalm 96:4-5

It seems to me that one element of worship is the celebration of the exclusivity of God. It is what His people have always praised about God. And this psalm unashamedly does so. It compares the mighty power of God to the worthlessness of idols. It calls the beliefs of others worthless. Yep. That's pretty intolerant, wouldn't you say?

The purpose of pointing out the worthless pursuit of idolatry is twofold: 1) it praises the God Who is Maker of all things and 2) it protects our hearts from temptations to idolatry. What we are most prone to do when we are not worshiping God is to worship something else. We were created to wroship. We are finite. And our hearts crave the "greater" since inately we know we are made for eternity. And we will foolishly worship the works of our hands, ascribing value beyond ourselves to them. That is exactly what an idol is.

Exclusivity protects us from sinful idolatry. The minute we stray from an exclusive worship of The Lord, we take away from our understanding of His majesty. And we make created things and man made things false gods. Worship The Lord. Worship Him alone. Only God is worthy. Only God is God. There is no other. 

sheep taking selfies

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. 

Psalm 95:6-7

Worship is supposed to be a humble act. It draws attention to the greatness of God. It pulls the spotlight off of ourselves. More and more we need to live in this humble worship of a great and mighty God Who is our Maker.

Our culture pressures us to take credit for ourselves. We now live in the self-aggrandizing photo essay known as Facebook and Instagram. We have become a generation "sharing" selfies (there is so much irony in that concept... "Here, let me give you this self-photographed photo of me that I really like!) We encourage this self-promotion with "likes" and commentary. And all the while, maybe not deliberately, we create a way to pull the spotlight away from the majesty of the Almighty!

But we are sheep. Dumb sheep that must be led, cared for by God at every point, and loved by our Shepherd. We are in need of the humble, pastoral view of worship to pervade our thinking and stop our self-portrait loving madness. Let's stop being sheep taking selfies! Let's worship The Lord, our God, our Maker.

insubstantial thoughts

He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge - the LORD - knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. 

Psalm 94:10-11

Take the wisest, most industrious people of any generation and put them all together and their combined wisdom and intellect would not be more than few whisps of breath on a cold morning in comparison to the wisdom and knowledge of God. Einstein? ... an exhale. Mozart? ...a puff of carbon dioxide. Steve Jobs? ... a mere sigh. Gandhi? ...breath. Scientists on the Manhattan Project? The framers of the U.S. Constitution? Napoleon? Thomas Edison? Marie Curie? Marx? Bill Gates? Breath... all of them. Every one of them are just not even close to equaling the wisdom of the Almighty. Human knowledge is limited and always finite.

Ultimately, any philosophy or commitment to human reason for a life direction falls short. Our insight is always limited. Our capacities are finite. Yes, we can achieve amazing accomplishments that better lives, but none of them are as great as God is. He knows us, created us, sovereignly directs us, bestows abilities on us to do many things... sometimes amazing things in His image, and He is the judge of all people and the works that they do under His authority. It is best to live a life directed by God's wisdom, letting Him direct an intellect that can be motivated for His glory.

Lord,

I know nothing without You. My intellect is finite, limited, and flawed. Yours is infinite, eternal, holy, and perfect. Teach me. Show me Your wisdom, today and always. I know that my thoughts are mere breath. But You have the words of eternal life. In You I trust. Use my intellect and my thoughts, the most essential thing that is me, for Your work!

Amen

why I trust

Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore. 

Psalm 93:5

I have read

the words

You have said

majesty

meets with

what's trustworthy

holy truth tests

my life

puts troubles to rest

mightier than flood

waters roll

cleansed by holy blood

true to Your Word

in promises

that command me, Lord

I trust and obey

this truth

finding You at work today

so practical

is Your Word

not merely useful

truth for my deep need

I find

and worship You indeed

7 days a week

How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! 

Psalm 92:5

In the title of this psalm we are given the occassion for its use. It is a psalm for the Sabbath Day. It was meant to celebrate the day of rest that God commanded for His people. They ceased from all work in order to worship Him. And this song became part of that experience.

While ceasing from their work, the children of Israel sang of the works of The Lord. Taking a break, they broke into song. Resting in God became active celebration. They purposefully pondered the Person of their praise and prospered under God's provision. It was not that the Sabbath was a requirement solely by command, but rather that it was a reason to celebrate and to remember God's care for all seven days of the week.

God always does amazing things, but we may not always recognize Him. God's thoughts are important to us. It is crucial that we know Him. Sabbath was a time to read His Word, reflect on His Truth, and know the mind of God so that worship and direction could sustain spiritual maturity. Without sleep our health declines... our minds will slip. Without rest the strength of our bodies will fail. Without a quiet worship-filled break to rest and honor God, our souls will burn out.

O Lord,

Your ways are mighty. Your work is profound. You have saved me and You provide for me. And all that I have... family, home, friends, or the fellowship of Your Church... all of them are Your great work given by Your gracious and unfathomable wisdom. The depths of Your work and Your thoughts to me are beyond me still. Thank You, Lord!

Amen

No Fear. Trust.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Psalm 91:5-6

Faith that is strengthened in real relationship with an Almighty God cannot simultaneously live in fear of the things of this world. It knows a loving assurance in the trust placed in a sovereign, loving, and wise God. And it can lean back on Him as events around life keep the soul close to The Lord.

Faith exists at all times, not just when it is convenient, not for a show in public worship but in the depths of the thoughts of the inner person. That is why we can handle more than we realize we can. Arrows may fly by day, but God is our shield and refuge. Terrors may come at night, but God is our joy and our song. Pestilence stalks the darkness to strike without warning, yet God is a protector and our healer. Tragedy could strike in the middle of any day at any time, but faith will take us beyond it all. The threats are real, but the faith is too. The causes for fear may never go away, but neither will our God!

Faith that is real faith will be known in these ways. It will find love and relationship with God that is greater than any of our fears. It will trust. And none of those fears is greater than God. The sum of all fears cannot come close to the overwhelming peace of God that surpasses all understanding!

what really amazes me about God

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

Psalm 90:2

This song proclaims the one unique reality of God that I find the most fascinating. It is His eternality. I can sort of fathom the eternal nature of God... in a way. When I think about my own soul continuing after death, I have no problem accepting that, even though I cannot really know it until it happens. There is a part of the soul that instinctively believes that it lives on. 

But the eternality of God is vastly different. I can accept entering life as a baby and living, then entering eternal life after death in this world. But God was never born. He always is. From everlasting past to an everlasting future He (present tense) IS God. That is where my mind starts grasping at and losing the threads of the thoughts about God's self-existence. I can run the time arrow forward from the present and sort of grasp an eternal future. But to do so while simultaneously running back in time FOREVER... whew! The mental exercise is amazingly mind-blowing! Theology gets psychodelic.

God's constant existence is unique. I believe it and I hold to it. It is revealed by Him for us to believe and to know. And in the hands of the great I Am (the always present One), my future is secure. The universe had its beginning in the word of God. A universe that is so big that we cannot fathom all of it was really just one of God's thoughts. Yet God always is. The very elements of the physical heavens and earth will one day be burned up and even remade. But God just... is... the unchanging, constant, consistent, loving Creator and Controller of forever past and present.

praise... promise... purpose...

I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 

Psalm 89:1

I will confidently declare

the praise of my God

from this day forward

for nothing can compare

to the joy of my God

and others need to know Him

when I sing His praise

my voice I will raise

and declare His salvation

to another generation

I claim promises so dear

from God's holy pages

that meet me now today

for His Word is crystal clear

same for all the ages

His truth will stay

when I believe the book

and the love that it took

to bring about our salvation

it passes to the next generation

I will now live

with clear and holy vision

of my great God's love

for my life I will give

to follow His mission

and glorify my Lord above

when I purpose with such passion

rejecting mere worldly fashion

I am centered on His salvation

for the good of my generation