Sinful Discouragement

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” (Nu 21:4 AV)

We often think of discouragement and a pitiful condition.  We feel compassion for those who are discouraged.  We often seek their welfare by uplifting words or words of remembrance when things were better.  Hope is often offered to those in discouragement.  We know that someone who is discouraged can often go from bad to worse.  However, all discouragement is not a pitiful condition.  Sometimes discouragement is a self-inflicted condition.  Sometimes the LORD considers discouragement as sinful.  In our passage, the people were discouraged in the way because there was no water and they had grown weary of the manna.  Manna was God’s provision for them, and He had provided water before when there was no water.  In the case above, they were discouraged because they lacked faith and contentment.  Not all discouragement should be pitied.  In the case above, God sent poisonous snakes among the people to thin out the complainers.

Much has changes in the last ten years.  Things are not as they used to be.  A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to a fast-food place and got their hamburgers.  I’ve never seen hamburger patties do thin.  I have had thinly shaved ham thicker than the burgers we got.  I was discouraged.  Traveling down the road the other day, it seemed slow drivers were everywhere.  I was discouraged.  My wife and I eat out a lot.  It is just the two of us, so it is often cheaper.  There are certain places we go because we can share a plate.  There is one place we like to go because of their variety and prices.  There are other places that we have had an outstanding meal only to be disappointed when ordering the same thing a second time.  Needless to say, that was discouraging.  Having food in the cupboard yet not attracted to anything is discouraging.  The thing is, my body doesn’t really care what food I eat.  As long as it is relatively good for me, it couldn’t care what it tastes like.  My tastebuds are picky.  Discouragement is my fault.  God has given what I need.  Maybe not what I want, but always what I need.

The word of God is filled with promises.  There is enough written in the Bible to keep the saint encouraged.  Life is hard.  But life is temporary.  Eternity is what matters.  I like what Paul says.  “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Ro 8:18 AV)  We either believe this or we don’t.  The people above did not believe God would provide water.  He did it before.  He can do it again.  The people above forgot how good the manna tasted.  They had gotten used to the blessing of God as something normal and plain.  They forgot how hard it was in Egypt.  They forgot the miracles they had seen.  They were discouraged because they refused to be grateful, forgot what God had done, and feared that God could not meet their needs.  In this respect, discouragement was their fault, and it was wrong.  Not all discouragement is worthy of compassion.  If discouragement is sinful and self-inflicted, maybe a course correction is needed.

Hearing Should Be Enough

“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon [him] as long as I live.” (Ps 116:1-2 AV)

It is telling that the psalmist never tells us exactly what it was that God did or did not do.  It seems the fact that God heard him was sufficient to render love in return.  How many of us love only if we are given the desires of our hearts?  Not the writer.  It didn’t matter how God chose to answer.  He was going to love the LORD no matter what.  If God would listen and choose to do nothing, his love would not abate.  If the LORD listened and chose to answer unsavorily, it mattered not.  He would love the LORD any way.  All he cared about was that God listened.  How He chose to answer was a plus.  This is the depth of true love.  What we get in return is not the condition upon which we place our love.  It is the mere presence of the individual who gives their undivided attention that matters the most.

The older we get, the more like this our marriages become.  When we were young, love was a bit conditional.  As we grew accustomed to one another, shared experiences, and enjoyed the blessings of life, our love became less and less conditional.  As we age and our health begins to fail, this love is at a whole new level.  Gone are any expectations of reciprocal love.  We are there for one another regardless of what we may enjoy in return.  We are there through sickness and in health.  We are there for better or for worse.  A romantic night out ending in alone time used to be the definition of love.  Now, just sitting together in our living room enjoying one another’s company is a thrill.  Today is Valentine's day.  No doubt couples will be spending time and money to make it is special day.  As well, they should if they can.  However, when you get to a certain age, having a sandwich while watching your favorite episode of a program and laying in bed with a video or two is as romantic as it gets.  Love is not absent.  It is deeper than it ever has been.  Why?  Because we can talk and the other listens.  It is the exchange of ideas, feelings, hopes, and even shared prayer that means more than anything else life could offer.

This morning was a time of sweet prayer with God.  I asked, as I always do, for the rapture.  I know that my prayers alone will not affect it, but they can’t hurt.  The more I pray for eternity; the sweeter God becomes.  I imagine a time of absolute rest.  The flesh is destroyed.  The mind is perfect.  There is no sin nor temptation to sin.  All anxiety, fear, pressure, etc. are all gone.  Nothing but the sweet fellowship with the LORD and the saints.  How I covet it!  Lying there in bed and having a conversation with the LORD was as special a time as any I have ever had.  Knowing that He was listening, and that He cared about every word was good enough for this weary soul.  The psalmist is correct.  I love the LORD because He listens, and that He hears.  I don’t know what answer will come, but it is secondary to a infinitely large shoulder to rest upon.  I love God because He loved me first.

Immortalized

“These [are] the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.” (Nu 13:16 AV)

A horrible thought crossed my mind as I read through all the names of those who spied out the land.  Twelve spies were sent into Canaan.  Their responsibility was to get a lay of the land in preparation of an invasion.  Their job was not to bring a report to determine the invasion.  God has already commanded them to invade.  It was their job as to advise a plan.  It was the job of the twelve to bring back news of the blessings that awaited them once God gave the land.  It was their job to encourage the nation.  Ten of the twelve spies brought back an evil report.  They told the nation how it was too large.  Not even God could deliver it into their hands.  What struck me was that ten of the twelve spies are not eternally immortalized in the pages of the word of God as men who had no faith in God.  For six millennia, the human race has been reading their names and associating cowardice to them.  For all of eternity, these ten names will be known as those who lacked faith in an all-powerful God.  It made me think if we face the same possibility.  At least in principle.

The N.T. saint will be given a white robe of righteousness.  This is our wedding robe.  When we are wed to our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is that white robe of righteousness, provided by the groom, that we will present ourselves to our Savior.  There is also gold, silver, and precious stones awarded for service and dedication to our earthly service for Jesus.  Some speculate these are used to adorn the white robe of righteousness.  This was an old-world oriental custom.  The groom would provide for his bride a white dress for the wedding.  She would have saved up treasures to adorn the dress given to her.  Her goal was to show her love and lifelong dedication to her groom by the gown she wore.  The gown would reflect her faith that someday, God would provide a husband.  This may picture the events of heaven.

I am grateful that I live in a time when my name will never be mentioned in the pages of the word of God.  It doesn’t matter who is listed.  No one is mentioned without some type of flaw included.  Even Paul had his issues.  But being one of the ten who God rejected and who died in the wilderness because they were chicken would be a hard thing to live with for all of eternity.  But then there is the wedding gown.  One wonders what could have been but never was.  Perhaps our gown will be plain and white with no gold, silver, or precious stones.  I don’t image we will have to live with shame for all of eternity.  But I cannot help but think that at the judgment seat of Christ, there might be a few tears shed when we realize what we could have had but failed to earn.  Glory is for rest and peace.  We will not be tormented with the failures of this life.  All will be forgiven.  All will be forgotten.  Praise the LORD.  It is that initial judgment that might sting a bit.  This passage brought thoughts of potential gains that I have lost.  If we could do it all again, there would be different choices.  That is for sure.  The future does not have to be as the past.  There is still opportunity.  There are still lands to spy out.  There are still battles to be fought and gains to be had.  All for Jesus, all for Jesus!

Truth Telling is a Foundation for Character

“[He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” (Pr 12:17 AV)

Pretty easy to understand.  Lying is deceit.  Truth is righteousness.  No confusion there.  I think Solomon meant something a bit deeper.  It is obvious that those who tell the truth are righteous in their words.  But what Solomon may be eluding to is a righteousness not limited to the words at hand.  Perhaps he means that those prone to tell the truth are also prone to generally live right.  Telling the truth is a good barometer into a person’s character.  If his habit is to tell the truth, he may have other righteous habits as well.  Those who are prone to tell lies usually live a lie.  Telling the truth is a foundation upon which a person’s character can be built. 

Many years ago, I ran a restaurant.  To advance, an employee had to show up a bit early and be ready to clock in when they were scheduled.  They could not clock in and then go to the restroom, get their uniform on, and prep themselves to work.  They had to be ready when the time to work arrived.  I also gave responsibilities to see if they could work unsupervised.  It might be prep work or cleaning duties.  Checking on them meant I could trust them with more responsibilities.  At the end of the night, if work was not done even though the employee said it was, the employee was on notice.  Often, we would get a call in and the employee was not sick at all.  I remember having to make those phone calls.  Thy employee would call in sick and I would wait a few hours.  I would call the employee’s home and ask for the person.  A parent or sibling would tell me they were at a concert or over at a friend's house.  What we found was that if they lied once, they lied more than once.  If they were unreliable in small things, they could not be trusted in larger things.  Lying about the obscure means they could not be trusted in private.

We teach our children to always tell the truth.  We do this because telling the truth is a foundation for character in other areas of life.  We teach our children to tell the truth because a liar cannot be trusted with anything.  We teach our children to tell the truth because the consequences of lying far outweigh the short-term benefit that lies may produce.  I think Solomon is teaching his children a good habit for life.  Telling the truth is more important to character development than we may think.  A person who is honest with his words will be honest with his behavior.  They go hand in hand.

That Special Place

“O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.” (Ps 42:6 AV)

With a bit of research, we might understand from where David gains encouragement.  Most writers place the context of this psalm during David’s flight from Absalom.  David and those with him fled over Jordan to the east.  The problem with this idea is that David never went that far north.  At least the Bible doesn’t say he did.  Rather, David crossed Jordan and then crossed the brook Jabbok.  That places him halfway down the Jordan river valley.  Hermon and Mizar are much further north.  They are north of the sea of Galilee in modern-day Lebanon.  The land of Jordan is easily understood as the Jordan river valley.  The Hermonites are the mountains that make up mount Hermon.  The hill Mizar is very obscure and most assume it to be a smaller peak associated with the Hermonite Mountain Range.  The Hermonites are a year-round snow-peaked mountain range.  This range is a source for the sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.  From the peaks of the Hermonites, one might take in a pastoral sight of the entire Jordan River valley.  Among the snow-peaked mountains, the saint could escape into a peaceful and picturesque place where God would feel far closer than any other place.

Doing a cursory search of images seen from Mount Hermon, especially the Jordan river valley, is difficult.  The Sea of Galilee can be seen as well as northern parts of Israel.  If David was looking to the north while crossing the Jordan, he was over 75 miles away from Mount Hermon.  Therefore, we know he is not referring to the revolt of Absalom.  This means only one thing.  The place of which David speaks is a special place for him.  Looking at images of and from Mount Hermon, I can certainly understand.  The peak is just under 10,000 feet.  Which explains why he mentions the little hill of Mizar.  At 10,000 feet the air is pretty thin.  David is speaking of a hiding place where he meets God.  A place of immeasurable beauty.  A place of gentle breezes of cool mountain air.  A place of cold mountain streams that fall below as they fill the sea of Galilee.  A place that sheep might be heard, but the bustle of life is not.  A place not suited for warfare, but a pastoral place suited for reflection and quiet.  One can imagine the thoughts of life pouring from his mind and the stresses of running a kingdom are left to flow with the waters under his feet.

I am reminded of late that managing stress is very important.  Stress is not always a bad thing.  Sometimes stress forces us the make decisions that need to be made by we are reticent to do so.  However, there are stresses caused unnecessarily.  Worries and anxieties whose answers are in the scriptures.  We have stress because we lack faith.  We have stress because we harbor sin.  There has to be a special place where God is nearer to our consciousness.  He is always near.  He never leaves.  But we can become so overwhelmed by other things of life that we forget how close God is.  Necedah wildlife refuge was one of those places for me.  A vast marshland covered in coulees provided a place of quiet reflection.  Even with hunters crawling all over the place, there was more alone time than connection with people.  It was there that I could pour out my mind and heart onto a vast marsh and leave it there.  David had his place.  He had several places.  We need our place as well.

Strength In The Way

“The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.” (Pr 10:29 AV)

Our wise commentators are applying this several ways.  Yet they agree there is credence in other views.  One suggestion is that as the upright are in the way, they grow stronger.  The other is before the journey.  The way of the LORD is strength, therefore the upright are in it.  Either way, there is strength in the way of the LORD.  Some suggest the way is the way of the law.  Or the way of wide choices.  Others include the entire providence of God. As long as we are in the perfect will of God, strength will accompany us.  I think both suggestions have merit.  For the sake of our meditation, we will consider that those who are upright, yet weak in some way, receive strength has the walk in the wisdom and providence of God.   This writer noticed the absence of the word ‘in’ prior to the phrase ‘the way’.  This leans me to believe our observation is correct.  While the upright remains in the way, the result is strength.  To insert the word ‘in’ prior to the phrase ‘the way’ would suggest the upright, needing strength, should find and continue in the way.

Still hunting through the foothills of western NY is no small matter.  There are hills and valleys.  There is undergrowth and wild vines.  There are blowdowns and thick vegetation.  There are many obstacles along the way.  However, if the hunter takes a moment to study the woods, he will find an interesting pattern.  The wildlife that lives there knows the best way to navigate through the woods with the least work possible.  Ease of travel and safety from predators are their biggest concerns.  The woodsman will notice a game trail on a ridgeline.  Or a game trail along snow-covered marshland.  He knows that the animals that travel through those woods have done so for generations.  They know better than he does the best way to get from one place to another.  If the hunter uses the path already laid down by those who have gone there before, he can go further and longer.  If, on the other hand, he decides to blaze his own trail, he will soon run out of strength and time.  Staying in the wisest way conserves energy, reduces injury, and keeps the traveler safe.

But I think Solomon meant more than simply choosing the right path.  I think Solomon is sharing that faith and obedience, while traveling the hard path of life, is the way to preserve and renew strength.  As long as we strive in the perfect will of God, we will find strength to continue.  If we are weak in the way of life, leaving it is not the best choice.  Just like the woods, if we find ourselves in need of strength, the worst thing we could do is to leave the path.  Remaining in the path is the best way to grow stronger.  I have found myself in this very situation many times.  Usually at the end of a long day’s hunt, I am tired, sweaty, and exhausted.  Trying to take a shortcut to my car or cabin always results in more work.  Not less.  Staying on the path while looking at the finish line is the easiest way to find the strength to finish.  So, stay on the line.  Stay on the path.  Don’t deviate simply because we cannot go another step.  The trail has already been blazed.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  Just stay the course and the LORD will renew your strength.

Trust or Mistrust. Only Two Options

“Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” (Ps 40:4 AV)

There is a choice here.  There are only two options.  We either trust the LORD or listen to those who do not.  There is no middle ground.  I am reminded of late the difficulty that faith truly is.  Faith is difficult.  Trust does not come as a whim.  As a child, we have a heart full of trust.  We trust our parents.  We trust our teachers.  We trust those who know better.  But over time, they disappoint.  We placed upon them the expectation of perfection.  Because they are human, they failed.  When they did, the natural inclination of trust waned.  Vulnerability and humility are part of a child’s nature.  As we grow into adulthood and learn to be self-sufficient, determining our life’s direction, humility and vulnerability do not come easy.  We have the failures of those whom we trusted coupled with the ability to determine our own direction and faith is a hard step to take.  Our perception is that self-reliance is safer than trust.  But as we see above, there are only two directions a soul can take.  He will either make God his trust, or he will show deference to those who do not.  Those who do not trust the LORD live lives built on lies.  There is no other choice.

Pinocchio is a well knows story written by Carlo Collodi of Florence, Italy in 1833.  It tells of a puppet whose name is Pinocchio.  He was carved and created by Geppetto, a puppeteer.  One night, Pinocchio comes to life but materially remains a puppet of wood and cloth.  His deepest desire is to become a real boy.  He begins to question his father’s judgment.  He begins to reject the rules laid down for him by a loving father.  One adventure after another leads him further from his creator.  The story escalates until Pinocchio is taken to an island that promises the freedom to indulge in all things a little boy could want.  This indulgence eventually turns the boys into donkeys from which they can never recover.  Seeing the eventual end of his decision, Pinocchio escapes into the sea.  He was swallowed by a whale.  Jumping in the water ends the curse of becoming a donkey, but he is far from home.  The whale, which seemed like a negative consequence turned out the be the means by which Pinocchio was returned to his village.  When reunited with Geppetto, Pinocchio confesses his faults and promises to trust and obey his father.  Immediately the magic happens, and he becomes a real boy.  He got his wish because he learned by experience that trust was worth the risk.

Faith is what separates mankind from all other beings.  It separates us from the animals because they do not possess the ability to reason and trust.  They are instinctive.  This instinct serves them well.  Until it doesn’t.  Angels see God by sight.  They do not need to act in faith because, as Paul writes, when sight is there, faith is no longer needed.  With faith or trust, risk is involved.  So too is humility.  These two do not come easy.  I do not make light of it.  We often use the phrase ‘a crisis of faith’.  That is a good way to put it.  We are pushed to our limits.  Then we have a choice.  Either we will trust our all-knowing and all-powerful creator, or we will trust the opinions and thinking of those who do not.  It is an almost impossible decision.  To trust when we have had a pattern of unfortunate experiences is life that would scream against it, is difficult.  But there is no other way.  There is no other source of peace and purpose.  It is either trust God, or trust those who do not trust God.  Just remember, the latter is built on lies and the former on truth.