Service of Remembrance

“[Then] beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.” (De 6:12-13 AV)

God has given us the means by which we can remember Him.  Above, there are three provisions.  These are fear, service, and ordering our character.  To fear God is to respect Him and His word.  It means to yield to His law and accept the consequences when we fail to obey.  To swear by His name means to be identified with Him to the degree that our character and lives are defined by His existence.  But it that second one that I care to contemplate this morning.  Service is as old as the garden of Eden.  God gave Adam a task.  One that He could have done Himself.  God could have created a garden that needed no tending.  The LORD created plant life that takes care of itself.  Just take a walk in an meadow and you will quickly realize that the LORD could have, if He so wished, to create a self-managed world.  Rather, He gave Adam responsibility to  tend to the garden as a means to worship and remember Him.  Service to our God is a great way to have Him in the forefront of our minds.

Around our home, Saturday was chore day.  We had paper routes to finish.  We had our bedroom to clean.  Our beds were stripped and remade.  Then there was preparing Sunday’s papers to deliver.  There was recycling to tend to.  There was yard work, there was straightening to do.  We were busy from sunup until dinnertime.  My dad had us doing something.  It was impossible to forget why we were busy.  We were busy because my father asked us to do these things.  It was impossible to separate our business from the one that assigned us the task.  As children, we resented the business.  All we wanted to do is play.  Yet the wisdom of my father kept us close to him where we could be protected, mentored, and affirmed by him.  Working for him meant we could not escape his presence.  He may not have been in the vicinity, but the task was from him and he was as good as there with us.  Serving my father meant we could never forget who it was that gave us life, provided our needs, and took measures to assure we were raised right.  Serving my dad kept him alive.  It kept him close.

This is why serving God is a good way to keep Him in memory.  When our lives are all about Self, forgetting God becomes easy.  Those believers who are filled with joy and seem to love God more than others are usually those who are also serving God.  Show me someone who is doing nothing for God, and I will show you someone who does not read their Bibles, pray, or talk of Him.  Those who do not serve the LORD soon forget the One who died for their sins.  David served the LORD with all his might.  No wonder he was a man after God’s own heart.  David defined his existence by the purpose for which God created him.  Sure, the LORD could do everything Himself.  He is God.  He created man to know Him.  He provides service as a means to do just that.  Adam kept the garden because God asked him to.  In keeping the garden, he remembered his Creator.  If we are forgetting God more and more, perhaps we need to find something He wishes us to do and do it with all our might.  After all, if my dad wrote me a note with detailed instructions of something he needed done, it would be impossible to forget him as I was working through the project.  Find that which God wants from you and do it.  You will never forget God while doing the things of God.

Treasures Are Acceptable

“[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” (Pr 21:20 AV)

That word ‘treasure’ has me intrigued.  The simplest understanding of the word is anything stored up for future use or pleasure.  When we tend to think of treasure, we tend to think of a pirate’s treasure of plundered goods stored for mere ego’s sake.  When we think of treasure, we often think of materialism.  We think treasure is the amassing of things we don’t need nor will ever use.  When we think of amassing treasure, we think of it as sinful.  Yet the understanding above is actually a virtue.  The simplest application of the verse above is that the wise save up while the wicked spend everything they have.  And more!  Yet, it is the word ‘treasure’ that has me intrigued.

As I have mentioned before, I watch a program of an archaeologist who travels the world trying to solve the mysteries of history.  About half of his adventures are looking for lost treasure.  In the last episode I watched, they were looking for a horde of wealth left behind by a early lady leader of the English.  She is not well known.  This feminine warrior defeated the Roman legion more than once.  Yet one day she fell ill and died.  It is said that before she died, she buried a large sum of treasure somewhere in the English hillside.  As the archeologist was searching, they stumbled across a field that contained two dozen Roman coins cast of silver from the third century.  Apparently, the pagans would offer precious metals to their deities by scattering and burying their wealth in a field of significance.  As this archeologist scours the world looking for different treasures, the pursuit of wealth is what drives him.  And many others as well.  This is not the meaning of the verse above.

We are not to amass wealth as a testament to our own accomplishments.  Our egos are not the motive for storing up treasure.  But at the same time, it is not necessarily wrong to have some things of value.  There is nothing wrong with having some nice things that we can enjoy as the fruit of our labors allows.  Pride is issue here.  I have seen millionaires who eat like the poor just because they are trying to amass wealth.  But I have also seen wealthy individuals who understand that treasures are to be used.  Hording gathers dust and rust.  Just like Jesus told us they would.  Using the wealth God gives is the balance between spending it up and storing it up.  I guess what the LORD has for us this morning is to ease our overly guilty conscience regarding the possession of treasures.  It is ok.  We don’t have to live like church mice if that is not God’s will for us.  If His will is that we live comfortably while using what He has given for His glory, there is nothing to confess.  We are right with God.  Treasure is ok.  It is not wrong to have.  What it produces will determine the ethics of our possession.

A Picture of Abiding in Grace

“Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.” (Nu 35:28 AV)

The law of the avenger is a great picture of our practical security in Christ.  If someone accidentally occasioned the untimely death of another, they had protection under the law.  For instance, if they were working the field and loose stone unpredictably fell on another, then they negligently occasioned the death of another, but not with malice.  If someone had an animal that spooked and accidentally killed someone, it was not by intent.  It was an accident.  If the slayer fled to the city of the high priest, he could remain there alive until the death of the high priest.  Once the high priest died, he was free to return home without any fear of repercussions.  As long as he stayed within the walls of the city, he was safe.  The victim's family was justified in killing the slayer if he wandered from the protection of the high priest.  It was the grace and authority of the high priest that protected the slayer from malicious revenge.  This reminds me of our protection in the presence of Jesus Christ.

The world hates on two fronts.  It hates us for the wicked things we have done.  That is understandable.  But it also hates us for our relationship with Jesus Christ.  The world and the Devil hate us on two fronts.  It is often the incidental things that were wrong, but don’t seem to garner consequences, for which they hate us the most.  Those things we did without forethought or malice are the things they despise the most.  Perhaps in our immaturity we made choices of questionable character.  God did not punish us because they were impulsive but without rebellion.  Foolish choices of the flesh come to mind.  We didn’t have the knowledge or discipline to reject the temptation.  I can think of a few of those choices in my own life.  It was those choices which the world seems to forgive the least.  Choices that do harm, but that we were too naïve to avoid.  The world holds saints to higher standards than they do themselves.  What is ok for them is not ok for us.  They will crucify the saint for an indiscretion where their best friend who is lost is gold.  Being in the presence of Jesus Christ and His grace is our refuge.

We will never be fully accepted by those who don’t have the love of Christ in their hearts.  They cannot.  They don’t have the capacity to love as Christ loves.  The great news is that our High Priest will never die.  The presence of Christ is permanent.  We would be foolish to leave the intimacy found in Christ and go back to those who hate us.  In our passage, if the slayer left the grace of the Priest’s protection, it was a guaranteed death sentence.  No doubt the victim’s family set up camp right outside the city just in case the slayer was foolish enough to venture out.  Anyone who would leave the gracious protection of the Priest is not thinking right.  Yes, liberty is restricted.  But life can still be enjoyable.  There was no restriction for the slayer’s family to join him.  He can have a full life in the presence of the High Priest.  We would be foolish to resent what we cannot have and not enjoy what we can have.  Within the city, the slayer had liberty to enjoy life.  He was free to make a life for himself.  The same is true with us.  As long as we stay within the grace and mercy provided by an intimate walk with God, we are secure.  Who cares what the world thinks? 

Always In Control

“The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.” (Ps 50:1 AV)

The calling of the earth refers to the universal judgement of all mankind.  From the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof means for twenty-four hours.  The sun is rising and setting somewhere.  God is not idle.  It may seem that way, but He is not.  The Mighty God is always in control, and whether we can recognize it or not, He holds us all accountable.  Our God is sovereign.  He is active.  His plan often escapes our perception.  Yet He still works.  He still calls all people at all times to account for the choices they make.  We can look at this truth several ways.  We can meditate on the holiness and consistency of God.  We can look at it as a rebuke knowing that we will be held accountable.  Or, we could look at it as a comfort that God is just and will hold our enemies accountable for the injustice we have suffered at their hands.  There are many other ways in which to dwell upon this truth, but it all boils down to one glorious understanding.  God knows all things, nothing escapes His observation, He is sovereign, and there isn’t anything that can frustrate His will.  He is on control.  All the time.

Sometimes, I marvel at the things man can make.  For instance, I marvel that an automobile can run for years as long as it has fuel.  I marvel that a plane can fly without dropping out of the sky.  I marvel at machinery that seems to run forever.  Then this writer considers creation.  It is a marvel that our bodies function for as long as they do.  Especially when considering the abuse we take it through.  Broken bones, avoidable illnesses, bad life style choice, etc.  Our hearts continue to beat.  Our lungs continue to breathe.  Year after year.  Month after month.  Week after week.  Day after day.  Hour after hour.  Minute after minute.  And second, after second.  This wonderful biological machine functions with little interruption for decades.  There are other creatures that live far longer.  Certain trees can live for thousands of years.  There are some that have been here since the flood of Noah.  Why?  Because the Creator sustains it all.  He calls the earth from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun.  There isn’t a place on this earth where God’s hand is not.

This is a wonder to consider.  Our God is not merely omnipresent.  He is actively omnipresent.  God is not selectively omnipotent.  He is omnipotent everywhere and at all times.  When David states that God calls the entire earth from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, he is making an astounding theological statement regarding the person and work of the Creator.  When we worry or frustrated, we can rest assured that God has not slacked His hand.  We can know that no matter where we are or what we may be going through, God is there, and He is working.  He has called the entire earth from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun.  He is there, and He is not going anywhere.  Nor will He stop His work among the children of men.

Courage For The Little Dogs

“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?” (Ps 49:5 AV)

Some think that David is referring to the annoying enemies who are nipping at him like little troublesome dogs.  They think he might be referring to those little things that challenge a king.  Alone, they are insignificant.  Put them all together, and it quickly becomes stressful.  We have rats in our city.  I hate rats.  However, one rat I can deal with.  A bunch of them are beyond distasteful.  This could be the idea David is trying to convey.  There might be another understanding here.  Perhaps David is speaking of his own iniquity.  Perhaps what David fears the most is not the iniquity of others.  Perhaps that which David fears the most is the prevalence of temptation and his tendency to yield to that temptation.  I certainly can relate.  Every child of God who desires an intimate walk with God will hate sin.  He or she will do all they can not to fall.  It is our greatest fear.  We pray for the day when the trumpet blows.  We will be given a new body and mind that cannot be tempted to sin.  True liberty from the old man is coming.  Until that day, the day of evil will be our fear.

An old country church had a heart for a man who was stricken with drunkenness.  His wife and children prayed with their church family that God would save him.  Every morning, this man got up for work and crossed the only bridge into town.  On his way to work, he would pass by several bars located on the city side of the bridge.  There was no other way to work.  He had to cross that bridge.  The stresses of the job found him visiting the bars as he journeyed home.  That was how it all started.  So, the family and church prayed for him.  The fasted for him.  They loved on him.  Finally, one glorious Sunday morning, he repented of his life of sin and trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior.  The following day, he went off to work.  This time, when he passed by the bars, he had no desire to stop by for a drink.  Rather than relent, he rejoiced.  He praised the LORD for the deliverance.  This went on day after day.  But say after day the bars were always there.  Over time, rejoicing because a struggle.  Each trip on the way home became more and more of a challenge.  One particular day, when his boss was particularly relentless, the stress of work seemed too hard to bear.  On the way home he stopped and stood outside the bar.  He stood there for the longest time.  But God gave him victory, and he headed home.

That is what the life of the believer seems to be.  There is a constant battle for holiness.  Temptation stands in front of us from the moment we awake until we drift off to sleep.  Temptation is our way of life.  It scares us.  We hate it.  We cannot wait until the day it will never nip at our heals again.  Gone is the devil.  Gone is the world.  Gone is the flesh.  The battle is over.  Until then, we can pray the same prayer David prayed.  We can pray for continual deliverance from the dogs of sin that nip at our soul from moment to moment.  The prayer above is framed as a question.  It is a rhetorical question.  The answer is obvious.  The answer is that with the ministry of the Holy Spirit there should not be fear of temptation.  There should be concern.  This pushes us to prayer.  But never should we feel that sin is so big that even God cannot deliver.  Temptation is an annoying little dog whose bark is worse than its bite. 

Temple and Thought

“We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.” (Ps 48:9 AV)

Psalm 48 is all about Jerusalem and what it means to the Hebrews.  The writer, David, speaks fondly of his seat of government not because he built it.  Rather, he sees Jerusalem as a testimony to the greatness of his God.  The palaces and temple are known as the place from which God converses with man.  He speaks fondly of Zion because God is there.  Much like heaven and the things we will see there, David sees the city of Jehovah and a place unlike any other. To the same idea, the saint has a place to which he is going.  When we go to God in prayer, we are there.  The beloved Apostle Paul tells us our citizenship is in heaven.  There is a part of us there.  The closer we get to heaven, the more real it becomes.  The more we enter the throne of God as commanded in Hebrews; we are in the temple of God where He dwells.  It is there that we can experience the lovingkindness of God.

It is a challenge to live by faith when we cannot see the person of God.  We experience Him.  He speaks with us.  Our relationship is genuine.  It is not visible or audible, but it is no less real.  What I notice about the writer’s words is the purposeful musing on the lovingkindness of God while in the midst of the temple.  This exercise was not one of simple remembrance.  The tense of the grammar suggests this was more than a fleeting thought.  He was musing.  A continual meditation on the lovingkindness of God.  Why?  Because that was his nature.  Sure, life stinks sometimes.  But what we think upon is a choice.  We can either get wrapped up in the troubles of life, or we can think on the lovingkindness of God.  What we choose to think on is not fatally caused.  It is not like our minds are not under our control.  We can choose that which entertains the mind.  David chooses the lovingkindness of God.

God is good.  He is all the time.  God loves His people with an everlasting love.  God loves His people beyond their capacity to understand it.  Some thoughts we have are silly, or even offensive, when held against the lovingkindness of God.  It is silly to think of our Father in how we do.  The temple is where we need to be.  The lovingkindness of God is what we need to consider.  He is our ever-loving Father who will never leave us nor forsake us.  If trouble has come, God has not left.  He is still there.  For whatever reason the LORD has allowed or caused our adversity, His character never changes.  He is our Father.  He is loving.  He is kind.  He is all these things infinitely and completely.  Time to go to the temple and meditate upon His grace and mercy.  That is what He is.

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.