Ever Have A Sit Down?

“And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” (1Ch 17:16 AV)

Sitting is not the normal position someone would take while in a state of prayer.  Prostrate with one’s face to the ground would be the more common manner in which to address the Creator of all.  Here, David sits.  The context is when the LORD reveals through Nathan the prophet of God’s pending blessings on David and his house.  David is overwhelmed by God’s grace.  He then goes into a season of prayer while sitting.  Not standing.  Not on his knees.  Not with his face to the ground.  Rather, he is sitting.  “Why make a big deal out of this preacher”, you might ask.  Because this is not normal.  This is an exception to the norm.  And, through the years, I have learned when the Spirit shows you an exception, or something out of the ordinary, one sit ‘sit up and take notice’.  Pun intended.

The Hebrew word for ‘…sat…’ here is interesting.  It means to dwell, remain, sit, or abide.  Another dictionary says, “A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry.” (Strong’s)   Putting this all together, it appears by using this word, it implies David came to the LORD is a spirit which expressed the attitude of a conversation with no time constraints or pressing agenda.  We might us the phrase, “he sat down for a chat”.   This is not to mean it was disrespectful.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In this sense, David’s conversation with the LORD was a time of no requests.  A time of no pleading.  It was a time of intimate conversation.  Mostly of gratitude.  He sat down for a spell and conversed with God absent of all pretense.  There was no confession of sin because there was no need for it.  David was moved very deeply at the LORD’s reaction to his desire.  David wanted to build a temple to the LORD out of pure love and respect for Him.  The LORD’s response was no.  In fact, because of David’s heart, the LORD decides to grant him the covenant of successor as well as a palace worthy of a king.  Remarkable, to say the least.  So, David has a sit-down.  He sits for a spell and just pours out his heart to the LORD over how gracious God has been to him.

The question is, when is the last time you had a sit down with the LORD?  We often work ourselves up to a divine tither trying to generate a humble heart as we assault the throne of God thinking the humbling of our hearts will impress the LORD.  All the LORD really wants is truth in the inward parts.  He is not interested in a show.  Not that kneeling or flat on the ground isn’t wrong to do.  They are wonderful.  But they have to be absent of all pretense.  When is the last time you sat with the LORD?  Some of my most memorable times of prayer were sit-downs.  Usually in one of my private places.  Along the shore of a lake, river, or pond does it for me.  There have been several times along the shores of Lake Michigan, Seneca Lake, Lake Ontario, the Tennessee, the Cumberland River, or many little fishing Ponds when I had a sit down with my Father.  Nothing really on the agenda.  Whatever the Spirit brought to the heart is what we discussed.  It reminds me of the few times I sat with my dad at the edge of Lake Remmick or his little half-acre pond, learning how to fish and talking about what a young lad talks about.  These are times of intimacy.  These are times when the presence of the one you admire and love is really all you need.  When is the last time you took time and had a sit down with the LORD?  He is waiting.

Praise No Matter What

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.” (Ps 96:1-4 AV)

What more could be said?  Our Creator God is worthy of all praise.  Not just when things are going well.  But always!  This psalm has no title nor author attributed to it.  It is similar to the psalm of David recorded in 1Ch 16:7.  That psalm was written in celebration of the ark coming to rest in Jerusalem after it had been taken by the Philistines and held up because of the breach of Uzzah.  When David realized it was the method of transporting the ark and nothing in addition to it, he was overjoyed it was something he could fix.  He ordered the ark to be moved in due order.  The priests transported the ark as required under Mosaic law.  They offered sacrifices every six paces.  They had a modest celebration as the ark came back to its rightful place.  When I read this passage this morning, I could not help but hear the Spirit affirm to my heart that we owe the LORD praise no matter the circumstances.  His salvation is day to day.  Every day we are being saved from something.  Even if our lives take a turn for the worse, eternity is right around the corner!  Praise His name for the assurance of salvation!

On Monday, I had my annual physical.  Or, at least that which we could accomplish over the phone.  It was interesting, to say the least.  I like my doctor.  I really do.  But some of the questions he was asking bordered on mental health and not physical health.  He was fishing for responses that might indicate depression.  The think, I assume, among health professionals is our stay-at-home orders are contributing to feelings of sadness or depression.  He asked if I was keeping myself busy with hobbies of any kind.  He was concerned that I exercise my mind so as to not allow it to wonder where it shouldn’t.  He followed that up with a question of anxiety or fear.  Did the constant reporting on the Wuhan Flu make me anxious regarding sickness or death?  I was able to share with him I have no fear of death.  I know where I am going when I die and death is a welcomed event.  The means of getting there might not be fun.  But I know what eternity holds for me because of the death of my Savior.  No worries here.  My poor doctor didn’t get it.  He thought I was referring to the pain associated with death as a greater fear than death itself.  Not so!  Salvation draweth nigh!

The trouble we see is only temporary.  Now the media is trying to scare us into thinking there will be a great meat shortage.  There might be.  But when this is all over there will be cows born, chickens hatched, and pigs delivered.  There will be Wendy’s hamburgers again!  Once we reach herd immunity or a vaccine is provided, this trouble will cease.  Sure, killer wasps are entering from Asia which will threaten the honey bee population.  But mankind will invent something that will pollinate our plants in spite of the shortage of honey bees.  If it already hasn’t been invented, that is.  In short, the LORD is our salvation!  If anything has thought us of God’s grace is that no disaster is permanent.  That is, until the tribulation period.  After the LORD reigns for 1,000 years, then all of creation will be destroyed.  It will be recreated in righteousness and true holiness.  For those who know Christ, hope is all we need!  It is what we have.  It cannot be taken from us!

Never Strong Enough

“Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.” (Ps 68:28 AV)

Maintenance is not one of my passions.  Once I create or fix, I lose interest in it.  Maintaining is a discipline that takes discipline.  Maintenance is what keeps that which we create or fix is such a condition that one doesn’t have to start from scratch.  It strengthens the whole.  David is seeking God’s power and hand as he conquers the enemies of the Divine.  He rightly seeks guidance and might as he goes to battle against those who hate God.  But he also knows if the foundations already laid are not strengthened, the farther out he gets, the weaker the whole.  Of the church at Sardis, Jesus Christ tells them, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Re 3:2 AV)  If we allow those successes which the LORD has wrought to fall on disrepair, the whole structure could fall.  The foundations must be tended to.  The studs and the trusses must be conditioned.  If the framework falls into mismanagement, the whole building collapses.

A building can no more fix its problems than we can strengthen ourselves.  The building requires a master craftsman to come in, assess the need, and then hire the necessary workmen to restore the foundation.  The same is true of that which the LORD wrought for us.  He worked it for us.  Since when do we think the ability to maintain is one hundred percent ours?  This work is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our part is in yielding.  The house that I live in fell on disrepair for decades.  It was simply a low priority.  Before we moved in, the wonderful people of our church teamed up to repair this old house.  The most significant upgrade was to level the house and reinforce the structure underneath.  When the house was once again leveled, this weakened one corner of the foundation.  This corner had to be rebuilt.  Fieldstone was replaced with cinder blocks.  Cement was poured in to fill in the cinder blocks.  An earthquake could dislodge that corner of the house.  Having repaired the basic structure, we could then renovate the cosmetic aspects of the living space.  That which was wrought almost a hundred years ago had to be strengthened.  The house could not do this on its own.  The weight of the structure assisted in keeping it level, but it took skilled people to diagnose the problem and fix it.  What is important is required maintenance cannot be ignored.  A project is never truly complete.  The same is true in our lives.

Just because the LORD gives a victory does not indicate that which was gained by the victory cannot be lost.  David is wise here.  He is seeking the hand of God to strengthen that part of the kingdom which He has given so as he increases the size of the kingdom, what was won will remain.  We are often preoccupied with the losses that we don’t pay attention to the successes.  This is true in life.  This is true in church life.  I have seen pastors invest all their time is the hard cases and in the end, lose those who were squared away.  I have seen believers who would never fall in a certain area put all their attention to another, only to have that first area be their downfall.  Seeking continued examination in all areas is the wise thing to do.  Going back and shoring up that which has been gained is wise.  The LORD is the one who does this.  He can see the small fractures in the foundation or the trickle of water seeping into the basement.  These things escape our eyes.  He can see the details that will become of great concern if they are not addressed straight away.  This is an honorable and smart pursuit.  Let the LORD examine and strengthen even those strong areas of life so the whole building does not collapse.

Why Not Ask?

“And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.” (1Ch 13:3 AV)

Last night, I mentioned Saul had a history of undervaluing the office of priest.  This comment came in the context of Saul ordering the death of all the priests at Nob.  Doeg the Edomite slew all the priests, their families, and destroyed their city.  All because they dared to give old tabernacle bread and Goliath’s sword to David as he fled from the face of Saul.  Saul, from the very start of his reign, showed no respect for the office of priest or prophet.  His first official act as king was meant to unify Israel under the leadership of God by offering a noon sacrifice with Samuel.  This gesture was meant to show to Israel the office of priest and prophet had not diminished just because they choose a king.  When Samuel did not come with enough time to make Saul comfortable, Saul offered the sacrifice in the stead of Samuel.  He usurped the authority of priest and prophet.  Just days after his coronation, Saul lost God’s hand to lead the people.  It is no wonder the statement is made above.  The people knew what kind of king they had.  He, nor the people, approached the priests for guidance as they would approach the ark for God’s word.  The statement above is very sad.  But I fear it is all too common among God’s people today.

My father is an amazing man.  He is self-taught in many skills.  He is a ferocious reader.  It didn’t matter what the subject material was, he read it.  Because he read a lot, he was not afraid to tackle certain skills that others learned through hands-on experience.  We lived in an old farmhouse that survived an urban sprawl popping up around it.  We had the only house in the neighborhood with lathe and plaster walls.  He undertook completely renovating that house from top to bottom and never once hired a skilled craftsman to help him.  From electrical to plumbing to drywall and beyond, my father accomplished it all.  He did so by reading his collection of DIY Time-life books.  He would read all about running electrical and installing it.  Then he would go do it.  He would read all about re-roofing.  Then he would go and put a new roof on.  He would read how to hang and finish sheet rock.  Then we would all do it.  There was nothing my Dad could not read and conquer.  But it started with reading and studying.  The unwise way of doing what my father did was to jump into a project without any knowledge at all and only consult the books when something wasn’t working or the laborer got stuck.  It would be foolish to head down that path not knowing what great harm could come from ignorance.  Pride, stubbornness, and an inflated sense of self-reliance would doom such an endeavor.

But this is exactly what God’s people do.  This is exactly what Saul did.  He only consulted Samuel when he had no other option.  God’s people use the word of God as a source of comfort.  Not as a source of knowledge and wisdom.  We go to the word of God when we messed up big enough to regret the circumstances.  We first go to it to feel better.  We want to hear of God’s grace and mercy.  We want that hug.  What we don’t want is to hear that we have messed up big time and if we had simply consulted with God’s word before a choice was made, we wouldn’t be in the mess which we find ourselves.  We do not consult the ark.  We do not go to our High Priest.  It is there as a source of convenience.  It is our magic eight ball.  It is our horoscope, our poem, our lyrics.  What it is not is the guide by which we live day in and day out.  What it has ceased to be is our necessary food.  Saul, because he didn’t value the voice of God, lost it.  God’s people are in the same boat.  Not until we return to the importance of God’s word will we ever be led by His Spirit.

Riding The Calm Storm

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” (Ps 107:29-30 AV)

The context is trouble at sea.  The writer describes seamen in certain peril.  The writer describes in detail the experience of being thrown about by a storm at sea.  He then praises the LORD for intervening on behalf of the troubled ship, returning them to their haven of rest.  One might read the second half of verse thirty as conditions upon which the sailor might be returned to his safe haven.  That is, if the sailor is quiet, then the LORD will bring them to their desired haven.  If the sailor will simply quiet his fears, then the LORD would bring them safely to their desired haven amid a storm.  Thinking that all the way through, that might suggest the LORD will not rescue unless we fully and completely alleviate our fears and anxieties.  Then what would be the point of escaping the storm?  If there is no fear or concern over it, why would we need to be rescued?  No, the little word ‘so’ is not conditions placed on the rescue.  Rather, it is the nature of the rescue.  God calms the storm and stills the waves so the sailor is glad.  He can then enter their desired haven in a condition of peace and joy.  Not as a condition of it.

Decades ago, my father-in-law decided he needed to test the moxie of his new Son-in-law.  So, he and a friend of his took me on a fishing derby.  Called the ESLO derby for Empire State Lake Ontario fishing derby, it is a contest held every spring.  Prizes are awarded for the largest of each class of trout and salmon.  At the time, my dear father-in-law owned a little sixteen footer.  It was a nice boat.  But not a boat one would take out on the lake in the conditions we faced that day.  There was a small craft advisory.  What that means is no one in their right mind would take a boat our size out in the water.  The forecast was eight to twelve-foot waves.  But out we went.  It was by far the most frightening thing I have ever experienced.  And, I have experienced armed robbery, piloting a small aircraft for the first time, and a whole host of lesser evils.  Those two hours in that small craft in twelve-foot waves is something I will never forget.  As we went below the crest of a wave, all we saw was water.  Water above our heads.  As we rose, we saw those boats out there that were too close for comfort.  Dear old daddy-in-law finally got some sense knocked into him and decided it probably was not a good idea to ignore the small craft advisory.  So, in we headed.  The thing is, one cannot take a boat in and dock it in the midst of conditions like this.  The storm has to be calmed before one can enter the port.  Otherwise, the boat would be dashed on the rocks.  There is what we call a breakwall.  This breakwall is a barrier between the rough seas of the open waters and the safe haven of the docks or launch.  One must enter the launch quietly.  There is no other way one can safely get to shore.

Now, if you are reading this, you are thinking, “Doesn’t that illustration lend to the idea that quietness is the condition upon which one must be to reach one’s desired haven?  It all depends on who is piloting the boat.  For my father-in-law, it was his condition.  He had to steer that boat into quiet waters before he could pilot the boat into the desired haven.  From my perspective, this was not a condition, but the nature of the trip.  I had nothing to do with getting the boat where it needed to be.  That was all up to a man far more experienced than I.  Had I steered that boat, we would have capsized.  If getting to the quiet waters was up to me, we wouldn’t have made it.  No, I had to place my faith is someone who had done this before and knew what they were doing.  I was merely enjoying the change from chaos to calm.  I was never so glad to reach dry ground and place my feet on something that didn’t move.  Here’s the point:  The LORD may not pluck you right out of the stormy sea and immediately place you on quiet ground as a means to escape the sea.  Rather, in the midst of the turmoil, He often quiets the trouble so that you can enter the desired haven in quietness and joy.  As we see the breakwall ahead and know the waters will be calmed, the closer we get to that desired haven, the more quiet and glad we become.  In other words, don’t desire an escape from the sea while the sea rages on.  Rather, look for the LORD to calm the storm beforehand, so that you can enjoy the haven to come.

It Will Be Perfect

“For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” (Pr 2:21-22 AV)

Do you know what this quarantine reminds me of?  There were several times in the history of the nation of Israel when their freedom to worship was severely restricted.  One was during the time of the Gentile captivity.  This is where we read of Daniel who prayed in his house and almost lost his life because of it.  I read this morning of a prominent leader in Evangelical Christian circles who lives in a state whose governor is explicitly targeting him and his ministry as a way of putting it out of business.  There are exceptions to the stay-at-home directive, but it is tailor-designed to put an undue burden on Christian ministries.  However, I read another article regarding a survey done by the Barna institute that reveals overall, the faith of the American religious population is maintaining and even growing.  This shut down is not affecting the people of God nearly as much as those who oppose it might have wished.  If anything, it just might be the thing of their nightmares.  The longer we are kept from assembling, the more we will want to.  The more we will want to, the more we will be faithful once it is re-instituted.  I don’t know why I shared that other than to say those who oppose the Son of God will not last.

The verses above speak of a time when the wickedness of mankind will be expunged from the earth.  Whether this speaks of the return of Christ or the recreation of Earth in righteousness, I don’t know.  But there will be a time when all sin is eradicated from the face of God’s creation.  One cannot help but notice ever-encroaching spiritual darkness descending upon the earth.  One can sense it.  Times have changed rapidly.  Sin is all around us.  It is out in the open.  It is flaunted.  It is proudly exalted to the heights of heaven as if a dare goes forth from all of mankind to the Creator of all.  A dare to do something about it.  The Bible reveals Lot as a man whose righteous soul was vexed by the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah.  It was so bad he didn’t even recognize it.  I feel the same is true of the church today.  We speak of the LORD’s return as eminent because we see the condition of the world around us.  Those who have been pilgrims for several decades cannot help but see the LORD’s return is soon.  Those who have not the experience of their elders see the world continuing as it always has.  Not so.  More and more the wicked have encroached on that which belongs to God.  The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force!

But there is a new day coming.  A day when the sun will rise clear and bright.  A day when those who love the LORD can exit their homes without fear of having sin slap them in the face.  They will not have to fear to engage in life.  They will not have to fear crime.  They will not have to shield their children from lewdness.  They will enjoy creation as the LORD intended Adam and Eve to enjoy it before it was marred by the sin of mankind.  There will be no spiritual darkness.  There will only be the light of God’s glory.  There is nothing that can stop it.  No quarantine, no perverted laws, no over-reaching politician.  No one can stop the return of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His kingdom to His will!  The wickedness of the world will cease and only righteousness will reign.  What a day that will be!

Only As Needed

“For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.” (1Ch 12:22 AV)

It sure would be nice to have all the resources we would ever need to accomplish that which God called us to do at one time.  Wouldn’t it?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had all the financial resources we would ever need to build His work or provide for whatever family may come down the pike, or the career which He has determined for us?  It sure would make planning a whole lot better if we knew what we had to work with, wouldn’t it?  Life doesn’t work that way.  The LORD often provides as we need it.  As much as that might be frustrating, this is the way of God’s plan.  It certainly was for David.  The LORD provided for him day by day.  As his responsibility grew, the LORD provided the men he needed.  Not until the LORD was ready to give him those responsibilities, did He provide the needed resources for it.  This is a lesson we learn early in our adult life.  We want all the tools to be successful all at once.  The LORD says, not so fast.

The task at hand can seem overwhelming.  I am sure David looked upon his kingdom of millions of people and wondered how he was ever going to manage.  The same is true no matter the calling.  There is a funny commercial that brings back memories.  I cannot recall the product that is represented, but the commercial starts out with a first time mom leaving her baby with a sitter.  She has all the first time mom paraphernalia strewn over the first floor.  She goes through a long list of dos and don’ts.  She gives a half-dozen phone numbers for emergency contacts.  She promises to call every ten minutes.  Then the same scene is advanced for several years and this new mom has a second child.  She runs out the door as she hands the sitter a new baby, throws some cheerios in a bowl, and tells the sitter to dial 911 if there is an emergency.  The point is responsibility can be overwhelming.  However, time, experience, and maturity make it much easier to handle.  What happened?  Well, day by day the LORD adds the necessary tools to accomplish what at one time we saw as overwhelming.

There was a tool we used when I participated in a new plant build and start-up.  This tool has a name that escapes me.  In essence, it is a planning tool that takes the entire job and breaks it up in manageable pieces.  Each task is planned and scheduled.  The chart has all these long rectangles that overlap.  Each rectangle represents the task and duration needed to accomplish the goal.  We didn’t need all the material delivered before the project started.  We didn’t need all the manpower on site which would be involved in every aspect of the project.  It was a big deal.  All we needed was that which we needed on a day by day basis.  What started small became large.  It became incrementally large.  It grew at the rate we could manage it.  This is how God works.  To do otherwise would stress us out.  We couldn’t handle all this calling would encompass all at once.  Day by day the LORD will add that which we need.  Not before.  Day by day He will give us our daily bread.  Day by day we will advance.   Maybe no be leaps and bounds.  One step at a time.  As the LORD enables.  We may see overwhelming odds, but if broken down into small parts, and waiting on the LORD to provide, the odds are in our favor.