Courage Is For The Weak, Not The Strong

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Ps 31:24 AV)

One would think courage comes only to the strong in heart.  We think those who are brave and can face down adversity are able to possess and exercise courage.  But our beloved songwriter reminds us those weak of heart can and must exercise courage, which begs a question.  What exactly is courage?  If courage is not necessarily the exercise of bravery in the face of adversity, then what is it?  If courage is not taking risks when one feels strong enough to do so, what is it?  If courage can be exercised by a weak as well as a strong heart, what does the word mean?  Secondly, what are the steps needed to exercise courage despite a weak heart?  These questions are important because the promise of a strengthened heart depends on it.  If the fear and anxious heart can exercise courage, then fear and anxiety are abated.  If the weary and faint of heart can exercise courage amid deep trouble and trial, then strength is the result.  So, find the answers we must.

One dictionary defines courage as, “to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute”.  Of courage, Webster’s 1828 dictionary says, “Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.  Courage that grows from constitution, often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty, acts in a uniform manner”. Noah Webster, unbeknownst to him, points out the paradox which we are investigating.  He defines courage as being exercised with a strong heart rather than despite a strong heart.  On the other hand, his definition does illuminate the solution to our paradox.  The phrase, “…but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering…” gives us a glimmer of the balance we seek.  In the first definition, note the phrases “…become strong…” and “…grow firm…”.  In order to become or grow, one must not be those things.  In other words, courage is a resolute attitude and action of the will to act or rest upon the promises of God despite how we might feel at the moment.

We face a lot of adversity our whole lives.  From the day we are born and the spanking that comes a motivation to take our first breath, to the day we lay on our death bed breathing out our last, our lives are filled with hard times.  No matter how much we know the word of God, fear is still a part of life.  I cannot think of anyone in the scriptures, including the LORD Jesus Christ, who did not at least once, feel the emotion of fear.  The Bible tells us that the Son of God felt anxiety in the garden of prayer prior to His crucifixion.  In His human nature, Jesus saw what was coming and it disturbed Him.  If the Son of God, with unlimited faith, can feel a bit anxious, what are we to do?  The promise above is that if we rest and or act in courage, taking God at His word, then our anxious hearts will be calmed, our weary hearts will become stronger, and our doubting hearts will fill with faith.  There is no sense in waiting for a strong heart before we act courageously.  Courage may not be needed then.  It is when we are at our weakest that we need to double down on the promises of God, go to Him in prayer, and accept what He has revealed in His word, trusting in His Spirit to empower us with perseverance.

It Will Be Worth It All

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Ps 30:11-12 AV)

Some use these words for times of great loss.  One can see how they would apply at the death of a loved one.  But the context of this psalm is the first time David set the tabernacle on the temple mount and brought the ark of the covenant to rest within it.  This is the first time in centuries the ark of the covenant rested in the tabernacle and it is the first time it rested in its semi-permanent place.  His son, Solomon, would erect the first Temple and the ark would rest within it for centuries.  In short, the mourning David experienced was not due to the loss of a loved one, but rather, all the trials of life that led to this one culmination of his deepest desire and calling.  He loved the LORD.  He worshipped faithfully.  Most of his life, however, was spent on the run or fighting the enemies of Israel.  He faithfully did as the LORD asked.  He faced down every foe.  He made God real to a nation who needed to see God again.  But the one desire he wished for the most was to erect a temple for the glory of God.  He planned.  He prepared.  He compiled the materials for the building of the temple.  God came to him and told him it would be Solomon who would put it all together.  But it was David who gathered the materials, milled them, and stored them for Solomon.  When the Ark finally came to the Tabernacle for the first time upon the holy mount, David knew all the struggles of life were worth it.  Finally, he realized his calling.  Finally, his life meant what he dreamed of.  This is why mourning was turned to dancing.  God used all his troubles for His glory.  That was all David wanted.

It is interesting how the LORD puts on our heart a life goal that oft times, we do not realize until we get there.  David wanted one thing.  The LORD told him it was good that he wanted it.  The LORD never corrected David for wanting something that would not be his.  The passion and desire were passed down.  So, in a way, David did affect his dream.  It was realized by Solomon.  Had David never dreamed that dream, someone more capable would not have accomplished it.  So, dreaming a dream that is not ours to fulfill may not be a bad thing.  Having said that, rejoicing in what God does do with you is just as important.  David may not have erected the temple.  He may not have put it all together and had that great day of dedication.  It may not have been David who was revered before his people for the great monument to God’s glory that was Solomon’s to build.  But what did bring adoration and honor from his people was David’s love for God and willingness to fulfill God’s will for his life.  It may not have included what he dreamed of, but it was all of what God asked.  This was the joy that he experienced.  Knowing he had done what God asked of him was his joy.

It is important not to sell ourselves short.  What I mean by that is we may have expectations which God never placed on us.  Perhaps it is someone else’s job to do what we once dreamed of.  What we must do is rejoice when the culmination of all our efforts comes to maturity.  Compared to the temple, bringing the Ark to the Temple Mount and placing it in a centuries-old tent may not have seemed as special.  But David treated it as such.  There was a tremendous celebration at the coming of the ark to Jerusalem and the Mount.  In fact, Psalm thirty may refer to the dancing David did before the LORD which Michal took offense at.  David did not allow his unrealized dreams to diminish what God did through him.  As far as he was concerned, all the blood, sweat, and tears he shed for the last forty years or so paid off.  He paid a heavy price to get there.  But get there he did.  Never underestimate what God did with you.  It may not have been your ultimate dream, but it was what God wanted.  Praise be to God!

Don't You Forget It

“The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.” (Ps 29:10 AV)

Sometimes we doubt this.  Or, at the very least, do not accept it by faith in the strongest terms possible.  God reigns supreme.  He is the King of kings and LORD of lords.  He is sovereign and nothing is too hard for Him.  He created all things and interacts with all things.  By Him, all things consist.  When our life seems out of control, we wonder how much our King is in charge.  When we are at the end of our rope, we wonder if God still reigns.  If it seems like our enemies have the upper hand, we wonder if God still cares.  When we receive that bad news, we begin to think perhaps the LORD isn’t as active as the word of God would lead us to believe.  He is!  He is the King of kings forever.  This understanding is not from the point of the writing of this psalm forward.  Rather, from eternity past to eternity future, God is King forever!  That is the understanding. 

Last week I watched a new YouTube channel.  Expedition Bible is a channel that explores archeological evidence in support of the Biblical record.  One of the last videos I watched concerned the city of Nineveh.  That would be the Nineveh of Jonah's fame.  The host used an aerial view of the ruins of the city walls.  As ancient cities went, these walls were massive.  The account of Jonah states it took Jonah three days to traverse the entire city.  Yet, if one looks at the current ruins, one could go from one end to the other in a fraction of the time.  However, the host made a few observations.  First, if Jonah made a direct line without diverting to cover every residential street, then yes, it would take only a fraction of the time stated in the book of Jonah.  However, the host overlaid a depiction of what the city might have looked like including residences located at the time.  Then he made the statement the current ruins were only of the inner city.  Nineveh included an outer city and suburbs that would have gone for miles.  That being the case, if Jonah were to preach to the entire city including all the side streets, outer city, and suburbs, it would have taken at least three days.  Then a thought occurred to me.  Since Nineveh did not have modern methods of interaction, one would wonder just how aware someone living in the outer city or suburb would be of the king’s influence over them.  It would not be equivalent to those living closest to the palace.  They might have been aware of the king’s reign, but perhaps not as much as they could have been had circumstances been different.

We see God by faith.  We see His work through the eyes of the word of God and believe that God does work.  Our car needed new tires badly.  We made the appointment and then made arrangements to pay for them in a less-than-ideal way.  However, the Sunday before the LORD provided the means to pay for it without my knowledge.  I had made the appointment by faith, but God met the need without me knowing this.  God does these things.  It is of the LORD that we have what we need.  It is of the LORD things work out the way they do.  Just like those living on the outskirts of Nineveh, we can forget God still sits on His throne.  We have words that describe the presence of God.  We must see Him with the mind of faith.  One day, very soon, we will see Him face to face and all doubt will be erased.  He sits, still on the throne of heaven, reigning over all He has created even though we cannot always see Him.  He is there.  King forever!

Reasoned Prayer Realizes Results

“And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.” (Ex 32:11-13 AV)

This prayer is uttered by Moses before he descends the mountain to find Israel worshipping Baal.  While on the mountain receiving the law at the mouth and finger of God, Moses is told by God what is happening beneath him.  He prays this prayer of mercy for the people of God.  When I read this prayer, I find a well-reasoned prayer.  This prayer is not all emotional and spontaneous in nature.  Not that God doesn’t hear such prayers or that such prayers are ineffective.  In fact, when Moses descends the mountain to find Israel in the condition which God spoke of, he ascends the mountain and passionately pleads again for the people of God.  The second time his prayer involves a great deal of emotion and even suggests an impossibility to rectify Israel’s transgression.  Moses offered to surrender his place in glory if it meant the people of God could go there.  His second prayer, although very passionate and reactionary, was not as well-reasoned as the first.  Both prayers were appropriate given the circumstances.  But this prayer is my focus this morning.

In this prayer, Moses states some foundational truths that should appeal to the mercy of God.  He points out God’s vengeance would be a motive for the enemies of God to discredit God.  It sounds kind of backward, but this is how the world works.  One would think if God chastened His own people, the enemies of God have far more to fear.  The world simply doesn’t think that way.  They believe God deals with His people but leaves the rest of humanity alone.  Not so.  Moses is pleading on the basis of God’s reputation as a merciful God.  The second argument Moses makes is the covenants God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  If God destroys His people, then He will be known as the God who does not keep covenant.  If God does not keep covenant, then upon what or whom can humanity come to trust?  The arguments which Moses is making are not difficult to understand.  They are very effective.  His prayer was effective because it was based on reason and on truth.

Emotion is important.  Relaying to the LORD how we feel about our pressing needs is therapeutic.  It helps us process that part of our being.  We need to work out our emotions.  We need to talk them out.  We need to get them to the surface and process them.  Otherwise, our emotions have a way of eating us up from the inside outward.  But emotion is no solid basis for a prayer request.  Emotion may be a motivator, but it is not a defense.  Finding promises and truths that support our request is the way in which we can make prayer to God.  Reading this early this morning, I was struck at how Moses was able to seek God’s mercy, and gain it, not be a reactionary and emotionally charged prayer.  Rather, he was able to perfectly articulate the basis upon which he was able to trust in the mercy of God.  For a man who does not speak well, he sure knew the words to speak to God.  Moses got the answer for which he sought God, not because he was overly emotional about it.  Rather, he received from God that for which he petitioned Him because there were solid reasons why God could do nothing less than say yes.

Tend The Flock

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” (Pr 27:23 AV)

Solomon is encouraging his son to be a good husbandman.  In the next verse, Solomon states the flocks may not be as productive in the future as they are in the present, so to prudent thing to do is to take care of what God has given you today, because you may need it tomorrow.  This can apply to all sorts of things that the LORD has entrusted to His saints.  This could be our health.  The flocks could be our families.  The house over our heads, the career or calling assigned to us, or those whom the LORD has entrusted to train in the things of His word.  The flocks could be anything that we are responsible for and can contribute in some way to our own existence.  The key is diligence.  Working hard to maintain what the LORD has bestowed is necessary for future success.

Like most young men, I had a garden.  I had the idea from my best friend.  He had a garden to the side of his house and I thought I could do the same.  So, in the spring, I went out to our backyard with my father’s pickax and dug up a little patch.  It wasn’t all that big. Maybe five feet by five feet.  In this garden, I planted corn, cherry tomatoes, and green beans.  I think I tried some lettuce as well.  The first year was OK.  We had some fresh beans and tomatoes.  The corn never really grew large enough to eat.  It was not all that hard work.  Watering it was the biggest chore associated with it.  Then came the second year.  Having had some success the first year, I expanded to squash.  I ditched the corn because it simply didn’t grow large enough.  I tried some pumpkin, but that didn’t do so well, either.  That second year was a it more work.  I had to weed.  I hate weeding!  I needed to water the garden a bit more, too.  By the third year, not seeing the yields I had hoped, I gave up.  Besides, I really don’t like waxed beans.  No motivation.  To this day, I refuse to weed.  We have a lovely flower bed in front of our home and the church.  I don’t weed!  If I can’t kill it with spray, it can grow right alongside the flowers!  The thing is, if you don’t keep up on it, you will surrender the garden to the wild.

Solomon’s advice is sound.  The LORD has graciously given us what we need to thrive.  It just takes much diligent oversight and responsibility to see that it has returns.  Like Jacob, there is work needed so the flock increases.  It will not increase on its own.  The flock He has given is sufficient for the day, but it will not be for tomorrow.  If we ignore the needs of the flock, the flock will not remain.  This is true of all areas of life.  As a minister, we can apply this to our congregation.  But this application goes far beyond this.  Our health, our finances, our families, our homes, our careers, etc.  It all needs tending to.  If not, they will not be there when we need them most.

Eyes Up

“And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.” (Ex 25:20 AV)

Coming from a portion of the word of God that describes the pattern of the Tabernacle which Moses was instructed to build, the two cherubims faced each other but their gaze was on the mercy seat.  This has struck me odd in the sense the glory of God rested on the mercy seat and no one is said to survive directly gazing upon the glory of God.  This, of course, is not always true.  Many have.  Secondly, the cherubims did need mercy for sin as the Jewish people needed mercy for sin.  Once a year, the high priest would come and apply the blood of the atonement on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of Israel.  The gaze of the cherubims was for the satisfaction of and reverence toward, the Creator of the universe.  Their Creator.  As I thought on this the Spirit mused within me that we, as God’s people should do the same.  Our gaze should be fixed on the mercy seat.  Not just for mercy which we desperately need, but more so for the glory and pleasure it brings our Almighty God and Savior.  His mercy is infinite.  His grace, incomprehensible.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to keep our eyes fixed on the most important when there is so much more going on in our immediate environment.  This brings me back to my wedding day.  There is a tradition that is losing its significance.  It used to be the groom did not see the bride for at least 24 hours prior to their wedding.  They would part ways, usually at the insistence of a bride’s maid, or more than likely, the bride’s mother.  They would scurry away to prepare for the next day.  The next time the groom would see his bride is when the doors of the sanctuary opened and she stood with her father at the end of the room, waiting for the music to announce her appearance.  The officiant would ask all to rise.  All the honored guests would stand to their feet and every eye would be on her as she walked down the aisle to meet her beloved.  At first, her gaze would be in the pews, looking at all those who loved her so much to share her day.  But then, about halfway to the altar, her eyes would catch her beloved.  From that point forward, their eyes were locked onto one another.  It didn’t matter what the hundreds of people were doing or saying in their seats.  It didn’t matter that the ring bearer or flower girl was playing with their shoes or crying for Mommy.  What the guys were doing behind the groom or how attentive the bridesmaids were.  Nothing mattered.  Their gaze is fixed upon one another because of the deep love they feel at that moment.  The gaze is fixed on the most treasured object at that moment.

This is the scene in the sanctuary of the Tabernacle.  The gaze of the cherubims is locked on the mercy seat.  They set an example which we should follow.  There are a lot of distractions in life.  There are many trials.  We enjoy a multitude of relationships.  There are worries.  There are duties.  Much competes for our attention.  Much demands we look upon only temporary things.  Our gaze should be set on things above.  Our attention should be fixed on the One who loved us and died for us.  Our attention, although may have to be diverted from time to time, should automatically return to our God and Creator.  This is where our hearts must reside.  This is where our eyesight should be fixed.  The mercy seat upon which our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ,  sits should be that one object that attracts and keeps our attention the most.  We must look upon Him and keep looking upon Him for He alone deserves our heart.

Balance in Fellowship

“Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (Ex 24:9-11 AV)

At first glance, the underlined portion seems odd.  Why would it be necessary to include this small detail?  What significance is it that we know the elders, Moses, and the priests sat down to eat and drink?  The writers are all over the place on this.  It seems as though their guess is as good as anyone’s.  What we do know is God does not waste words.  If these words are in His word, then they do have significance.  We must consider these words are in the context of God’s and not being on or against those who ate and drank.  Why does this matter, or what are we missing?  Moses was told to forbid Israel from ascending the mountain for curiosity’s sake.  They were to remain at the foot of the mountain as Moses and those mentioned ascended.  The restriction was even more stringent as they ascended toward the top.  Only Moses was allowed to go to the very top where the law was given.  The threat of death was very real.  One commentator mentioned the custom of sharing a meal during a time of covenant-making.  But I think the more practical way of looking at this is communing with God should be seen as a normal and rudimentary activity for man.  Worship does not always have to entail a production.  Fellowship with God should be the normal course of life and not restricted to a scheduled event with much activity.

No one is suggesting we forego reverence and fear when communing with God.  He deserves our deepest and most humble respect.  He is the Almighty!  He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  By Him, and only Him, we exist.  God is perfectly holy and demands all those whom He has created to be so as well.  We cannot even think of approaching His presence on any merit of our own.  We deserve His unrestrained wrath for all of eternity.  If it wasn’t for the blood of Christ, we would have no privilege to meet with God at all.  For any reason!  The smoke, thunder, lightning, and earthquake that occurred when God descended upon the mountain were real and dramatic.  It scared everyone.  If I was one of the 70, I don’t know how motivated I would be to ascend that mountain.  I would have been terrified and like the rest of Israel sent someone else in my place.  I would have seen the top of that mountain, felt the earth shake, and gone straight to my tent; staying there until I had to come out.  But this is the point.  Despite all the glory of God to which the 70 were exposed, they ate and drank in the presence of Almighty God.

If we are erring too much today in one direction, I think God has become to familiar to us.  What I mean is that God has been made common.  We have lost our awe and fear of Him.  The N.T. church has overemphasized His love and mercy that there is no fear of God in our eyes.  We do not have a problem with eating and drinking before the LORD’s presence as if it is no big deal; because to us, it has ceased to be.  There should be a balance.  If you look closely, you will notice the men who ascended were well aware of the glory of God.  They saw it.  They trembled.  They were affrighted.  That is a good thing.  If the glory of God does not shake us to the core, then we are more than likely dead inside.  Despite the glory of God being a troubling thing, they were still able to eat and drink in His presence.  This is Moses’ point.  The hand of God did not slay them.  They were still there and life went on.  They were able to survive because they experienced the balance between God’s glory and His mercy.  This is the balance we need to find.  A healthy fear that makes us tremble, but a peace of mind and heart that God loves us.  Few have that balance.  May we strive to attain it.