My Morning Meal

Psalm 30 is a song David composed for the dedication of the temple. An offering of praise to Him who had determined to dwell in the midst of His people. A psalm of reflection . . . recalling a time when David was so ill, that he thought he might die . . . remembering a time when he, because of his prosperity, he had become so arrogant and self-sufficient, that He sensed that God had hid His face from him . . . recounting how, in both circumstances, he cried to the LORD and the LORD mercifully responded. There may have been weeping for a night, but joy comes with the morning (v.5) . . . his mourning had been turned into dancing (v.11) . . . his sackcloth removed and replaced with clothes of gladness (v.11) . . .

For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime . . .    (Psalm 30:5a ESV)

What David understood as the LORD’s anger, the child of God knows to be His loving Father’s discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11). Whether an extended time of sickness due to the weakness of our flesh . . . or a protracted time of anguish of the soul due to the weakness of our spirit . . . whether disease or sin . . . God will use these but “momentary afflictions” for the perfecting of the work He has begun in us. For His favor is for a lifetime.

So often it is in our weakness, and through our suffering, that our absolute dependence on Him is rekindled. Our prayer life becomes as vital as it’s ever been . . . our earnestness is taken to the next level . . . our hunger and thirst for the face of God as acute as we’ve ever known it.

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me. When you seek Me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD . . .    (Jeremiah 29:12-14a ESV)

And it is in that condition, when all desire is but desire for Him, that He reminds us of His desire for us. It is then that joy starts to supplant weeping . . . that, though our flesh may still be weak, our mourning turns into dancing . . . that though the consequence of our sin might remain, the sackcloth is exchanged for gladness. That we remember that His favor is for a lifetime.

As is often the case, and as David experienced in his sickness, there may be healing and recovery. And, as is always the case when tripped up in transgression, for those who humble themselves and repent of their sin, there is forgiveness through the blood of Jesus and the forever finished work of the cross. For His favor is for a lifetime.

And when the healing comes . . . when fellowship is restored . . . then “sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name” (30:4).

His grace is sufficient. It is abundant grace. Grace which is able to sustain during illness. Grace which is able to secure during waywardness. Grace which is able to cause the soul to soar when there is contriteness.

The discipline is but for a moment . . . but His favor is for a lifetime . . . and time beyond a lifetime.

To Him be all glory . . .

When I was in elementary school I had an aunt who called me “Speed.” I don’t know that I was any faster than other kids . . . I do recall taking home a few blue ribbons from our school’s “Sports Day” . . . but I don’t know that I was really any faster than anybody else. But, because I was called Speed, I thought I was faster. Not gonna lie, I liked being called Speed. I thought it was a special name, and so, I thought I was kind of special.

Throughout the Scriptures God has sprinkled various “special names” for His people. They’re one of the things I’m on the lookout for as I work my way through my reading plan. Found one this morning that’s given me reason to pause and reflect.

Oh, save Your people and bless Your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.      (Psalm 28:9 ESV)

By His Spirit, through David in this case, the LORD gives us some insight as to how He regards His people through this “special name.” God’s people are God’s heritage . . . or, as it’s translated in other versions, His inheritance.

Literally, the word is “possession” . . . the idea being of something that will be possessed, as in land that will be occupied . . . thus, something inherited. And the idea of God’s people being God’s possession or heritage isn’t unique to Israel and the Old Testament. Peter, by the Holy Spirit, writes, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

I sit here and noodle on the idea of being part of God’s heritage . . . a portion of His inheritance . . . and, to be honest, I feel kind of special. O’ the wonder that God would desire to want such as I as part of His possession. That God would even notice, much less desire, that those, like myself, who were once marked by their transgression should now be deemed to be part of His treasure is awe beyond awe. To consider that, though I was once an enemy, I am now part of His heritage, is blessing upon blessing in and of itself.

But the other thought that fills my mind . . . and impacts my heart . . . is that I am His possession. I am not my own . . . I was bought with a price . . . and now, I belong to Another (1Cor. 6:19-20). I am His property . . . purchased by the blood of His precious Son . . . redeemed through the work of the cross . . . re-lifed by the power of His Spirit . . . I am His, and His alone.

Special names can make you feel kind of special . . . but with them come a special responsibility. I don’t think I ever lived up to “Speed” . . . but by God’s grace I desire to live like His heritage . . . desiring to walk in a manner consistent with being Someone Else’s possession . . . offering myself daily as one who has been bought by Another.

His heritage . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory.

All too often, I confess, it’s mostly a one way dialogue. I make known my requests to God and trust Him to answer in the manner and timing that best aligns to His sovereign purposes. Or, I cry out to the Lord in times of trouble believing that the God of all comfort can bring a peace that passes understanding. Or, I might simply offer praise and worship, imagining it as an offering ascending to heaven as a sweet smelling aroma, and that He receives with it delight. Whatever the nature of my prayer, I think, most often, I’m in the “me-to-Him” mode. This morning, a verse in Psalm 27 caused me to pause. If I’m reading it right, it reverses my most common approach to communion with Him . . . it’s more of a “Him-to-me” dynamic. In a sense, I get to answer God’s petition.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
   be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek My face.”
   My heart says to You,
         “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”      (Psalm 27:7-8 ESV)

David believed . . . and he knew from past experiences . . . that God was His help in time of need. In the day of trouble, the songwriter was confident that the LORD would hide him in His shelter . . . conceal him under the cover of His tent . . . lift him high upon a rock (27:5). So, when the enemies of David arose, so too, the cries of David to His God also arose. I get that pattern of prayer.

But then David recalls a request from God, seek My face. In a sense, the tables are turned. You desire my benefits?, says the Lord, then desire my presence. You want Me to draw near to You? . . . then draw near to Me. You desire that I come alongside you in Your world? . . . then pursue Mine.

Spurgeon put it this way, “If we would have the Lord hear our voice, we must be careful to respond to His voice. The true heart should echo the will of God as the rocks among the Alps repeat in sweetest music the notes of the peasant’s horn.”

Not that the Lord demands a quid pro quo . . . I will, if you will. Not that we need to perform or pursue to a certain level before He will respond. Nor is it that He needs anyone on earth to seek Him in heaven. But that, because of His steadfast love and through His abundant grace, He desires that His creation might know their Creator. That those who were created for fellowship with the Divine might realize the reality of such fellowship. And that, for those in need, they might find all that they need in Him. And so, petitions the LORD, “Seek my face.”

It’s God’s desire . . . it’s His “ask” . . . it’s His petition, in a sense, that men would seek Him . . . more personally, that I would seek His face.

And my privilege and delight is for me to respond to God’s petition . . . to echo back His desire . . . for my heart to say to Him, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”

By His grace . . . for His glory.

Had lunch with a buddy yesterday . . . he wore his Denver Broncos gear . . . punk! Talk about drawing some attention! A guy who was leaving the restaurant and opened the door for us, the one wearing a Seahawks jersey, spit out in disbelief, “Broncos!?!” . . . the girl who seated us, wearing her Seahawks t-shirt, did a double take when she saw my buddy’s jacket. And then, I thought our waiter was ready to pay for our food himself as he went on about how he’s been a die hard Raiders fan his whole life and thinks Seahawks fans are fair weather fans . . .so go Broncos! Brother!

That sparked a conversation between my buddy and I as we waited for our lunch. Something like . . . how, for many people, the game has given way to becoming a god. The players are revered . . . the 12th man flag has become a banner under which people find their identify . . . the logo has become a coat of arms to which men and women pledge allegiance. And the stadiums . . . well they are the temples. My buddy mentioned the lengths to which some will go, and the price they will pay, in order to travel across the country to be there this weekend, because “I need to be with my team.” Brother, again!

Don’t get me wrong. I am more than intrigued by the big game this weekend. There will be a gathering at our home Sunday afternoon to enter into the madness a bit. I think it would be great if the home town team should win the game. But, it is just a game.

So, why am I going on about this? Reading in the Psalms this morning, I reminded that I shouldn’t be surprised by some of the over-the-top behaviors of some fans because what we worship we draw near to.

O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house
      and the place where Your glory dwells.         (Psalm 26:8 ESV)

David loved going to the temple. The place where the LORD’s glory dwelt was the place He wanted to draw near to. God’s presence should draw God’s people. Where He is found in the midst, is where we should want to be found as part of the gathering. We draw near to that which we worship. The “main event” on Sunday isn’t the “big game.”

There’s a much bigger deal happening this Sunday than the Super Bowl. Should the Lord not come before then, the people of God will be assembling under the banner of God, to know the presence of God, through their worship of God. The holy temple formed by living stones “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22) will come together . . . and the sacrifice of the fruit of our lips, praise, will ascend as a sweet smelling aroma to heaven’s throne room . . . the word of God will be proclaimed and the Spirit of God will lead us into truth . . . and the glory of God will descend. No price of admission to be paid . . . our entrance secured through the blood of the Lamb. Ours is but to come . . . ours is to draw near. O’ how I love the habitation of Your house, Your living house, the place where Your glory dwells, O’ Lord.

I’m all for watching the game . . . but it’s just a game . . . and it’s gods are no gods.

So pumped by the anticipation of drawing near again to the glory . . . of gathering with the redeemed . . . for our God is God alone.

Doesn’t really matter what logo we bear on our clothes . . . but that the people of God would bear the stamp of His kingdom on our lives . . . and that we would love the habitation of His house . . . and pursue the place . . . no, that we would pursue the people where His glory dwells. That what we worship would be known by what we draw near to.

Amen?

From the opening words of the song you can’t help but be drawn in. It says it’s a psalm of David. But after reading just the first verse you know it’s the Savior’s song . . . that it’s autobiographical . . . and, that it’s unbelievable!

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?

Those are the opening words of Psalm 22. They are also Jesus’ words . . .those He cried out with a loud voice as He hung on Calvary’s cruel cross (Matt. 27:46) . . . forever identifying Psalm 22 as His psalm . . . a prophetic, Messianic psalm . . . forever linking His experiences with the lyrics written by the shepherd / sovereign / songwriter, David.

What insight it provides to the Savior’s suffering. Made a to feel like a worm (v.6) . . . aware of the mocking and derision that was cast upon Him (vv. 7-8). His life being absolutely drained from His body . . . His bones stretched out of their joints by His own weight on the cross . . . His heart like wax as it suffers congestive failure drowning in His own fluids. His strength gone . . . His mouth dry as desert ground . . . knowing He is about to die (vv.14-18). His hands and feet pierced, He looks down and can count all His bones as they seek to break out of His flesh . . . and, as He looks up, He sees His Gentile executioners, the dogs, as they stare at Him . . . and gloat over Him . . . and gamble for His clothes (vv.16-18).

Oh, what did my Savior endure that my sin might, once for all, be atoned for? What did my Savior go through that I might know His righteousness? How poor was the Son of Man made that, through His poverty, I might be made rich? Hallelujah! What a Savior!

But here’s what really grabbed me this morning . . .

Yet You are He who took me from the womb; You made me trust You at my mother’s breasts. On You was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb You have been my God.   (Psalm 22:9-10 ESV)

What mind-bending insight into the workings of the Triune God. Though Father, Son, and Spirit are perfectly one, the humiliation of Christ put Him in a position of absolute dependence upon the Father. If the first part of Psalm 22 give us insight into the mind of Christ as He hung on the cross, then did Jesus reflect upon His lowly birth as He waited for that moment when He would enter death? How aware was He of His self-imposed frailty . . . as One taken from the womb . . . as One dependent upon His mother’s breast for life sustaining nourishment . . . as One, though He was God, taught to trust in God? Behold the Man! . . fully, perfectly, man!

The depths of the descent made by the King of Creation in order to enter into His creation is beyond understanding. The absolute human dependence which God the Son had upon God the Father through God the Spirit is a mystery.

And . . . it is a beckoning to wonder and worship. It is an invitation to awe.

You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him,
and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel!   (Psalm 22:23 ESV)

What a song! What a Savior! Amen?