Strengthen and Pray

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Pete

I’m thinking the order is important. Not that it’s a law or anything . . . but as I read it,it jumped out at me as making sense . . . that the one should come before the other . . . that to do the other would be hard to do without the one. Seems to me it might be a good principle to adopt . . . strengthen and pray.

Wrapping up 1Samuel. And towards the end of the book David’s kind of living on the edge. He has determined the only way to ensure protection from Saul is to move deep into Philistine country. He forms a covert relationship with a guy named Achish. David presents himself and his men as mercenaries . . . done with Saul and his kingdom . . . ready to serve Achish and the enemies of Israel.

Achish sets them up in a town called Ziklag. In order to perpetuate his cover, David and his men raid “the inhabitants of the land from of old” (1Sam. 27:8), utterly destroy everyone, return with the spoils, and tell Achish they have laid waste to a city of Israel. Works great until Achish invites David and his men to join the forces of the Philistines to go head to head with Saul and his army.

David reports for duty . . . what else is he going to do? But the other Philistine leaders don’t trust David and tell Achish to send David and his men back to Ziklag. Lucky, huh? (Whose hand is all over that one? The God who moves the hearts and reasonings of pagan kings, that’s Who!)

But when David returns to Ziklag only to find that it has been raided and burned by the Amalekites . . . and all the women, and all the children, and all the livestock have been taken. Bad scene. Not only has he suffered great loss, but his men are ready to stone Him (30:1-6). And then I read this . . .

But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.”. So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the LORD.   (1Samuel 30:6b-8a ESV)

The bottom has fallen out of his world. His playing both sides of the fence has caught up with him. He dodges one bullet with the Philistines only to be nailed with a bat in the back of the head by the Amalekites. He’s reeling . . . his men are “bitter in soul” . . . what’s he going to do?

He strengthens himself in the LORD and then, he inquires of the Lord. Strengthen and pray . . . remember where your help comes from and then, lift your eyes to Him who made heaven and earth (Ps. 121:1-2) . . . quiet your heart enough to recall who has determined your steps (Prov. 16:9, Jer. 10:23) and then, cry out to the Lord for wisdom and direction . . . steel your heart and refocus on the all-sufficiency of God’s abundant grace and then, ask Him to make perfect His power in our weakness (2Cor. 12:9).

Too often, in unsettled times, I rush in panic to “911 heaven” . . . I’m prone to “Ready, Fire, Aim!” . . . rather than strengthen and pray.

O’, that by the presence and power of the Spirit’s inner working, I would always, especially in times of crisis, look up, be strong, and call out to Him who has promised never to leave me or forsake me.

By His grace . . . For His glory . . .

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I Like It!

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Pete

That the things of God can be pleasing to the human soul is a common experience for those with “ears to hear” and “eyes to see.” When the believer takes but a few moments to quiet himself, or herself, . . . when he or she pauses, even if for just a little while, to consider the wonder of the creation and of the God who created it . . . there is a welling up in the heart that really is beyond explanation. Wonder gives way to awe . . . awe gives way to joy . . . joy gives way to worship. Not something that is easily explained . . . but, I think, much understood by those who have known the connection between reflection and rejoicing.

What’s grabbed me this morning, however, is that, beyond the stirring of soul that I might experience through times of quiet reflection, that God also might enjoy my noodling on Him . . . that somehow the Divine might also find pleasure in my feeble brain spinning its wheels concerning His mighty works . . . that God might pause at my meditation and say, “I like it!”

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.                                                                                                  (Psalm 104:33-34 ESV)

The psalmist has invested 32 verses considering the One who is “clothed with splendor and majesty” (v.1) . . . and the manner in which His greatness is manifest in the ways of creation . . . “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (v24). And, as he concludes his song, he pens a closing and crescendo-ing chorus. He desires that the LORD’s glory would endure forever, that God might rejoice in the works of His hand . . . and the songwriter unleashes His soul in praise and worship of the God of his consideration (vv. 31, 35b).

And tucked in the middle of this closing chorus is the desire that the music-maker’s meditation be pleasing to the God who sources the song.

The word is translated “sweet” in the NKJV. It has the idea of something being pleasant or pleasurable. And I’m a bit taken aback at the thought that my thoughts might in some way be “sweet” to my God . . . that my musings might be found pleasurable to the Creator . . . that my meditation might be pleasing to the One who has “set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved” (v. 5) . . . that God might pick up on my awe and wonder of Him this morning and say to Himself, “I like it!”

It’s kind of a mystery . . . not only how that dynamic might work . . . but why. Why would I think that God, who “makes the clouds His chariots” and “rides on the wings of the wind” (v.3), would even take notice of my thoughts, much less find them sweet? But the songwriter, moved by the Spirit of God, pens words which seem to indicate that God delights in such sacrifice . . . the sacrifice of a few quiet moments directed towards thinking about Him, His works, and His enduring glory.

We worship God because He is worthy of worship. We praise Him because there is so much to praise Him for. But to think that He would take a measure of delight in our musings? . . . that, in and of itself, is amazing.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

May my meditation be pleasing to You, O Lord! For it is offered by Your grace alone . . . and for Your glory alone!

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Dust

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Pete

It’s easy for me to go to a place where I imagine God being disappointed with me. In those way too many “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” moments . . . when I know I’m coming up short . . . when the talk I want to walk doesn’t quite materialize . . . in those times when I know I’ve blown it, I can quickly see the frown of heaven over my head. I see the Father sadly bowing, and slowly shaking His head back and forth, whispering to Himself, “Again? He’s crashed and burned, again?” Or I can envision Him throwing up His arms in exasperation, “Why isn’t he getting it?!? Why doesn’t he do better?!?” But this morning, as I hover over Psalm 103 . . . the psalm of “blessing the Lord, O my soul” . . . the song of “forgetting not all His benefits” . . . as I read it, I don’t see the Father’s disappointment . . . instead, I’m reminded of His patience, compassion, and grace . . . and this, because I’m dust.

As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.
       For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.                                                                           (Psalm 103:13-14 ESV)

He remembers I’m dust. That’s how he created mankind . . . “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). God was the designer of those He desired to have fellowship with . . . and He chose the materials. Nothing wrong with the materials . . . fully adequate for the form created to house the soul and spirit which is in communion with God. But break the communion . . . introduce sin . . . and the dust framework is “structurally compromised.” Though redeemed through the finished work of the cross . . . though infused with the Spirit of the living God . . . remnants of the old man, the flesh, remain . . . and “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Gal. 5:17).

And when that happens . . . when I fail to do the things I want to do . . . or, when I do that which I don’t want to do . . . He knows my frame, and remembers I am dust.

And so, the Father shows compassion. The LORD who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love” (103:8) . . . He who has determined to “not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (103:10) . . . chooses, even in our failure, to love us . . . “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him” (103:11).

Steadfast love . . . unlimited compassion . . . available for dust. Not for those who perform perfectly . . . not for those who obey always . . . not for those who present themselves spotlessly . . . but for those who fear the Lord. God’s compassion overflowing on jars of clay that seek to carry the treasure of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (2Cor. 4:6-7) . . . God’s mercy on those who sincerely desire to walk in a manner worthy . . . God’s grace toward those who want to show they love Him by obeying Him . . . God’s compassion to His children . . . even when they come up short . . . even when they’re a bit flakey — like dust.

Not to presume on His grace . . . but not to forget His grace either. Not to become careless . . . but to remember His compassion. Not to grow complacent in fearing the King of Creation with reverent awe . . . but to know anew that He loves us with a steadfast love.

He knows my frame . . . dust. And His grace is abounding . . . and His grace is sufficient . . . and His compassions, they fail not.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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Soul Mates

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Pete

David would eventually call it an extraordinary love, “surpassing the love of women” (2Sam. 1:26). It was to be a friendship to the nth degree . . . through victory and defeat . . . marked by encouragement and self-sacrifice. It really is one of the great sub-plots of 1 Samuel . . . the friendship between David and Jonathan . . . the saga of two soul mates.

As soon as [David] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.    (1Samuel 18:1-4 ESV)

At the least, they should have been competitors . . . and if they had been enemies, it would have been understandable. Jonathan’s the son of King Saul . . . naturally speaking, he’s the heir apparent . . . and a pretty impressive heir apparent at that. Read 1Samuel 13 and 14 and you’ll see in Jonathan a mighty warrior . . . a man of faith . . . and a man of conviction, not afraid to stand up to his dad. Not bad would-be-king material.

But then, out of nowhere, there’s a second warrior in the house . . . another alpha dog. I’m thinking that Jonathan may have come across the shepherd boy, slash, harp player, who had been making music in the house to sooth his dad’s troubled soul (1Sam. 16:23). But then, all of a sudden, the kid is a giant slayer . . . and soon David’s reputation and popularity will exceed even his dad’s (1Sam. 18:6-7) . . . talk about a threat! Talk about someone that you might develop a “healthy” distrust of . . . talk about someone who was elbowing in on the spotlight . . . talk about someone you might very well develop a bit of a dislike for.

Instead, the Scripture records, Jonathan’s soul was knit to David’s. Their lives were brought together . . . and their lives were bound together at the deepest of levels. I don’t think Jonathan knew of David’s secret anointing by Samuel (1Sam. 16) . . . of the prophetic word spoken over the son of Jesse that, one day, he would be king. But I wonder if Jonathan, the man of faith, saw in David the man after God’s own heart (1Sam. 13:14). Jonathan apparently sees beyond any threat David may have posed to him, instead sensing in David a kindred spirit . . . a man anointed by the Spirit. Jonathan, the man of God, is drawn to David, God’s man.

And, humbling himself, Jonathan honors David by arraying him in the clothes and armor of a would be king. His love for David is such that he doesn’t hesitate to submit to him. And their soul’s become intertwined . . . their friendship is sealed . . . a deep and rich fellowship is established.

Is it too much to want to see myself as a Jonathan . . . and the Lord, the Son of David as, well, David? To be encouraged again to relinquish any claim I think I might have to the throne of my life, and instead humbly hand over again the keys of my little kingdom to Christ? To acknowledge afresh that He is God’s anointed . . . to wonder anew that our lives could be inextricably joined together . . . to declare again that I love Him as I would my own soul . . . to marvel, with exceeding marvel, that He would desire to enter into covenant relationship with me? To think that the King of Kings and the chief of sinners would, by the grace of God, become soul mates?

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends . . .   (John 15:15a ESV)

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We Have These Promises

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Pete

Paul is pleading with the Corinthians not to hamstring themselves. He knows that an unequal yoke is, at the least, inefficient . . . at its worst, disastrous. To place a pack of rocks on your back is counter-productive to wanting to run the race . . . righteousness and lawlessness make lousy partners . . . light and darkness have problems co-existing . . . Christ and Belial just don’t get along in a room. And in his plea to these believers . . . to these saints who were playing around with idols, the world’s gods, he reminds them of who they are . . . of what God has done . . . and, of the promises they possess.

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”   (2Corinthians 16b-18 ESV)

I read this a second time . . . and then a third . . . it’s like drinking out of a fire hose! Church, check out who we are! We are the temple of the living God . . . the Most Holy Place . . . the place on earth where the presence and glory of God has chosen to dwell. Look at that face in the mirror . . . and see the temple of the living God. Look around at those in the pews (or chairs) around you . . . see the Most Holy Place. What’s more, we are sons and daughters to God. Adopted with full rights of children . . . made heirs and joint heirs with Christ . . . made brothers and sisters in God’s family . . . loved, as only children can be loved by their parents.

That’s who we are. And not because of what we are . . . or what we’ve done . . . but because of what He has purposed to do . . .

“I will make My dwelling among them” . . . “I will walk among them” . . . “I will be their God” . . . “I will welcome you” . . . “I will be a Father to you” . . .

I will . . . I will . . . I will, says the Lord Almighty. Pause and take note of all that God purposes to do in the life of a believer . . . of all that God wants to be in the midst of the church. How amazing is grace? How mind-bending is our position in Christ? How unfathomable are God’s desires for His people? Pretty amazing . . . totally mind-bending . . . so unfathomable. And we have these promises . . .

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.   (2Corinthians 7:1 ESV)

Knowing who we are . . . being reminded of what God has done . . . brought again to the promises that are ours . . . it has a way of motivating us to shed the yoke . . . to lay aside every weight that so easily besets us.

Sometimes I get distracted . . . forget I’m in a race . . . lose sight of the prize. It’s then that I do dumb things like mixing the sugar-water of the world with the high-octane fuel of heaven and thinking the car’s going to run just as well. But to be re-focused . . . to be reminded of the calling . . . to be shown again the promises . . . is to be motivated to clean myself up — by the grace of God and through the blood of Christ . . . is to be inspired to renew the pursuit holiness — by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have these promises . . .

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With the Lord!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Pete

Paul was thinking about his upgrade. His earthly home, his body, he considered but a tent . . . the temporary residence of a pilgrim . . . suited well for it’s terrestrial purpose . . . but not made to last. And so, Paul, as he was prone to do from time to time, reflects on his “heavenly dwelling” . . . “a building from God” . . . “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2Cor. 5:1-2).

To reflect on “what will be” encouraged Paul as he dealt with “what is.” Though afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down (4:8-9), yet Paul could say, “We are always of good courage” (5:6a, 8a), reminded that mortality would be “swallowed up by life” . . . that God had promised a new dwelling . . . having given the Spirit “as a guarantee” (5:4-5).

But while the thought of the upgrade was glorious . . . as much as anticipating trading in his earthly tent for a heavenly house was motivating . . . it was the neighborhood he’d be moving into which, I think, really jazzed Paul.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.   (2Corinthians 5:6-9 ESV)

Away from the body, at home with the Lord . . . absent from the body, present with the Lord (NKJV). As glorious as “the upgrade” would be, it was where that new home would be located that served to encourage Paul. Not just being “at home” in a heavenly dwelling . . . . but being at home “with the Lord.”

The walk of faith one day giving way to sight . . . the hope of promise eventually realized in the glory of His presence . . . the magnificence of resurrected bodies paling in comparison to the majesty of Him who sits on the throne, and of the Lamb in His midst.

With the Lord . . . that’s the prize. Dwelling in His presence . . . that’s the end game.

The upgrade will be amazing . . . the new home will be beyond imagination . . . but that which will ultimately define eternal life will be being with the Lord!

Amen?

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Go Your Way

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Pete

His eyes may not have worked . . . but there were no problems with his vocal chords. He was a blind beggar with a loud voice. And on this day, hearing that Jesus was approaching, his cry turned from, “Alms for the poor,” to, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Though many tried to “shush” him . . . he would not be “shushed” . . . but shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and took notice of him. (Mark 10:46-49)

His name was Bartimaeus . . . literally “son of Timaeus” . . . not too original . . . perhaps pretty instructive. Timaeus means “unclean” . . . and this blind beggar was the “Son of Unclean” . . .a chip off the ol’ block . . . like father, like son . . . a product of a generational malady . . . unclean begetting unclean. But things were about to change.

Jesus calls the blind man. Mark records that the blind man didn’t need to be beckoned twice . . . that “throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus” (10:50) . . . obviously, in addition to his voice, his legs were also in working order. So, with what he has, “Son of Unclean” presents Himself before the Son of David . . . the beggar comes before the King. Jesus asks a question, “What do you want?” . . . Bartimaeus answers, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” Bam! . . . faith on the line. He cries out . . . he comes before . . . and he asks . . . believing that Jesus has power to heal. And here’s what grabbed me this morning . . .

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way.
(Mark 10:52 ESV)

Usually when I read this passage, the take away is that it was the blind man’s faith that made him well . . . his belief that allowed the power of Christ to change his life forever. But what’s caught my attention this morning is Jesus’ command for the now clean “Son of Unclean” to “go your way” . . . and Bartimaeus’ decision that his way was to follow Jesus “on the way.”

“Go your way” . . . no strings attached . . . no two-year contract to sign for having received his sight . . . no compulsion to repay what could not be repaid. Just a new set of optic nerves . . . a new lease on life . . . a new world of choices . . . a new independence, not needing others to lead him . . . a new freedom to “go your way.”

And Bart . . . can I call him that? . . . Bart says, “My way is Your way, Lord!”

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem . . . and this wasn’t going to turn out good (Mark 10:33-34).  And Bart, the guy who could now independently navigate his way, who had been given the choice of going any way he wanted, decides he wants to go to Jerusalem, too.

It was his call. He could determine his next steps . . . and take them . . . not needing to rely on anyone else to lead him. In fact, with seeing eyes and able body, if he wanted, he never had to be led again . . . he could get in front of the parade . . . he could determine never to be subject to someone else’s direction. But when a Man gives you sight . . . when the Son of David invites you into His royal court . . . when the words of the Rabbi remove your blindness and touch your heart . . . then His way is the way you choose as your way.

Who else would he follow? What else would he pursue? Where else would he rather be found? But following in the steps of the Healer . . . of the Master . . . of the King.

Go your way . . .

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An Aroma

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Pete

I’ve got to admit . . . I have it pretty good. I call Sue as I’m leaving work at night . . . drive 25 minutes . . . and, on most nights, when I walk in the door I smell supper ready to be served. Sometimes, I know what’s for dinner the moment I enter the house . . . other times, I get to play with the smell from the kitchen and try and guess what Sue’s cooked up for our evening meal as I walk down the hall. It’s a blessing to walk in the door after work and smell supper on the stove. But I’m reminded by Paul that it’s a greater blessing to bring an “aroma” into a place yourself . . .

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
(2Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV)

The fragrance of the knowledge of Christ . . . that was the air about Paul. There was a sweet odor that wafted around Paul as he shared the gospel . . . as he told of the good news of a Savior who died for men’s sins . . . of a Shepherd who sought lost sheep . . . of a Sovereign who was establishing a heavenly kingdom. It was more than the words from His mouth . . . it was the Word living in and through Him. Less about his oratory . . . more about his awe-atory.

Paul viewed himself as “the aroma of Christ to God” . . . a reference, I think, to the sweet-smelling aromas of the Old Testament sacrifices. Paul, offering his body as a living sacrifice, emitted a pleasing savor which rose to the portals of heaven . . . a fragrance of life, for those who had ears to hear (or, perhaps, noses to smell) . . . but a fragrance of death to those who would have an allergic reaction to the things of grace and truth.

And while I know that Paul writes specifically of his unique calling as the apostle to the Gentiles, I can’t help but make application to the guy sitting in this chair. How am I smelling? What’s the nature of the odor that fills a room when I enter? What scent is being diffused with my presence? What bouquet do I possess that others pick up?

And the question is so not about me in many ways. For “who is sufficient for these things?” Implied answer, “No one!” I can’t manufacture the perfume . . . I can’t fake the fragrance . . . but as Christ lives in me, so His precious scent is diffused from me. As I yield to the Spirit’s work in me . . . so the savor of Christ’s tender compassions emit from me. As God’s Word is taken in . . . so the sweet savor of God’s grace is poured out.

Who is sufficient for these things? God alone.

But shouldn’t we desire to “smell” a bit? Shouldn’t we want to bring an aroma into the room . . . the aroma of Christ? I’m thinkin’ . . .

By His grace . . . for His glory.

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Boastful Behaviors

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Pete

Boasting, for the most part, is not considered cool in Christian circles. But it really depends on what you’re boasting, or glorying, in. Paul was a boaster . . . though not concerning himself. He would boast in the cross (Gal. 6:14) . . . glorying in the work of redemption . . . pointing to the wonder of a God who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. He would boast of others (2Thess. 1:4) . . . bragging about the reality of new creations in Christ as their faith grew and their love abounded, evidence of the Spirit’s working in them. When it came to himself, he would boast of his weakness . . . as it became a platform from which to display the sufficiency of the enabling power of Christ that was resting on him (2Cor. 12:9). And this morning, as I’m reading 2Corinthians 1, I read of Paul boasting in something else . . .

For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.   (2Corinthians 1:12 ESV)

Conducting oneself in simplicity . . . and godly sincerity . . . not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God . . . this is conduct worthy of glorying in . . . you might say these are “boastful behaviors.”

The world throws a lot at us. Maze like paths to navigate . . . obstacles to overcome . . . people cutting us off . . . a riptide of popular opinion and approach seeking to suck us in . . . all demanding we react . . . all requiring that we make decisions. And there’s a way to do it that is “walking in a manner worthy of our calling” (Eph. 4:1) . . . and a way, not so much.

As I noodle on it this morning, Paul lays out some pretty basic principles for walking the talk.

Simplicity . . . singleness of mind . . . mental honesty . . . just being who we are in Christ. Admitting we’re jars of clay . . . but jars of clay that hold a treasure. Knowing that we are weak . . . but also confident that He is strong. Aware of the presence of the flesh . . . but seeking to walk in the Spirit. So aware we don’t have all the answers . . . so sure that His Word does. Not over complicating or over engineering things . . . just pilgrims walking the pilgrim path on our way home. Simplicity is a boastful behavior.

Godly sincerity . . . a holy clearness as to who we are in Christ . . . a purity of purpose in desiring to be imitators of Christ. Doing life in the power of His risen life . . . with integrity . . . with consistency. Not getting fancy . . . not putting on a show . . . just sheep seeking to hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow faithfully . . . just members of the Body trying to find their place . . . brothers and sisters in the family of God wanting to love one another . . . living stones in the temple of the living God longing to be a place where His glory dwells. Godly sincerity is a boastful behavior.

Finally, behaving ourselves by the grace of God. Aware that any desire to follow in the Way . . . that any degree to which we walk in a manner that’s worthy . . . is not because of who we are . . . or how wise we are . . . but solely because of the unmerited favor He has poured into and over our lives. Those who have known God’s amazing grace desiring to conduct their lives in the context of grace. Forsaking the world’s filters and scorecards and, instead, increasingly experiencing a view of the world shaped by the mind and heart of Christ. Living in and by the grace of God . . . this is boastful behavior.

Boastful behavior . . . conduct worthy of boasting in . . . a manner of life fit to be gloried in . . . knowing that the glorying isn’t in ourselves . . . so aware that credit is not ours to claim . . .

. . . It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.   (Galatians 2:20b ESV)

O’ that I would be more characterized by these “boastful behaviors” . . . by His grace . . . for His glory.

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I Got Your Feet!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Pete

If there was anyone who might have been justified in cashing things in, perhaps it was Hannah. Yeah, she was married to a good man . . . but there was always that other woman. Not that the multi-wife plan was all that unusual in those days . . . but it could make for some tense times. And that other woman wouldn’t have been such an issue if weren’t for the matter of children . . . as in, the other woman had them and Hannah didn’t. The Lord had closed Hannah’s womb . . . and the other woman wouldn’t let Hannah forget it (1Sam. 1:6). It became a competition for this other woman . . . and a source of continued grief, anxiety, and vexation to Hannah (1:16). If Hannah’s sorrow had turned to bitterness, it might not have been a surprise. Had it caused her to withdraw from her husband . . . and even from her God . . . others would have understood. But at the end of day . . . every bitter day . . . she heard God’s voice, “I got your feet!”

The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them He has set the world. He will guard the feet of His faithful ones . . .   (1Samuel 2:7-9a ESV)

In her anguish of soul . . . the grief of a closed womb . . . the incessant provocation of one who equated children with worth . . . the nagging, recurring thoughts of God punishing her for some reason . . . in all this, Hannah remained committed to her husband . . . and remained faithful to worshiping her LORD at Shiloh. Though the annual pilgrimage brought renewed sorrow, she would go. And then, on one occasion, she would draw near. In deep distress . . . weeping bitterly . . . she prayed (1:10) . . . and she continued to pray (1:12) . . . and she poured out her soul before the LORD (1:15). Certainly she did so because her situation was desperate . . . but she also did so because her God was the God who guards the feet of the faithful.

God hears Hannah’s prayer . . . God gives Hannah the delights of her heart in her son, Samuel . . . and, after the boy is weaned, Hannah returns to Shiloh to “lend” her son to the Lord for as long he lives (1:27-28) . . . and to worship the Lord with all her might (2:1-10).

I’m hovering over the first part of 1Samuel 2 . . . Hannah’s second recorded prayer in this book. Anxiety and vexation of soul have given way to rejoicing and exultation of heart . . . her affliction has given way to affection . . . tears of bitterness replaced with tears of joy. And while her situation has changed . . . her God has not.

There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God.   (1Samuel 2:2 ESV)

He is the Rock . . . regardless of whether one’s estate is rich or poor . . . low or exalted. He is the One who, in His time and according to His purposes, raises up the poor from the dust . . . and lifts the needy from the ashes. He is the Sovereign Almighty God of all the earth . . . the One who guards the feet of His faithful ones.

For those who persist in turning their hearts towards Him, regardless of the situation, He protects their paths . . . directs them in the way of righteousness . . . sustains them over the rocky roads . . . leads them beside still waters. He watches over our feet . . . though we may get sideways sometimes, yet He will not allow us to take irrevocable detours . . . though we may trip up and stumble, He will not allow us to fall to where we cannot, by His grace, get back up.

Hear Him say this morning, “I got your feet!”

And then, faithful one, worship!

My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD . . . there is no rock like our God.   (1Samuel 2:1, 2b ESV)

Amen?

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