My Morning Meal

You know David was a busy guy. I’m guessing that being king had a certain set of demands . . . a pretty full schedule. But you also know that David lived life within one grand context . . . one overriding desire that lined up everything else against it. Call it his life’s “mission statement” . . . call it his internal motivation . . . call it whatever you want . . . but at the end of the day, according to Psalm 27, David wanted just one thing . . .

One thing have I asked for of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.   (Psalm 27:4 ESV)

If you think about it, “one thing people” have a certain simplicity surrounding their lives . . . not ease, necessarily, but a simplicity. The basis for decision making comes back to one thing . . . priority setting is made simpler as the number one spot is already taken . . . what constitutes a “win” in their lives is determined by one thing. And David’s one thing was was to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD.

At first, I read this and I immediately went to the post-earth scenario . . . to that time and place when, before the throne of God, we are face to face with the King of glory . . . in glory. But I read it again . . . and again . . . and what David’s asking for, the one thing he is seeking after, is that he would know these intimate encounters “all the days of my life.” That the gazing would be a reality now . . . that the beauty would be seen now.

So David begins each day with a “one thing” passion . . . to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD. If that were my one great desire, where might I look?

Certainly, I behold His beauty in His word. This morning I saw that beauty in the spotless Passover Lamb whose shed blood, when applied to the doorframe, wrought salvation from the angel of death (Exodus 12). I beheld the beauty of God’s prophesied Servant as I read Matthew quoting Isaiah concerning the Servant of God’s choosing . . . “my Beloved with whom my soul is well pleased . . . a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench . . . and in His name the Gentiles will hope” (Matt. 12:18-21). And in my Acts reading, there is the beauty, once again . . . as Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead” (Acts. 17:2-3). Open the Word . . . and gaze upon His beauty.

But that should just prime pump. Would I dare ask, that as the day progresses, my life would be a focused gaze ready to behold His beauty. That I might see it in His creation as I drive to work . . . be reminded of it in His provision as I earn a living today . . . be reminded of it when I return home and remember afresh the realities of His favor and grace. And, I guess mine is not to figure out all the places to see Him . . . but my one thing is to desire to gaze upon His beauty . . . and know that the Spirit, who delights to reveal the Son, will open my eyes to see His glory.

One thing, oh LORD . . . that I may gaze upon Your beauty . . .

Vicky Beeching’s song (click here) nails it . . .

I guess if you were to ask a dozen people, “What is friendship?” you might get a dozen different answers . . . but, then again, maybe not. Off the top of my head, if I was asked what constitutes a friend, I might respond that it’s someone who knows you . . . who accepts you . . . who is there for you. But I don’t think you’d noodle on it very long before you ended up with, “A friend is someone you can confide in . . . someone who confides in you.” So how do you respond when that “someone” is the LORD . . . JEHOVAH . . . THE EXISTING ONE?

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.   (Psalm 25:14 NKJV)

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.   (Psalm 25:14 ESV)

According to my online Bible, the word translated “the secret” in the NKJV has the idea of a council . . . an assembly . . . a circle of intimate cohorts . . . the kind that engages in familiar conversation . . . the kind that engages in intimate fellowship . . . the kind of dynamic upon which friendships are defined . . . thus, the ESV translation. And it is the privileged place for those who fear the LORD . . . for those who have bowed the knee . . . for those who have believed the gospel . . . for those who have received the gift of life by faith. For them, there is friendship with the LORD . . . there is an intimacy . . . there is a “sharing” of the secrets of the ways of God.

Paul says that there is a “secret and hidden wisdom of God” which is revealed through the Spirit of God. He also writes that, as believers, we have received the Spirit so “that we might understand the things freely given us by God” . . . and as such, “we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:6-16). That is the evidence of friendship . . . we have been brought into the secret councils of God.

Here’s how Spurgeon puts it, “Saints have the key of heaven’s hieroglyphics; they can unriddle celestial enigmas. They are initiated into the fellowship of the skies; they have heard words which it is not possible for them to repeat to their fellows.” Truly, it’s an inner circle . . . but one open to all who believe in the Son. It’s a coming together which launches a world of discovery . . . a world not of this world. It’s the privileged place of the child of God . . . it is an inexhaustible storehouse of awe-inspiring wonder as God, by His grace, reveals more and more of Himself and His ways to our mere mortal, though regenerated, minds. It is the fruit, it is the evidence, of God’s desire for deep relationship with us. If is friendship with the LORD.

Oh, what privilege . . . what blessing . . . what fall-on-your-face wonder. That God would desire to enter into such intimate council with His creation . . . that we would be pleased to share Himself with this speck of creation sitting in this chair.

Every time I open His word, it should be a reminder of the friendship He has sought with me as He makes known His promises . . . as He reveals His ways . . . as He illuminates His nature and mindset. Every time I interact with the Scriptures, I should know afresh that intimacy of communion as the Teacher instructs the disciple . . . as the Master directs the servant . . . as the Shepherd makes Himself known to His sheep.

I am a friend of God . . . unreal! Oh, that it would be be for His glory . . . .

It’s a big deal to us in the HR field . . . recognizing that within society, and thus within the workforce, there are distinguishing characteristics within different generations of people. We talk about “baby boomers” . . . those post WWII folks, born between the late 40’s and the early 60’s . . . and the generation that followed them, Gen X, those born from the ’65 through to the early 80’s . . . and now, we’re looking at the “Millennials” or Gen Y workforce. Each of this “generations” have a unique set of characteristics, in general, concerning how they view life and therefore, how they view work. But this morning, I’m reminded of another generation . . . a generation which transcends time periods . . . I’ll call them Gen S . . .

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.    Selah     (Psalm 24:3-6 ESV)

The generation of those who seek Him . . . Gen S.

For this “demographic” it doesn’t really matter when you were born . . . but that you were born again. Apart from a sovereign working of the grace of God, none seek after Him (Rom. 3:11). But Gen S’ers, though once in darkness, have been brought into marvelous light by the wooing of a Bridegroom who says, “Come to me” . . . they have been convicted of their need of a Savior by the Spirit who’s purpose is to make Him known . . . they are redeemed from the marketplace of sin . . . they are adopted as full children of God . . . they have been born again.

So, Gen S could stand for “Generation Saved.” Those who, through the application of the shed blood of Christ on their behalf, have clean hands and a pure heart. Those who through the sanctifying work of the Spirit increasingly are fueled by truth and sincerity. Those who, because they believe, are counted as righteous.

But, this morning, for me Gen S stands for “Generation Seeker.” As with our modern day generations, Gen S’ers are also identified by what “floats their boat” . . . by that which intrinsically motivates them. Baby boomers, apparently, work for security. Gen X’ers, we’re told, are ambitious and work for rapid advancement. Gen Y’ers are all about balance and, generally, work as much as they have to without cramping their personal lifestyle. Gen S’ers? They desire to climb the mountain of the Lord . . . their driving passion is to stand in His holy place . . . their consuming desire is to seek the face of God.

By the fact of when I was born, I’ll always be classified as a “baby boomer” by those who care about demographics. Oh, but that I might be seen as Gen S by the God who looks at the inner man. That it might be seen in what I say . . . and in what I do . . . and in how I do it. That, because of the work God has determined to start within me, the evidence might be apparent that one consuming passion prevails in the life of this sinner-saved-by-grace . . . to seek Him . . . to enter into that most holy place to worship Him . . . to draw near, by the blood of Christ, that I might commune with Him.

Such is Gen S . . . the generation of those who seek Him . . . of those who seek the face of God . . . my generation . . . amen?

Lingering over Psalm 23 this morning. Though it’s so about Him . . . it so about “me” too. If the first five words are true, that the Lord is indeed MY Shepherd, then you just can’t help but settle down and re-take inventory . . . you can’t help but re-count all His benefits toward those who are His own . . . you can’t help but get a bit overwhelmed at the Shepherd’s love and care for His sheep . . .

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake . . . You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; . . .   
(Psalm 23:1-3, 5 ESV)

The first thing that grabs me is what He does. He makes to lie down . . . He leads . . . He restores . . . He prepares a table . . . He anoints. He is the Good Shepherd. To think that the King of kings and the Lord of lords . . . that He who is worthy to be served . . . has determined to serve. The King’s love for His people is so great that He takes the towel, gets on His knees, and washes their feet. The Maker knows the frailty of the creation and so, undertakes the meeting of their greatest needs . . . pastures to feed in . . . waters to drink of and rest beside . . . paths to follow which are safe from sin’s destruction . . . a table to come to which is safe and secure . . . oil to minister to the wounds of the day . . . oil to remind of the high priestly calling. He does it all. It’s all about Him. He is the Great Shepherd.

And then I notice the liberal sprinkling of “me”, “my”, and “I” throughout this song. He makes me lie down in all sufficient pastures . . . He leads me by still waters and in paths of righteousness . . . my thirst is satisfied as I drink . . . my footing is on solid ground as I seek, by His grace, to follow where He leads.

Though in the battle, though surrounded by enemies, there is a table prepared for me. A table of remembrance that looks back to an empty cross, an empty grave, and reminds of victory to come. A table with bread from heaven to meet the day’s needs . . . set with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies . . . mercies new every morning . . . grace sufficient for the day. And, it’s a a table for the future . . . being set, even now, in a place that is being prepared for me . . . a banqueting table . . . prepared for the Bride of Christ . . . a place of celebration and rejoicing.

And then, there is the anointing as the Shepherd attends my wounds . . . as the Great High Priest reminds me of my high and heavenly calling. I have been anointed with the Holy Spirit since re-birth. The blessed Spirit ministering to my spirit as healing is required. God’s Spirit reminding me that I have been consecrated to the work of a priest for the kingdom. Enveloped and indwelt . . . that’s me.

Now add in the promises . . .

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me . . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.    (Psalm 23:4b, 6 ESV)

Hover over this song, for but a few minutes, and You know it’s all about Him . . . He gets all the praise and glory. But mediate, even just briefly, on the implications for “me” . . . and how can the riches of my relationship with the risen Christ not cause me to be overwhelmed . . . to be filled with awe . . . to be beyond words . . . to exclaim with the psalmist . . .

My cup overflows!

You start into Psalm 22 and immediately you’re taken to the cross. You read the Psalm and you’re drawn into the sufferings of Messiah. That this is a song concerning the Savior is so clear for those who have heard the cry of Jesus on the tree, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But amidst these opening insights of the One forsaken of the Father and despised by men, there is, at least in my mind, an unexpected gem to be gleaned concerning worship . . . a truth to be tucked away concerning the nature of God and it’s relationship to the praises of men.

Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3 ESV)

After crying out to a God who has abandoned him . . . after pleading the “why” question to heaven . . . the psalmist is led by the Holy Spirit to put context around his rhetorical question. “Yet, You are holy.” Though forsaken . . . though bewildered by heaven’s silence . . . though in agony and despair . . . let it all be understood within the context that God is holy. God is sovereign and His plans are pure . . . though desperate for His voice, the psalmist would lay no blame to His righteous God but, instead, recount and rest in His faithfulness shown through the ages (22-4-5).

Though Jesus didn’t utter this line of the psalm from the cross, I wonder if it went through His mind . . . knowing that He was forsaken because a holy God demanded a payment for sin . . . knowing that He was hanging between heaven and earth alone because a righteous God so loved a lost world that He was giving His own beloved Son as a ransom . . . so that God might be both “just” and the “the justifier” (Rom. 3:26).

God is holy.

But another truth concerning God is revealed. Says the Spirit, God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. Or, as the note in my Bible points out, it might be translated “He dwells in the praises of Israel.” The old KJV says, “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”

And I have to be honest, the thought that God inhabits the praise of His people absolutely grabs me. To consider that the worship of the saints acts as a “construction project”, building a throne of exaltation which God graciously occupies, is a wonder to me. Our singing yesterday morning before the sermon wasn’t just the “prelims” . . . it was an invitation to our holy God to come down and dwell with us amidst the praise. The few songs we sang as a home group last night wasn’t just a going through the motions, it was an renewed invitation for God to occupy the throne of our lives . . . a renewal of our desire that He reign in all things . . . that He have absolute authority . . . that He be our deliverer . . . that we determine afresh to trust in Him as our rock and fortress.

Oh, how easy it is to “dumb down” worship . . . to “low ball” not only it’s purpose, but it’s impact in the heavenlies. God is lifted up and exalted when, regardless of our life circumstance, we offer authentic worship. And while worship rises to heaven, God comes down, desiring to inhabit the praise of His people . . . to be known in their midst . . . His presence realized as the sacrifice of the fruit of our lips is freely offered acknowledging His blessed Name (Heb. 13:15).

You read Psalm 22 and you can’t help but shout, “O’ what a Savior!” But this morning, I’m also led to exclaim, “O’ what a song!” Ours is the song of the redeemed . . . the song of blessing to our God . . . the song which enthrones God above all . . . the song which invites His habitation among us.

O’ be enthroned on the praises of Your people, Lord . . . for Your glory!

I want to say that it’s an oxymoron . . . that the two words don’t make sense together. And yet, I hesitate. I want to be careful about being glib . . . or even a bit arrogant about asserting the absurdity of using the phrase. But as I mull it over, I think it’s true. They are two words, that though they often find themselves in partnership, shouldn’t be paired together. What’s the phrase that’s got me thinking it makes no sense? “Joyless Christian.” What’s got me thinking about it? A verse in Psalm 21.

For You [O LORD] make him [the king] most blessed forever; You make him glad with the joy of Your presence. (Psalm 21:6 ESV)

Psalm 21 is, at its essence, a song born out of victory and recognizes the power of God as the source of victory. The king rejoices in the Lord’s strength . . . he exults in the Lord’s salvation (v.1) . . . he acknowledges that any glory he possesses is due to the splendor and majesty bestowed on him by the Lord’s grace (v.5). The king asserts that he trusts in the Lord and is confident that “through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved” (v.7). And so, declares David, the Lord makes Him glad, causes him to rejoice . . . with a joy, a pleasure, a mirth, that comes from knowing the Lord’s presence.

And at first, I’m thinking. Sure David, easy to know joy when there’s victory. Doesn’t take much to set your feet to dancing when you’re on the winning side of the battle. When “the Lord’s presence” is another way of saying “when the Lord whoops your enemies”, you might expect joy to a by product.

But it’s not “the victory” that leads to joy, it’s the presence of the Lord which is the source of an inner, abiding gladness. And, as I noodle on it, triumph is only one of many experiences in which God makes Himself known. As I think about it, God has promised to never leave or forsake of His own (1Sam. 12:22, Heb. 13:5) . . . to be with them always — through trial and triumph . . . and thus, regardless of circumstance, the child of God can perpetually know joy, because the child of God can perpetually know the presence of God. Conclusion? “Joyless Christian” is an oxymoron.

If it’s the presence of God which ignites joy . . . and God’s lives in us through the Holy Spirit . . . shouldn’t there be an abiding joy in all circumstance? Shouldn’t there be a gladness that comes simply from reading His word as, again through the Holy Spirit, we are privileged to know the mind of God through the wonder of divine illumination? Even in our deepest trials . . . when we find ourselves crying out to heaven . . .even then, as we’re welcomed into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus to petition the God of creation to “find grace to help in time of need” . . . as we’re reminded that Jesus stands alongside and intercedes on our behalf . . . as we experience something of the God of all comfort and the peace that passes understanding . . . and thus, the presence of God . . . isn’t then the place of trial also a context to know joy inexpressible . . . gladness that comes from the joy of His presence?

I’m thinkin’ . . .

Victory is great. I prefer it over the battle. But the battle is the Lord’s (1Sam. 17:47) . . . and even in the battle, maybe especially in the battle, His presence can be known . . . and in His presence there is joy.

And so, I’m not being glib . . . don’t want to come off as arrogant . . . but I really do think it’s an oxymoron . . . that they are two word’s which don’t make sense together . . . that there’s no definition for “joyless Christian.” O, that by His grace . . . and through His abiding presence . . . I might be, in all circumstance, a Joyful Christian . . . for His glory . . .