How Great...

Listening

Who we listen to is so critical.

At first, Adam and Eve listened to God’s voice. 

But then Eve listened to the voice of the serpent.   

And Adam, in turn, listened to Eve.  Genesis 3:17 - To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.  

Cain failed to listen to God’s warning about sin crouching at the door.  He killed his brother. 

Noah listened to God, obeying him and preparing an ark for the rescue of Noah, his family, as well as the animals. 

Abraham listened and believed God’s promise.  

When Sarah suggested to Abraham that he take Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and have a child with her, Abraham listened to Sarah.  And Ishmael was born – not the child of promise. 

Sarah listened from the tent when the Angel of the Lord spoke, but laughed, thinking her circumstance was too hard for God.   

Who we listen to, and how we listen, makes all the difference. 

Romans 10:17

 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Psalm 119:25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.

God is the giver of life and the one who sustains our lives also.His word comes to the rescue when the dryness and dust of life under the sun threatens to become all that we can see.

Another version says, "My soul cleaves to the dust."  I am reminded of the verses that talk about marriage.  "A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  Our groom, Jesus, has called us to leave our dryness and dust and to cleave now to him.  His love rescues us, makes us his own.  

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

The Holy Spirit is called a the Counselor, the Comforter.  He is an advocate.

Jesus, too, is called counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How appropriate!  He is the Word of God!

Psalm 119:23

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119 also has these additional verses that mention those in positions of rulership:

• I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 
• Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

  Authority was ordained by God to punish evil and to reward good.  But even in those times when authority itself is dominated by evil, a heart anchored in God;s word will find light.

Psalm 119:22

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

Whose opinion matters?  In the grand scheme of things, contempt and scorn from others does not change the facts.  Truth is still truth.

“One and God make a majority.” - Frederick Douglass

Psalm 119:21

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

Insolent
Now there is a word I don't use very often (or ever).  In listening to Psalm 119 today, I did notice that the insolent are mentioned a number of times.  In addition to verse 21, above, here are the other mentions:

 Psalm 119:51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

Psalm 119:69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

Psalm 119:78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

Psalm 119:85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.

Psalm 119:122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.

So a total of six mentions in this Psalm....I wonder how many times all together in the Bible?

...16...

So, not all that common.  I feel better about not having a totally firm grasp on the word's meaning.  I could tell from the verses that insolence is not a virtue!

Dictionary.com to the rescue!


 in·so·lent
[in-suh-luhnt]

adjective
1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

noun
2. an insolent person.

Next: how to picture insolence...

I have worked in computer support, and I have seen both ends of the spectrum...from humble servant leadership...to arrogant, insolent, rudeness. God rebukes the insolent.

 1 Timothy 1:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV) Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace trumps insolence.

Psalm 119:20

My heart aches with longing; I want to know your judgments at all times.




Desparate...thirsty....hungry...longing. 

Psalm 119:19

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

I recall a hymn that we would sing occasionally at church when I was a kid:

I'm but a stranger here.

Heaven is my home.

Earth is a desert drear.

Heaven is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.

Where do I go to find a picture that depicts being a stranger or sojourner?  "Sojourner" yielded mostly the Mars Pathfinder's mini robotic rover.  "Foreigner" yielded mostly pictures of the band.  "Stranger" gave me stranger danger. 

Then I came upon the right search term:  refugee.  I am a refugee while I am on this earth.  I am away from my home.  

I am not the first refugee, however, the first sojourner.  In John 1 I read "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  The Greek word translated here as "dwelt" is εσκηνωσεν.  He made his tabernacle among us.  He camped out here. 

Jesus coming from his home in heaven to our world and camping here as a man means that this is no longer my home, once Jesus has taken up residence in my heart.  I have a new, a heavenly home. 

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. - C. S. Lewis

Psalm 119:18

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

 

When I think of this verse, I think also of the work of Jesus as he touched the blind and gave them sight.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see!

Like Bartimaeus, we cry out, "Lord, I want to see!"

 I don't want to be one who looks into God's Word and sees "men as trees walking".  Spirit of God, touch me again so that "I can see all things clearly."

Psalm 119:17

Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.

Verse 17 links the bounty of God's mercy and grace with life and with obedience. Following God's Word is not something that you do for God.  It is the result of His love at work in our lives.

Psalm 119:16

I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Where do you find delight?  Where can you simply release yourself with joy?  Every word of God is can flood you with delight.

I will delight in You, Lord, Your Law, Your will, Your heart toward me.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.(James 1:25)

Psalm 119:15

I will meditate on your precepts and keep my eyes on your ways.

What does it mean to meditate?  This is not just a casual listening or reading.  I will ponder, tumble your word around in my heart and mind.  I want your word to have the opportunity to touch every part of me.

God, I will examine closely what you say.

I am not a wine connoisseur. I haven't studied the nuances of different grapes, the right temperature, the kind of glass that is used, the color, the swirl, the bouquet, and so on.  A wine connoisseur has a whole vocabulary that is foreign to me.

Because they have invested themselves in the world of wine tasting, they are able to more fully experience and describe the nuances of each variety.

God, may I invest myself in knowing you, savoring your heart, your word, the gentle breeze and the blazing glory of your Spirit!

Psalm 119:14

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

Have you seen "infographics" on web pages, TV or facebook?  They help with getting a better grasp on a concept by displaying it in a catchy way.  Here is one example:



This illustrates the national debt - an important and serious topic. It is an enormous amount of money, more than our minds can fully comprehend.

I thought of this infographic when I read this verse.  Think of comparing "all riches" with the delight, the joy and celebration of God's way, his testimonies. Maybe there could be a scale with all the wealth of the entire world on one side - a tiny speck compared to the immeasurable weight of the joy of walking with God in his ways.

Psalm 119:13

Psalm 119:13 (NRSVA) With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.

God doesn't whisper his will into our hearts for it to remain a secret.  Repeat it out loud - to others and to yourself. 

Psalm 119:12

Psalm 119:12 Expanded Bible (EXB)
 Lord, you ·should be praised [are blessed]. Teach me your ·demands [statutes; ordinances; requirements].

I looked at a collection of different translations for Psalm 119:12 and noticed the different words translated for the Hebrew word:

 חֻקֶּֽיךָ׃

What struck me was the fact that God does not give recommendations.What he commands is not optional.

Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

For this verse's picture, I took the words of Psalm 119 (all 2370 of them) and created a wordle. A wordle displays the words in a body of text sized according to frequency. So what words do you see? The larger text means words that are repeated most often. What does this tell you?

Looking at the words, I see Lord, and then many different words related to how God speaks to us...testimonies, precepts, law, commandments, word, statutes, rules.  What else do you see?

Psalm 119:10

I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.

Whole-hearted seeking...not half-hearted. That is what is needed:  an undivided heart!  Unite my heart to fear Thy name!

 

Psalm 119:9

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

The Word of God has power to hold a heart committed to Him.

Psalm 119:8

I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

These words complete the first section of Psalm 119.

...and the picture I chose for this verse...



What picture would you choose?

Psalm 119:7

As I learn your righteous judgments, I will praise you with a pure heart.

Pure.  A great word!

Definition of PURE

a (1): unmixed with any other matter <pure gold> (2): free from dust, dirt, or taint <pure springwater> (3): spotless, stainless

b: free from harshness or roughness and being in tune —used of a musical tone

 

 

God, make my heart harmonious, in tune with you, resonant. Make my heart singular in it's affection, loving you above all!

 

Psalm 119:6

What does Psalm 119:6 look like?
Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands.

If our lives are distracted by everything around us, they will not have focus.

 

 

God's word provides a focus, meaning, and clarity for life.

Psalm 119:5

New Living Translation (©2007)
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!

What would this verse look like?

Reflecting Jesus!

1 John 3:2-3 New International Version (NIV)
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Psalm 119:4

Psalm 119:4

Young's Literal Translation (YLT) Thou hast commanded us Thy precepts to keep diligently

What does Psalm 119:4 look like? Here is one thought:

I think of diligence as going the distance, not stopping short of the finish.

What do you think it might look like?

Psalm 119:3

Psalm 119:3

New Living Translation (NLT)
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

How would you picture this one?  I remember Keith Green singing,

No empty words,

and no white lies.

No token prayers,

No compromise.

Here was the album cover:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedenego knew the uncompromised walk. 



Psalm 119:2

Psalm 119:2

New Life Version (NLV)

² Happy are those who keep His Law and look for Him with all their heart.

It seems to me that keeping his law means more than just steering clear of breaking the rules.  It is tied to looking for Him...for the One who is behind the law. Seeking Him with all our heart, with commitment, with abandon-that is keeping the law in a way that yeilds happiness.

What picture would you use to carry the message of this verse?

 

Psalm 119:1

NIV: Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation: O the happiness of those perfect in the way, They are walking in the law of Jehovah.

I have been listening to Psalm 119 when I have been doing my exercising (thank you, YouVersion.com). As I was listening today, I was thinking of trying to dig into individual verses by using visual means. How could I picture the message of a particular verse?

Verse 1 talks about the joy and happiness of those whose way is blameless. I think of one whose commitment to walking as directed by God is uncompromised. It is as if God's law sets out a path, a map, and the blessed are those to take that path without turning off.

I think of a GPS. It plans out a route from where you are to the designated destination. If you follow the directions (assuming that the GPS has correctly mapped out the path), you arrive at the goal successfully.

Having the right destination entered into the GPS is critical. It is also critical that the GPS have signal contact with the satellites. Finally, it is critical that you actually follow the directions given by the GPS.

What might Psalm 119:1 look like? It might look like someone following GPS directions faithfully with a big smile on their face.

What do you think it might look like?

New Wineskins

I act as admin for our church's web site, www.lambofgodlutheran.com.  I recently updated to a newer version of WordPress.  One of the plugins that we had been using did not make the transition nicely.  I have temporarily shut down that portion of our site until an updated plugin, compatible with the newer version of WordPress, gets released.

There is a lesson from this as a parable.

• The importance of counting the cost. 
  I hadn't considered all of the impacts that the update might have. Decisions made in life have consequences.
  
  Satan sold Adam and Eve an "update" that was supposed to make them wise. Instead, it made them fools.
  
  Jesus comes with an offer of an update with the ultimate positive consequence.  He makes all things new.
  
  
  
  2 Cor 5: 17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
  
  And Revelation 21:5 says "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

He makes all things new. New wine...new wineskins...new life.

The Melody of Creation

I pulled out a Bible that we had on the shelf - a chronological Bible taking you through the entire Bible in a one-year time frame.  As I was reading the creation accounts, it was lyrical.  It reminded me of two different pieces of literature:

• The Singer: A Classical Retelling of Cosmic Conflict by Calvin Miller
• The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

In both of these works, creation is sung into existence. There is a melody and a rhythm that God has composed for his creation. A broken relationship with God brings discordant cacophony into our lives.  Spirit of God, sing your melody into the ears of our hearts. Let our lives be a beautiful harmony that points to the Composer.