Psalms

During this holiday season, I’m going to review and revise some of my posts from the past from the book of Psalms.

Let the Good Times Roll! 

This is a Psalm that projects God in the first person speaking to Israel. God’s main point in this brief motivational message is:  Folks, you all have no idea the fullness of blessings that will come to you if you will just LISTEN AND OBEY! 

In my youth, we would often sing a hymn in church with the following words: 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey.

God begins this Psalm by recounting all the wonderful things He has done for Israel in the past. Then he drops in a great big BUT! Everything is wonderful until God says, BUT! He changes the mood with one key word. B-U-T.  

Verse 11 says, But my people did not listen to my voice and Israel did not obey Me.  

Boom! There it is. They did not listen and obey.  

It’s not that complicated 

Attaining the blessings of God and thus, being happy is not that complicated. Why do we make it so hard? God tells us to listen, surrender and obey! 

When the Israelites didn’t listen to God (and when we don’t) the results are completely predictable. God always does the same thing. I’ve sadly witnessed it in the lives of people I know. I’ve seen it over and over in the narratives of the Old Testament. 

Verse 12 tells us what happens when we DON’T listen, surrender and obey. God said: 

“So, I gave them over to the stubbornness of their own heart, to walk in their own devices.”  

On Our Own

I’ve lived as a Christian for over 50 years now and I can tell you from experience, you don’t want to be ‘on your own’ in this world. You don’t want God to allow you to do your own thing. He doesn’t completely remove His hand from you but He allows you go your own way.  

It sounds liberating but it’s not. Not at all. 

When we DON’T listen and obey, we are actually telling God to leave us alone and let us do our own thing in our own way. And you know what? God does exactly that. He lets us walk in our own devices. Been there, done that. 

We can all reflect and tell stories of this pattern of pushing God away. Usually, the painful consequences begin small and if we’re smart, we come to our senses and surrender to God. But if we don’t, the consequences intensify as time goes on. Instead of surrendering, we sometimes continue to follow our own selfish pursuits. The inevitable results of running from God are relational pain, financial pain, distrust, anxiety, failing health, sometimes disease. Everything you touch turns to dust. The intensity of our problems increases like birth pangs. 

I met a man recently and as we spoke, we discovered we shared a common love for the Lord. But he also let me know that several years back he had wandered from God and was doing his own thing. Then, he said, one of the best days of his life happened. He called it a Hebrews 12:6 moment when God pushed his face into the concrete.  

Hebrews 12.6 says, for those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines. 

He had a bad motorcycle accident. It was extremely painful, as you can imagine. But looking back, he considers it one of the best things that ever happened to him. The pain drove him back to God. He is now listening and obeying God. Joy and purpose have returned to his life.  

God responds to Israel’s disobedience with a fervent calling in this Psalm. In verse 13 He says;  

“Oh, that My people would LISTEN to Me, that Israel would WALK in my ways.”  

We are going to continue in this Psalm next time. Today we are considering what happens when we DON’T listen and obey. Next time, we’ll discuss the amazing, over-the-top blessings that God will quickly give us when we turn to Him and surrender. 

Father, none of us want to have a Hebrews 12:6 moment. Your discipline seems painful when it is happening but deep down, we know if comes to us out of love. The purpose of Your discipline is to bring us back to You, and into the safety and security of your strong hand. We don’t want to follow our own path; we don’t want to be the captain of our own ship; we don’t want to be master of our own life. We want You! We want You to lead us, guide us and bless us. Lord, be our God and we shall be Your people; listening and obeying You. Amen! 

I have written on this verse in the past and was drawn to it again this morning during my devotional time with God. This verse first captured my attention a couple of years ago while studying and writing on the book of Ruth. In the past, I have spent considerable time studying and cross referencing it’s words and themes.  

Words Cannot Describe… 

I have always believed that being concise is an admirable quality in writing and speaking. Being concise forces one to filter the content down to its most meaningful and impactful principle(s).  

However, when it comes to this Psalm, I feel that I could write a million words about the vivid word pictures and amazing theme of this brief but awesome verse. I’ll fight the urge to pontificate and attempt to be concise. 

Have you ever read The Song of Solomon? Personally, I haven’t spent much time there. Mostly likely, you haven’t either. Today I was convicted that I’m missing out on something. My conviction wasn’t so much along the lines that I should be more romantic in my marriage. Although, I could and should apply that reality to my marriage in great abundance. I am lacking in the area of romance significantly, for sure. But that will be a post for another day. 

As it pertains to the Psalm of our study today, the Song of Solomon gives insight into the phrase, For the Lord takes pleasure in His people. The Song of Songs provides a detailed, almost monotonous, redundant account of the love, passion and pleasure of the feelings of both the husband and the bride. It is described in extreme terms with vivid symbolism. 

God Adores You!!! 

Yes, God is love. And, for God so loved the world…Yes, the nature of God is to love and there is a love that God has for His creation. But His love for HIS PEOPLE is described in words like “takes pleasure” and the Lord “delights in you”. Song of Solomon describes His love, feelings and pleasures, not for the masses within the world, but for his bride. His one and only.  

Have you ever considered yourself as God’s one and only? 

I love and care for many people in my life. But the love and devotion I have for my bride is completely unique. I love and care about all children, but the love I have for my children and grandchildren is completely and utterly unique. 

Psalms 149:4 (read it up above again one more time) is directed toward the nation of Israel and by extension of the New Covenant and with Jesus as our bridegroom, these words are directed toward us.  We are individuals whom the Lord loves. He beautifies us with the devotion and passion of a faithful, romantic and lovestruck groom.  

You are a ‘one and only’ to Him. It’s as if you are the only person in the world to Him. His gaze is locked on you. He doesn’t have ADD when He is with you. He doesn’t shoulder surf when talking to you in a crowded room or while sitting at dinner together. He is enamored, engaged and over the moon about you. 

A Little Sappy? Who? Me? 

I’m not exaggerating or being overly sentimental. I’m not just writing these words to make you glow and feel good. Yes, I am being a little sappy, but more importantly, I’m being biblical. I spent an extended time this morning studying this verse and cross referencing a dozen supporting passages throughout the Bible.  

My conclusion is this: GOD TAKES PLEASURE in His people. GOD TAKES PLEASURE in you individually, if you are His own.  

His love for you is romantic, passionate, oozing, gushing love and pleasure. His pleasure is not based on His feelings toward us because of what we do. It’s not generated as a result of our actions. We don’t deserve the level and volume of love that God has for us. 

Why Does He Love Me? 

His pleasure toward us is because…simply because we are the object of His affections. Period. He makes us beautiful. He beautifies us through salvation. It’s not our actions. It’s His grace. He chooses to love us in this way because we are the objects and recipients of His love.  

You have one responsibility in this relationship. Accept His love. And Love Him back. Love Him back with your entire being. Speak to Him in terms of love and adoration and affection. May all your words and actions be from a simple and sincere heart of love for your God. 

Brother Lawrence, in Practicing the Presence of God, said it this way

We ought to stop for a short moment, as frequently as we can, to adore God deep within our hearts and take pleasure in Him. 

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. 

Who can comprehend such things? Unfathomable! All we can do is thank Him; praise Him; love Him in return … to the best of our feeble ability. That’s all we can do…and that’s enough. May you rest in His love today. Amen!