- araratchurch
- May 21, 2022
- 3 min read
“Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.”
Psalms 51:18 NKJV
No matter what you think of the 2020 presidential election in the United States, one thing is undeniable: a lot of things have happened since the administration was changed, and none of it has been good. You see, when the leaders of a country are out of favor with God, the whole country suffers. You might wonder why I would say that the current administration is out of favor with God. Well, it’s very simple, and has nothing to do with a particular political persuasion. No administration that pushes abortion and other iniquity can possibly be pleasing to the Lord. When parents whose only “crime” is not wanting their children going to the bathroom with the opposite sex, or not wanting their elementary age children exposed to graphic sexual materials, or not wanting their child to be encouraged to have gender dysphoria, are investigated as “domestic terrorists,” you know the leadership of our country has taken a leap further away from God. I make no statement regarding the previous administration, I’m referencing where we are now; and, it’s a result of corruption on many levels.
The proverbial writer rightly says:
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”
Proverbs 14:34 NKJV
The Apostle Paul, in speaking to his spiritual son, Timothy, explains the importance of praying for godly leadership:
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
I Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV
In our portion from Psalms today we see David ending his prayer for restoration from the Lord, ending with his request that the Lord rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As we know, at that time, the walls of a city were a crucial line of defense, and apparently some portions were in bad repair. But beyond that, David knew that his iniquity concerning Bathsheba and the death of Uriah, had caused great trouble for Israel, breaking down its spiritual wall of defense.
At yet another time, David saw the disfavor of the Lord expressed toward Israel, because of his own failing. This time the sin was taking the census of Israel:
“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.”
I Chronicles 21:1, 7, 14 NKJV
David saw firsthand what his failings brought on his country.
Now, You might think it isn’t fair that a whole country suffers because of evil leaders; but that is the way things work with the Lord.
Given, whereas for the leader of a country, the repercussions of their failure before the Lord, may have further reaching consequences, make no mistake, in our own lives, when we fail the Lord, others may suffer: family, friends, employees, and so on. We do not live nor die unto ourselves. Our responsibility to do the right thing is not only for our benefit, but for the benefit—and perhaps salvation—of those with whom we are involved.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Godly leadership leads to a peaceable life; evil leadership leads to ruin.
- araratchurch
- May 20, 2022
- 3 min read
“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.”
Psalms 51:1 NKJV
I believe that there are “window-into-the-soul” moments for all of us. That is, I believe that there are circumstances through which our own inner nature is revealed, writ large. For example, many people abstain from doing evil, simply because of their fear of punishment. As an aside, this is the reason we are seeing rising crime in our society; with our moral decay, there has also been a slackening of consequences for crimes committed by particular groups. But leaving that where it is, I will go on to say, it is readily revealed what a person has in their heart to do when they are given the opportunity to do it with impunity. Every parent knows that the true test of the effectiveness of the character training they have imparted to their children, is when the child is away from their watchful eye, free to do what they will.
Another type of situation that will reveal the contents of the inner recesses of a person’s heart and mind, is when someone has done something bad to them (lying on them, cheating on them, etc.), and the aggrieved person is handed the opportunity—tied up with a bow on top—to be able to do the perpetrator in.
Sadly, there are many people who—given the a chance—would do terrible things. And, the only reason they don’t, is because of some sort of restraint imposed on them.
Now—within the context of what has just been said—consider the case of how the Lord operates. He can literally do whatever He wants to do! Who or what could restrain Him? So, with the Lord, we see that whatever He does is strictly because of His own character.
It’s very good news for us that God acts according to His own character, in that, man, having openly rebelled against the law of God, was redeemed through what God Himself did for us through Jesus Christ. He does what He does for us according to His own nature.
“This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13 AMP
We see that some things—in terms of our relationship with God—are definitely reciprocal. We cannot live with Him if we do not die with Him (to our own way of being and doing); we cannot expect to be exonerated through His righteousness, if we have denied Him in this life. But here’s the clincher: even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, because that is Who He is.
We see throughout the scriptures, the Lord reminding His people that He is doing, what He is doing for them, because of His own Name’s sake, not because of anything they had done to deserve it.
““Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.”
Ezekiel 36:22-23 NKJV
The greatest test of the character of God in Jesus Christ, came as He hung on the cross in the presence of His accusers, tormentors, and executioners, and—rather than calling for their destruction—asked His Father to forgive them.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
In our portion from Psalms today we find David—after the occasion of his being challenged by the prophet Nathan concerning his responsibility in the death of Uriah—asking the Lord to forgive his sin, according to the Lord‘s own lovingkindness and mercy. David knew he had not a leg to stand on concerning his sin. The only thing he could stand on was God’s own character.
The mercy and lovingkindness of our Lord is beyond our comprehension. Many of us know what we might have done, given the opportunity to do as we pleased, facing no recourse. But our God, displays His character for all to see, as He daily loads us with undeserved benefits and new mercies. Great is His faithfulness!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The Lord deals with us according to Who He is.
- araratchurch
- May 19, 2022
- 2 min read
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
Psalms 43:5 NKJV
I clearly remember how it looked on the many occasions my father spoke of how he dealt with disciplining himself. Generally within the context of talking about discouragement, he would say, “I grab Harry Mushegan by the nape of the neck and I take him to the altar; and I hold onto the horns of the altar until I get right!” As he was speaking these words, he illustrated by reaching behind his neck, grabbing the collar of his shirt and his suit coat, and pulling up on it. I remember how he would look with his suit coat pulled up so high that you could see the pockets on the back of his pants. Looking back on that illustration I realize how important that practice was in his life. I also realize that that practice made a huge difference between him and a lot of other people in the ministry who did not self-discipline. For that matter, it made a difference between him and the scores of people everywhere who allow themselves to surrender to major funks, thinking they have no choice but to keep sliding until they hit bottom.
Many years ago I struggled with panic attacks. Various things can contribute to a panic attack; there are physical, as well as mental, triggers. Of course I did the physical things I could do to reduce the risk of a panic attack. But real victory only came as I began to use the word of God on myself; I encouraged myself in the Lord. Although it sounds so obvious that we should use the word of God on ourselves, in fact, many people don’t even think of doing it. I guess we assume that knowing what God has said, and having instructed others as to what God has said, somehow automatically applies it to our own lives. But that is not the case.
God has given us His word as a tool to be used, not as slogan material, to be recited, but never received.
In our portion from Psalms today we see David speaking to his own soul, challenging the fact that he was feeling cast down. Additionally, he instructs his soul to find its hope in the Lord. Encouraging himself in the Lord (reminding himself of the goodness and mercy of God), was a major part of David’s life as illustrated here:
“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
I Samuel 30:6 NKJV
Basically, every day presents opportunities for you to choose between taking a trip down the slide of despair or climbing up the stairs built with God‘s word. It may seem easier just to go on down that slide today; but you won’t like it when you get to the bottom!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Sometimes you’ve just got to talk to yourself.