- araratchurch
- May 7, 2022
- 3 min read
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
Psalms 30:5 NKJV
It seems that everything is worse at night. You can be experiencing some physical discomfort during the day—and just like clockwork—it seems that with the darkness comes an intensification of the pain. Any parent knows that at night a sick child seems to suffer more (and so does your sleep). You can be worried about things in the daytime, but the stillness of night intensifies anxiety, sometimes to the level of panic or terror.
When I was a little girl I did not like nighttime. I don’t think this is unusual of children, as a matter of fact, for children, fear of the night is ubiquitous. I can remember praying for the sun to rise, praying for morning to come; with the light of day it seemed that everything was better.
Living in a modern world allows us to “cheat” the night by the use of electricity. We can also synthesize the hubbub of the day by leaving a TV on. Even so, the phenomenon still exists that things seem to “close in” on us with the darkness.
The Bible has many references to the fear often accompanying darkness. One of my favorite passages along these lines actually references the yearning of the soul for the Lord as a watchman waits for the daylight.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
Psalms 130:5-6 NKJV
To really appreciate this reference, we must consider that in Bible times, there was no electricity, no city lights; at night it was pitch dark. In that context, think of the soldier assigned to guard a city wall or entrance. There he would be, with maybe a couple of torches, not knowing from which direction some foe might try to waylay him in hopes of attacking the city.
Another one of my favorite scriptures about the dread of night’s specters, references the fact that we need not fear those things found in the darkness:
“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
Psalms 91:5-6 NKJV
Our opening portion from Psalms today brings another of my most favorite references concerning trouble at night. In this psalm David is talking about the fact that he had called out to the Lord and was delivered from his enemies. He further notes that even though at times the Lord disciplines us, it’s nothing compared to the lifetime of favor we experience from Him. And then there’s those words I have quoted to countless numbers of people, a countless number of times (one of those people being myself): “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
As we have referenced many times, David had been a shepherd. I’m sure he spent many restless nights tending a small fire in an effort to ward off predators after the flock.
David also knew what it was like to run for his life with no safe place to stay. I can imagine the long nights he spent wondering whether it would be his last, wondering whether he would be slain at the hands of Saul, Absalom, or a host of others.
Life can close in on you. You may feel that you’re in the middle of the night even at high noon. But remember: there is no night to the Lord.
In another of David’s psalms he comments on the fact that the Lord’s ability to see and help us is unaffected by the darkness:
“If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”
Psalms 139:11-12 NKJV
No matter what you’re going through, no matter how dark it may seem, remember, God’s light can shine into your heart, dispelling all of the night’s sorrows, and bringing the hope of the morning.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Joy comes in the morning.
- araratchurch
- May 5, 2022
- 3 min read
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
Psalms 29:3-5, 7-9 NKJV
Did you know that there was such a profession as “voice talent?” Yes—whether it be narrating documentaries or hawking the latest pharmaceutical “wonder”—great attention is paid to who will be the “voice” of the project. Frequently, famous people’s voices are sought out because of the voice recognition factor. In other words, I hear a familiar voice trying to sell me something and I’m more likely to be sucked in. In terms of projects like documentary narration, pleasing voices are preferred. Animated movies are probably one of the most well-known users of voice talent; nothing you see is real, but the familiar voices become attached to the animated characters, making them come “alive.”
Another interesting fact: in many of the musicals we have loved over the years, the person you see singing those songs is not the person singing it! Sometimes, there is a desire for a person who looks a certain way, but when they open their mouth, the sound of chalk going across a chalkboard comes to mind. So, they go get voice talent to pair a pleasing voice with the attractive star.
Voices are important; voices hold power.
I know what it’s like to miss the voice of a loved one who has gone before me into the Presence of the Lord. I have many recordings from which I can hear the voice of my father and mother and even my grandfathers. It’s a wonderful gift to be able to hear those voices so associated with a whole lifetime of familial experience.
I think for most Christians, the voice we long to hear most is that of our Lord. We know that the Holy Spirit speaks to us, but that is generally in our spirit. I’ve only ever heard the quality of the Lord‘s voice one time when He spoke so loud in my spirit that it seemed to come from my ears. He declared to me, “I AM coming soon!”
The Lord used His voice to create all things; He said, “Let there be,” and it was so.
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”
Psalms 33:6 NKJV
Kingdoms are destroyed by the sound of His voice:
“The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.”
Psalms 46:6 NKJV
Yes, the Bible is full of references to the power and majesty of the Lord’s voice. Here is one of my favorites:
“His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;”
Revelation 1:15 NKJV
We know that even the Antichrist will be destroyed by the voice of the Lord:
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”
II Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV
In our portion from Psalms today we see that David understood the power and might of the Lord‘s voice. He knew that the voice of the Lord had made him victorious over his enemies:
“The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.”
Psalms 18:13 NKJV
But, it wasn’t just the power of God‘s voice with which David was familiar; he knew the tenderness of the voice of the Lord spoken to His beloved sheep.
The siren song of the world tries to catch the ear of our soul to lead us to destruction. We must overcome it by taking time to allow the voice of the Lord to speak peace to our minds, courage to our hearts and comfort to our souls. We must allow His voice to lead us into His green pastures!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The Lord is in His voice.
- araratchurch
- May 4, 2022
- 3 min read
“Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.”
Psalms 28:3-4 NKJV
We live in an hour when it seems that there is a strong movement toward wanting to ensure that people have not only equal opportunities, but equal outcomes. That way of governance always ends up with a suppressed working class ruled over by an oppressive ruling class. Trying to assure that everyone have the same outcome, results in the demoralization of those who want to work toward success. Additionally, it causes strife between those who are good stewards of their lives and those who are not. But—sure enough—this system does end up making most everyone (of course, the “rulers” are exempted) equal: equally miserable, oppressed and poor. When the emphasis switches from making sure there’s an even playing field, to “handicapping” those considered to be more “privileged,” it won’t be long until you find yourself in the pit of Socialism.
Now, I won’t just limit my observations (rant?) to the secular world. In fact, I have seen increased emphasis in the messages coming from religious leaders, toward a “gospel” that has no cost associated with it. Now, whereas God has given everyone the same opportunity, He certainly does not guarantee the same outcome. Salvation is a free gift of God accessed by the individual who identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And, if He is not made Lord, He is not Savior. Yet, many pastors put no emphasis on seeking the Lord in a meaningful way.
Over and over in God’s word we see that He responds to those who draw near to Him.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 4:8-10 NKJV
Understand, if He had not initially reached out to us, we would die in our sin. Yet now—through Jesus Christ—we have an open invitation to come to Him! But, only those who seek Him, will find Him; only those who honor Him will receive from Him. If people don’t think that’s fair, I will let them take that up with the Lord.
Most of us are familiar with the story of the children of Israel and their deliverance from Egypt. Just before their exit from Egypt, we know of the terrible plagues brought to the land; but God made a difference between those who were His and those who were not.
“And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.”
Exodus 8:22-23 NKJV
In Isaiah, when the Lord is speaking through the prophet about all the destruction that would come on those who have turned from Him, he makes this statement of consolation to the righteous:
“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, For the reward of his hands shall be given him.”
Isaiah 3:10-11 NKJV
In our passage from Psalms today we see David beseeching the Lord that a difference would be made between he and his enemies; that he not suffer the same consequences as the wicked. Indeed this was a theme that came up in many of David’s psalms:
“Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.”
Psalms 26:9-10 NKJV
If you belong to the Lord and your desire is for what He wants, He will do good things for you no matter what is going on with the wicked. You should not hesitate to ask that He treat you differently than the world; He wants that as well!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The Lord favors those who are His.