From a Higher Perspective

This reading is based on Psalm 61, read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

"Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!" Ps 61: 7

I have stood on an overpass and watched the traffic go by on the freeway below at a dazzlingly scary pace. And it made me wonder at the time if that is how scarily fast I myself go whenever I travel on the freeway. Well... yes. Travelling on the freeway was always about getting around the traffic and not being pulled over by the police. But in all that I never did quite get such a sense of how scary it was until I looked at the freeway from a higher perspective. It certainly explained why accidents are so extreme whenever they occur.

Life is difficult; fraught with risks and challenges that threaten both the qualitative and quantitative dimensions of our lives. But we're often so caught up on the freeway of trying to survive and getting around people and obstacles that we miss the danger that surrounds us. But praise the Lord, every now and then we do get to see things from a higher perspective - whether it's through the death of a loved one, or through a deep honest look at ones life (as sometimes prompted by the study of God's Word). Sometimes we get to see the real dangers that we face from the failed attacks of enemies who are bent on securing our demise. David understood that very well - thanks to Saul.

I had a pretty close shave on the freeway once (when I didn't quite follow the rules, and before I had that overpass experience) - thank God He kept one lane free although the traffic had come to stop in the four other lanes. God in His MERCY saved me that fearful night. I didn't stop driving, but I became more aware and committed to following the rules. David, although innocent, was constantly attacked by Saul, but was always delivered by God. He also knew that his continued safety depended on his abiding by the safety rules ("truth") God laid down: "Oh, prepare MERCY and TRUTH, which may preserve him (David the king... us)!"

Father in Heaven, please grant us that perspective on life that would help us appreciate the value of Your mercy and truth in preserving our lives.  Thank You for Your mercy and thank You for Your truth, in Jesus name, amen.

To read and/or listen to Psalm 61 and to read other related blogs, please click here.

"RRRRR; I Wanted to Quarrel With You!

This reading is based on Psalm 60, read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Have you ever heard someone making the above statement (the caption), or have you ever made that statement yourself (or the essence of it)? I mean, you go into a room all fumed up and ready to give a blast... but the accused is already submissive, repentant and subdued - rendering all you worked-up drama, pointless. I have heard and/or seen the essence of that scene at time or two. There was even one such recorded in the book of Exodus, where a conversation between God and Moses is recorded.

" Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." Ex 32:10. This was when Moses went up to Mt Sinai to receive the Commandments from God, but delayed his return. The people, feeling neglected by Moses/God, decided to make themselves a gods. God saw what was happening and was irate - hence the above statement by Him. The marvelous thing about this passage is that by the time we get to verse 14 we read, "And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."  What an amazing God of Grace!

It is this God of Grace that David, without wasting his words, here appeals to, "O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again!"  It is this same God that the woman caught in adultery encountered in Jesus, when He declared, "Neither do I condemn thee."  It is this same God of Grace from whom we are today seeking "Revival and Reformation" as a church - because, like David, we recognize that all our victories; all our conquests over the arch-enemy are accomplished for us by God (verse 12).  What a place of Hope to exist in!

Today Lord we praise You for being more prone to pardon than to punish; more compelled to cleanse than to condemn.  We recognize that we have been wayward and come to You in repentance.  Please don't remain angry with us, but restore us we pray.  Not far hence, may it be said of us, "There goes a people who have been 'Revived by His Word.'"  Amen.

To read, and/or listen to Psalm 60, and to read other related blogs, please click here.

We're "Snake Charmers!"

This reading is based on Psalm 58, read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

"Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, which will not heed the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully." Ps 58: 4, 5

I don't know that the contention of this Psalm is so much with the wicked as it is with the state of wickedness; with sinners, as with the state of sinfulness. This so because at any point within ones probation one may repent and turn and live. But then there are those of our fellow humans who have given themselves without remorse over to evil, so much so that they have become the very personification of evil. On such, but more-so what they represent, the judgement of God is sure. But what should be our attitude to these individuals?

Verse 5 contains what I believe is the attitude we should have to the wicked, who are described as snakes - we're snake charmers! Snake charmers don't try to break a snake's back or to cut off its head; the charmer instead seeks to elicit its trust and control (modify/influence) its behaviour. This is what Jesus desires all His disciples to do in reaching the unsaved; we are to charm them, elicit their trust, and influence their behaviour. In ensuring the skills of His disciples (charmers) Jesus trained them for three and one half years then gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But these snakes are poisonous - one sting/bite could be deadly. Hence, care should be taken in dealing with them. One thing that will certainly help is to know how snakes behave; be able to get into their minds. As such, Jesus says in Matt 10: 16, "be ye therefore wise as serpents."

The world has a charm all its own that has been proven to be hard to resist - even by those sent out as charmers of another kind. We are well advised to "tarry... until (we) be endued with power from on high." Luke 24: 49. Acts 1: 8 says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses (charmers) unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Father, through our words and by our actions, as accomplished through the Holy Spirit let us charm the world with the Good News of Salvation as we woo the world to Christ we pray, in His name, amen.

To read and/or listen to Psalm 58 and read other related blogs please click here.