Friday, January 17, 2014

"Who you gonna call?"


Life is more complex in 2014, no doubt.  Yes, there are things that take the labor out of our day, but skills to operate all those 'labor saving' devices have to be learned, and then they must be kept in working order. We enjoy a wider circle of relationships because of technology, but they bring multiple demands on our time.  With this complexity there is greater possibility that things can go wrong. We can run afoul of the law. We can have identity stolen.  We can just get overwhelmed with ‘life.’

I find that very good, hard-working, godly men and women are increasingly feeling desperate, like they’re just hanging onto sanity by a thread. This causes many to look for guidance. “Somebody,” they say, “please show me how to manage all this complexity.”  To whom shall we turn?  Dr. Oz says he can help you live a long, healthy life. Numerous preachers offer inspiration. Dave Ramsey says he knows how you can become financially astute.

Good advice, from worthy people, is wonderful. However, nothing can replace the wisdom of the Lord that we find in daily Scripture intake and time set aside for prayer and meditation! The Spirit will lead us if we are ready to listen, learn, and submit to His direction. Will we, or will we turn to other comforts?

Psalms 121 is a favorite and one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible.  "I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

Those who first sang this song in Israel understood the opening line better than we do. We think the Psalmist is rhapsodizing about the glory of the hills that turns our thoughts to God! He’s not! The hilltops of ancient Israel were places of idolatry, where shrines stood to the various gods.

·         Want to assure a better crop in the Springtime? Go to the fertility shrine on the hilltop for mid-night rituals.
·         Need protection from drought? Go to the hilltop where the sun-god could be appeased with offerings.

But, the gods (Baals) were notoriously fickle. They fell asleep on the job or got distracted by other thigns! The priests claimed they could awaken them if the right offerings were presented. They claimed they could help them remember to send rain, to make the fields grow.  Only if a person went to the hills regularly to offer their sacrifices, could they hope to keep things in order. But, all this was done in vain! The priests were frauds, the orgies in worship of the fertility gods just a distraction from the grim realities of daily life!

Thus, the followers of the One True God, Yahweh, looked to the hills, but they did not look for help from the gods worshipped at the hilltop shrines. They looked to the Maker of the hills.

How was He different from the Baals?  The promises that follow in the Psalm make it plain. "He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."  (Psalm 121, NIV)  He does not need bribes or reminders. He is a caring Father. What assurance!

Does this mean that faithful Christians will never find our lives overwhelming? Does this mean we are exempt from the things that trouble unbelievers?  Of course not.  We live in a world where evil is active, where sin’s corruption invades everyone and everything.
God promises us that even in our times of distress we can count on His Presence, lean on His wisdom, and expect His purposes to prevail! Unlike the fickle gods, He is an ever-watching, always active, and all Powerful Lord for all those who trust with their lives.

Christian, let’s not turn aside to the gods of the hills. What do I mean? We don't worship the Baals any longer, but we do worship gods named Money, Government, Education, Security, Religion, and Self.   Like those ancient Baals, these lesser gods are incapable of seeing us safely home.

Look, instead, to the Creator, the Eternal, All-Wise, Omniscient Father. “He who watches over Israel (the people of God) will neither slumber nor sleep.”
__________________

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God, my Father.
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou hast been,
Thou forever wilt be.

Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide.
Strength for today,
And bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning,
New mercies I see.
All I have needed,
Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me!


Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan
© Words: 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
CCLI License # 810055

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