A Boomer in the Pew

Keeping His Ways - Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 12)

"Martin Luther's Pentateuch", first printing 1523.  I shot this at "From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Bible in America" exhibit.

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 37:34 - Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

From Andrew Murray:  We may be sure that God is never and nowhere to be found but in his ways.  If we do not keep his ways, our waiting on him can bring no blessing."

What are we to do, while we are waiting upon God.  My experience has been constant, and relentless barrages from the evil one.  A seemingly unending salvo of accusations, all designed to destroy my faith, and resolve.

Furthermore, while waiting upon God, we can rest assured that we must be on guard to fight against every weakness that lies wait in our natures.  Satan is most pleased, in my case to whisper, "Go ahead, eat that doughnut, it will bring you comfort."

Here is where we must don the armor of righteousness, and trust in the promise that nothing will befall us that we haven't been given the strength to overcome.

Here we must peer deeply into our souls and rid ourselves of any unrighteousness.  Certainly we can not expect God to hear our prayers, or to meet us in the valley of our woe, if we are blatantly walking in evil ways.

So, while I wait, this is a great time to do a little soul searching, and holy housekeeping.

My soul, wait only upon God!

Debunking the film "Chicken a la Carte" from Green Unplugged at Culture Unplugged

The movie below has received, as of this writing, 4,469,834 views.  I found the director's synopsis clearly reflective of our culture:

Synopsis: This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.

Here are the thoughts that were running through my head, as I watched this 6 minute video:

• the film starts out by showing KFC, and McDonalds.
• then we watch two young girls enjoying a meal at a restaurant.
• the film ends with the poor celebrating,  as they eat food from the trash cans of this restaurant.

• the director would have us believe that hunger and poverty are brought about by "globalization".  Really, KFC creates hunger in the world?
• If there is any integrity in this movie, then we must not miss that the people are very grateful to KFC.  They are having a meal tonight, because of KFC.  KFC didn't cause their poverty.

Here are a few tough things to consider about this movie:

• it seems to me that the poor, for a variety of reasons, will always be with us.  It seems that Christ would have us feed the poor. 
• why people are poor, is a complicated question.  However, in my view, globalization is a ridiculous, and trendy scapegoat.  Here is a dash of truth.  If you look at poor nations, and rich nations, the primary differentiation between the two has to do with free markets.  Almost without fail, the poor nations of the world suffer under a communist regime, a socialist regime, a dictators regime, or a society that does not allow for individual property ownership, or puts up uncrossable barriers in the path of individuals owning property, or businesses.  One of the great reasons for the western civilization's success was that individuals have an opportunity to dream to own home, or start a business.  And, more importantly, there are laws, and the general morals of nations, supporting those ideals.
• we should diligently strive to teach the poor nations the path to a free market society.  However, as long as dictators, and such, retain their strangle-hold, this is unlikely.

So, let's lay the blame where the blame is due.  The people eating scraps in this movie, are certainly not suffering because of globalization.  If anything, globalization is feeding them! 

If you really want to do something, send money to organizations like Feed the Hungry.

The Earth Swallows up Korah and His Rebellion

"Death of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram", engraving 1865, by Gustave Dore, from the "La Sainte Bible".

Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion - from my year-long journey through the ESV Study Bible.

The Israelites, now forbidden to enter into the promised land, are now parked in Kadesh-barnea, which is about 50 miles southwest of Beersheba. (Click the map for a larger view)

As typical with our human natures, waiting is not one of our best qualities.  And this particular waiting has been 40 years in the making!

Korah, the son of Levi, decides that Aaron has too much privilege.  Korah figures that all of Israel is holy, therefore, all should be allowed into the Holy of Holies, and leads a rebellion against Moses, and Aaron.

Well, as you might guess, God, who dwells in their midst, is not impressed, and causes the earth to swallow up the rebel leaders, and brings a death plague to 14,700 others.

So what are we to learn from this recounting?

• Just as in Eden, we see demonstrated again that rebellion against God = death.
• God has layed out certain ways for us to live.  We do well to understand them, and follow.
• A great many times, our would be attackers come from within the fold.
• A large congregation is going to mumble.  Here we see them living in God's presence, and yet they still mumble.  Incredible!
• Not everyone, in a large congregation, is on God's team.  There are sheep, goats, and wolves.
• God's justice is certain.  God swallowed up the 250 rebels.
• Post-modern minds will look at this scene with contempt towards a God who would do such a thing.  And this is presuming that the story is even literally true.
• God is holy.  We must read the entire record of God's word to have a true picture of who he is.  Once we begin to grasp his holiness, we can begin to view these accounts through different eyes.
• For those with true hearts, God will always protect, preserve, and use for his purposes.
• A proper fear of God is required for his children.
• Creation obeys the very will of God.  Over, and over God uses creation to exact his will.

If I were a multi-billionaire, I would take many of these accounts, hire the best actors, and bring these stories to the big screen for people to see.  This story is packed with drama, and worthy of such a telling.

Thankfully, however, God has wired us with visual imaginations, and we can't read these accounts without playing them in our minds eyes.  What a story!

What do you make of this story?  What insights do you have to share?

John Piper - For God So Loved the World

My wife and I were doing devotions, this morning, with John Piper.  Dr. Piper is working his way through the Gospel of John, and we found this particular message very, very treasured.

We have learned, in the past year, that we didn't really understand God's love.  Most, it would seem, don't.  We all know John 3:16.  But, as John Piper shares, there is, to us, an even greater love.

We highly, highly recommend you take some devotional time with this video.

After 11 days the light bulb starts to glow - Patience - Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 11)

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 37:7-9 - Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

From Andrew Murray:  "In patience possess your souls."  "You have need of patience."  "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire." 

"Such words of the Holy Spirit show us what an important element in the Christian life and character patience is.  And nowhere is there a better place for cultivating or displaying it than in waiting on God.  There we discover how impatient we are, and what our impatience means."

"If we truly set ourselves to wait upon God, we shall find that it is with Him we are impatient, because He does not at once, or as soon as we could wish, do our bidding."

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."  Yes, for Him.  Seek not only the help, the gift you need, seek Himself;  wait for Him.  Give God his glory by resting in Him, by trusting him fully, by waiting patiently for Him.  This patience honors Him greatly; it leaves Him, as God on the throne, to do His work; it yields self wholly into His hands.  It lets God be God.  If your waiting be for some special request, wait patiently.  If our waiting be more than the exercise of the spiritual life seeking to know and have more of God, wait patiently.  Whether it be in the shorter specific periods of waiting, or as the continuous habit of the soul; rest in the Lord, be still before the Lord, and wait patiently."

Are you as hard-headed as me?  This is the 11th time Andrew Murray has commissioned me to wait on the Lord.  But, I have been waiting impatiently, and it has finally dawned on me what my impatience means.  "I want it my way, and I want it now."  "OK, here I am waiting God, but could you please hurry it up, I'm in pain here."

"Certainly", I said to my soul, "this is not waiting on God".  

Then I saw Murray's words, "Give God his glory by resting in Him...patience honors Him greatly."  "Hmmm", I thought staring out the window, "take your eyes off yourself, and place them upon the service of waiting, thereby bringing glory to God...it honors Him greatly."

After 11 readings, the light bulb is finally beginning to go on. 

Abba, 20 more days I will study in the discipline of waiting on you.  Please teach me, and teach me well.

Oh my soul, wait only on God!

In Humble Fear and Hope - Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 10)

"The Prayer", 1862, by Théodule Augustin Ribot (French, 1823-1891), at The Art Institute of Chicago.

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 33:18-22 - Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

If we were to imagine Godzilla crashing down our streets, we can imagine fear.  If we were to consider the Swine Flu, we might be able to conjure up fear.  As we experience perhaps the second worst financial calamity to befall our nation, we can understand fear.

Yet, sadly, our post-modern Christian world dreams God to be more a Santa Claus, than all powerful God. 

As I understand my Bible, if I were to stand presently, in my earthly body before God, it seems that I would be nuked.  As I stare into creation, and consider He who made the heavens, and the earth, with simply a spoken word, how can I think to reduce this One to even my faintest comprehension.  Is he not unfathomable?

This is the One in whom I wait.  This is the One whom I fear.  This is the One in whom I have placed my faith, and trust.  This is the One in whom I hope.

My soul, wait only upon God!

God spanks Miriam with Leprosy for Insolence, and me for Pride

"God appears to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam", woodcut, 1695, by Johann Christoph Weigel.

Numbers 12:1-10 - Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.  10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.

As I continue in my year-long journey through my ESV Study Bible, I find myself in constant wonder.   It seems that the Israelites, in spite off all that they have witnessed God's mighty hand do, and furthermore, in spite of the fact that God was dwelling among them, they continued in constant mumbling against God!

How can this be?

And then, Aaron and Miriam [Aaron's sister] come to Moses challenging his God given position, by telling him that he [Moses] is not the only one God's speaks through.  "We", they told Moses, "are pretty cool ourselves!"

And ZAP!  God appears, and immediately sets them straight.

I read this, and immediately feel disdain for Aaron, and his sister.  But not so fast Mr. Porter, don't be so quick to judge.  How quickly your pride seeks to blind you from the truth, and the lesson.

Abba,

Forbid it, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my Lord.

John Piper: No, Mr. President. Killing Is Killing No Matter What We Call It

What should God's fire over the Tabernacle teach us today?

"Moses's Tabernacle in the Wilderness" by Norbert McNulty.

Numbers 9:15-17 - On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.

This morning, as I was reading my year-long journey through the ESV Study Bible, I felt great loss.  It seems to me that God created us to depend on him for our provision.  Likely, it is hard wired in our very DNA. 

When sin entered the Garden of Eden, and Adam was thrown from the garden, here was found the very first taste of fear.  No longer was God, Creator of all walking side by side with man, but God now cursed man, and threw him out.

What must this have felt like?  Extreme fear, no doubt. 

Earlier, I said I felt loss, because it seems to me that with God directing the Israelite's path, each day, with clouds, and fire, there must have been a sense of protection.  The was no wondering about the will of God, he was right there, visibly present.

Today, there exists in every Christian, some more, some less, this element of fear.  What is God's will for me?  Shall I turn right?  Shall I turn left?

I deeply long for the day when this is no longer true in my life.  Oh, to know for certain the will of my Lord.

Do you feel that loss?  Do you long for heaven's protection? 

I haven't read up on this, but I seem to recall that the tabernacle is a "type" of Christ.  How might we apply the precious provision, of the clouds, and fire, to our lives today?

Anyone got an answer?

With the Heart - Andrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day 9)

This post is part of my 31 day journey through Andrew Murray's devotional treatise, "Waiting on God".  You can find my reasons for this journey at this link.

Psalm 31:24 - Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

"Hey Andrew Murray, isn't this the same topic as our last visit?"

From Andrew:  "the words are nearly the same as in our last meditation.   But I gladly avail myself of them again to press home a much needed lesson for all who desire to learn truly and fully what waiting of God is.  The lesson is this:  It is with the heart we must wait upon God."

Here is a simple analogy from Andrew Murray:  "My reason may tell me what to eat and drink, and how the food nourishes me.  But in the eating and feeding, my reason can do nothing:  the body has its organ for that special purpose.  Just so, reason may tell me what God's word says, but it can do nothing to the feeding of the soul on the bread of life.  This the heart alone can do by its faith and trust in God."

Abba, I am most guilty of this.  Forgive me.  I have invested untold hours studying your word, and most precious to me are those few moments where your Spirit has brought me near.  So why soul, do you not enter into the presence of God more?  Are you so consumed with your head knowledge?  Soul, has not God declared over, and over that he desires a relationship with his children?   Soul, can we have a relationship with God, and not be in his presence?   Oh, my soul, oh, my soul, wait quietly, and patiently on God!  Soul, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding!

My soul, wait only upon God!