The Bummer Psalm (Oh, This Is A Good One!)

Psalm 88, found in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, seems to not fit in with the rest of the Psalms. In fact, I don't recall ever hearing any teaching or sermon on it. It is indeed a "Bummer Psalm."

Could it be that this "Bummer Psalm" could be the basis for an unprecedented revival among God's people today? I believe it very possibly could be... if we will receive it.

Psalm 88 can be rightfully called the "Bummer Psalm" because it speaks of all manner of trouble. All the troubles of Psalm 88 are encapsulated into one conclusion found in verse 14:

O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? [Psalm 88.14]

Why indeed.

Here are some important facts associated with Psalm 88. Psalm 88 is noted to be "a Psalm of the descendants of Korah." This name should ring a bell in our memory because it is associated with a terrible rebellion in the time of Moses (Numbers 16). Rebellion brings suffering (Deuteronomy 28.15-68). The song therefore of the descendants of Korah (Psalm 88) would indeed be one of suffering and trouble.

Moses represented the authority of God's Word in his day. The authority of God's Word in Moses' day could be summed up in the Ten Commandments. Korah's rebellion, as pointed out by Moses, was an offense against God Himself (Numbers 16.11). Korah's offense was against God, and therefore His Word. 

The pride evident in Korah and his co-conspirators against God and His Word is one and the same as the pride incited by Satan from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden ("Did God really say...?" [Genesis 3.1]). This pride is the very foundation of idolatry so naturally it elicits a severe, even generational, response from God Who will not tolerate idolatry:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

It is highly significant then that Jesus quoted Psalm 88.14 on the Cross:

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” [Matthew 27.46]

Jesus, just like His Father God, never asked a question He did not already know the answer to - not even on the Cross. Amidst all the pain of crucifixion, Jesus purposefully and intentionally cited Psalm 88.14 to forever associate pride and its idolatry as the reason for His being hung on the Cross, so that all who heard Him with their ears and all who would hear Him for generations to come through the written record of His words, might understand that He suffered once and for all the penalty for the sin of pride and its idolatry against God. Quoting Psalm 88.14 confirmed it.

However, in the three years of ministry leading up to His Cross event, Jesus was adamant that His followers must "follow Him" in word and deed. There are many New Testament references to confirm this, but none so clearly articulated as this:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

To "give up your own way" is to reject pride and its idolatry. It is, in fact, to defer only to God's Word particularly as is demanded by the first three "Godward" Commandments. Unironically, to "take up your cross" is to defer to others as is demanded by the last six "manward" Commandments.

In conclusion, if Psalm 88 strikes a chord with us, it is for a reason. That reason, like for the Psalmist who wrote it, is for us to question, O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? This question, in all Biblical accuracy, will always lead us to the answer of pride and its idolatry. It will always lead us to the fact that we must give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Father, my Psalm 88 troubles tell of my pride and idolatry... and worse, of rejecting Jesus. May I give up the pride and idolatry of my own way - the way of the world - and throw myself upon my cross - the way of putting others first - and follow Jesus. So be it.

Destiny On Day One - Life At Conception

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. [Psalm 139.13-16] 

Contrary to what many have been led to believe, the Bible clearly attests that human life begins when identity is established at conception. Psalm 139.13-16 addresses this as fact.

Even in the womb, the soul formed at conception speaks of "my body," "me," and "I." These personal identity references are acknowledged before the body is physically "made," "knit together," "woven together," or "formed" and even more tellingly so, "before I was born."

And then, something only God could do is recorded: Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. On Day One, an entire life is planned out by God's miraculous handiwork - not after some developmental milestone and certainly not after birth - but on the very day of conception.

Regardless of the circumstance that brings a male and a female human into the realm of "knowing one another" (in the Biblical sense), and, understanding that the circumstance may be beautiful or it may be tragic, the life formed at the moment of conception is no longer just a biological combination of egg and sperm, but a new individual - a miracle - a soul with an identity and a future - a living being with a destiny and the will to live. The potential of this new life is without limit.

How incredibly special is this wonderfully complex conceived life if God is the first to see and acknowledge it (You saw me before I was born)?

This is what the Bible says... 

Father, Your Word is clear on the topic of life at conception. Amazingly, Your Word does not mention it as merely a passing biological fact, but as the beginning of a new identity with personal awareness (the will to live) from the moment of conception. May this information not be used to condemn the actions of the parents, but to conserve the future and the destiny of the life miraculously formed. So be it.

Looking At Psalm 103 In Bewilderment?

But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! [Psalm 103.17-18] 

As is common throughout the Bible, there exists a distinct grammatical pattern in its pages to make a statement, then restate it in different words, thus emphasizing its significance. Such grammatical practice is found throughout Psalm 103. In particular, "But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him," is restated in Psalm 103 as "His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!"

The "love of the LORD" is the same as "His salvation," and "those who fear him" is the same as "those who are faithful to his covenant, and those who obey his commandments."

So, what we find in Psalm 103.17-18 is a clear description of the love of God is and what it means to fear God.

No Bible verse better confirms that the love of God is His salvation better than John 3.16:

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John3.16]

Then, all God's covenant and commandments are portrayed nowhere better than in Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments):

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.2-17] 

There is little (if any) contestation of God's love that is evident in His offered salvation. However, there exists today no uncertain confusion about the fear of God. This should come as no surprise to a genuine Bible student because love, in all its provision from God, is useless to the soul who refuses to submit to God in obedience. God's love has no effect on the unrepentant soul - the soul that refuses to believe.

To "believe" is to "repent." Likewise, to "repent" is to "believe." Both are words of action (not feeling). Jesus used these words as follows:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15]

To "repent" and to "believe" is to "obey" (remember, they are action words). To "obey His commandments" then, as established in Psalm 103.17-18, is to fear God. 

While this "obedience" may seem very "Old Testament" to some, it should be understood that Jesus requires nothing less than one hundred percent obedience:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The sloppy "grace" message presented by too many today is substantiated in no way by the Bible. In fact, the apostle Paul was quite clear in the relationship between "obedience" and "love":

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. [Ephesians 5.22-29]

Somehow, the Church has failed to communicate that just because Jesus fulfilled the Law, does not mean that obedience (submission) to Him is not required to enjoy the love of God. Obedience is exactly what Jesus demanded in Matthew 16.24 above. In fact, as Jesus "fulfilled" the Law (Matthew 5.17), our being "in Christ" not only fulfills obedience to the Law, but also fulfills obedience to Him in loving others (Romans 13.8).

The singular faith and trust in Christ alone (demanded by Him in Matthew 16.24) is one and the same as the singular faith and trust in God alone found in the Ten Commandments. It is, in fact, what "give up your own way" means. This fulfills the first three "Godward" Commandments that have everything to do with singular, undivided faith in God alone and rejection of all idols. The last six Commandments are fulfilled in Jesus' demand to "take up your cross," the cross being where others' needs are placed before our own as Jesus so aptly demonstrated.

As the "Ten Commandments" go, the first three are "Godward" and the last six are "manward." It should come as no surprise that the Fourth Commandment, which stands between the Godward and manward commandments, demands observance of the Sabbath, over which Jesus claims Lordship (Matthew 12.8). 

As we are "in Christ" then, every single one of the Ten Commandments are fulfilled in us. In Christ, we are empowered to be faithful to the covenant - we are empowered to obey the commandments - as is the condition of those who fear God! In Christ, we are not the same as the world, but distinctly different. If not, then we have no claim to Christ because He Himself demanded the obedience of submission (give up your own way) and the exercise of love (take up your cross) which constitutes "following Him." All His love and grace mean nothing to one who does not fear Him in submissive obedience.

This message is as heavy as it is serious. The Church's lackadaisical approach to "grace" without the proper fear of God is to blame for its prevailing condition of powerlessness. God never intended for His people to blend in with the world! 

While the "sloppy grace" message wins converts to a church, it does not win souls for the Kingdom - it does not demonstrate God's power over every natural circumstance. And that is where we find ourselves looking at Psalm 103 in bewilderment. All the blessings described there are all but foreign to the "Church" today if we are honest with ourselves. Ironically, the world sees the powerlessness of the Church, but the Church is blind to its own condition - the condition of not fearing God - the condition of idolatry - the condition of trust in a plethora of other gods - the condition of not having given up our own way - the condition of not having taken up our cross - the condition of not having followed Jesus...

Father, Your Word has warned of the present condition of the Church for as long as it has been written. May we return to Your Word with a passion for its Truth (and not our self-serving, religious, idolatrous, interpretation of it). May we understand the gravity of giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it - sooner than later!

Psalm 86.1-7, A Prayer

Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me. [Psalm 86.1-7] 

So be it.

What We Fear Says Everything About Us

For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. [Psalm 61.5] 

Fear is the proper response to God. In contrast, religion and the idols it so often endorses would have us react to God. The difference between the two is seen in Psalm 61.5 above.

The fear of God is a response of commitment to God - to His very name. The verse from David's Psalm above reveals that the fear of God involves vows to God. Those vows are commitments to God's Commandments and have generational significance (in the first three Commandments below), thus, the use of the word inheritance in Psalm 61.5 above.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

If vows (to God), that are the Biblical basis for proper responsive fear of God, are removed from Psalm 61.5, then improper reactive fear of anything and everything else is all man is left with. Fearing anything and everything else is Biblically improper and is the basis for idolatry.

And, just like God to Whom we are to respond in fear has many names, so the idols to whom we react in fear have many names. No attempt will be made here to name every idol of man, but the most widespread categories of these idols are debt, insurance, medicine and technology. It is man's fear of poverty, fear of loss, fear of sickness, and fear of inconvenience that enslave him to the plethora of named idols in these categories. Man's enslavement to these idols is most evident in the burdensome homage he pays to them (see Merriam-Webster's definition of "homage").

Relative to the previous paragraph, it must be understood that man's fear of poverty is reactive fear that God will not provide. Man's fear of loss is reactive fear that God will not protect. Man's fear of sickness is reactive fear that God will not heal. And, man's fear of inconvenience is reactive fear that God will not ease his burden. To be absolutely certain that man could not deny his idolatry in these areas, God made it clear that He is a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. It is very difficult to deny misplaced vows of "affection" in light of the amount of money man pours into his idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology.

In contrast, an avowed responsive fear of God alone is the only way to avoid any possibility of provoking God's jealousy and misuse of His name. 

To even suggest that God uses debt, insurance, medicine and technology is to profoundly misunderstand God's name(s) and to grossly underestimate His power.

And then comes along, Jesus... While many would like to believe His grace made everything said heretofore invalid, it actually only confirms it. God's exclusive language employed in the first three of the Ten Commandments is simplified in Jesus' version of the very same exclusivity:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Idols are the "way" of man. The "cross" is the symbol of death. While it might be argued that if we remove from ourselves the idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology that we will suffer and even die, that threat of suffering and death has no power over us if we do not fear suffering and death because we fear only God.

What we fear says everything about us.

Father, may we be found fearing only You. May this singular fear of You be evident as we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

What Is Wrong?

Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. [Psalm 40.4] 

To trust the LORD, now, there is a subject for contemplation!

Why is it that so many people claim to trust in the LORD, but so few actually walk in His power? What is wrong?

The Bible makes repeated statements of supernatural blessings upon those who trust God, but the Church today reads those verses and passages as abstract spiritual allegory. It makes for good discussion that yields no change in the lives of the discussers. No one really believes all that stuff and it is overwhelmingly evident in the powerless lives they live. Some groups claim "power" but their claims carry no substance. Many declare, "faith" and demand it of others, but no one is moving mountains or doing anything Jesus demanded. That is just wrong.

Then, there are others who hold their Bibles high in the air demanding allegiance to God Who wrote it, but then insist that all the powerful events repeatedly described and encouraged in the Bible have no application for us today. That too is just wrong.

Psalm 40.4 gives us a clue what it is that is wrong: people today have confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. Human pride is idolatry in itself. To have confidence in idolaters is also idolatry. In fact, to trust in anything or anyone besides God alone is idolatry. Consequently, there is no distinguishing joy in those who claim to trust God - they look and act just like everyone else, except that maybe they put on a big smile and go to church a time or two each week or month. Psalm 40 indicates that those who trust God enjoy not just "joy" but "joys."

When Israel entered the Promised Land, they were to annihilate that land's inhabitants. Why? Because God wanted Israel to learn nothing of those inhabitants' idolatry. God would not tolerate anything of His people that was not full trust in Him alone. We know how that story turned out however... Israel allowed the ways of idolatry to infect their ranks over and again proving the "cause" of idolatry and the "effect" of curses.

But God's Son born in Bethlehem changed all that, right? Again, wrong. Jesus came in the flesh to accomplish what God wanted Israel and the world to see all along: pure trust in God alone. Jesus gave a flesh and blood example of what a life free from idolatry looks like. Jesus demanded this same idol-free, death-defying allegiance of His followers:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

In no world or circumstance does God in heaven or Jesus on earth (God in the flesh) allow "His people" to trust anyone or anything besides Him. Idolatry has always been man's sin problem and will continue to be the problem until the earth as we know it passes. 

Both groups described above as "wrong" share a common problem: idolatry. Both groups, regardless what they claim about their respective doctrines and theologies, rely on the same idols of the world in which they live. They depend on debt, insurance, medicine and technology and, worse still, make them all part of their "religion" in claiming God uses these industries to do for man what God said He alone would do for man. The irony of their claim that "God uses these industries" is that the world uses them too - the world they claim they are in but NOT part of (John 15.19).

THINK: For those described earlier who do not believe "healing, prosperity, or other such blessings" are in the atonement of Jesus, why would they take it upon themselves to obtain those blessings elsewhere? Does God endorse such idolatrous trust in debt, insurance, medicine and technology? The idol of religion says, "YES!"

A true believer's only option is this: undivided trust in God alone. This undivided trust in God alone is what distinguishes God's people from the world. Any other way that is not distinctly God's way is an idol. Again, Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

From what is said here we can see that the Church has an idol that the world does not have and utilize: the Church's idol of religion that endorses (albeit by concession) all the world's other idols. This practice takes "wrong" (idolatry) to a whole other level and all the while "the Church" religiously sings emotional songs of "joy" that it knows nothing about... Oh, they know it in theory, but not in practice.

Father, help Your people to see that true joy is the result of true faith free from idols. May Your people take Jesus' demand as seriously as He said it. May Your true believers give up their own way (their own idols), take up their cross (fearless of death itself), and follow Jesus. May Your true believers understand that "following Jesus" is not what they "say," but what they "do" - looking and acting just like the New Testament distinctly portrays Him to be. So be it.

What Is The Fear Of God About?

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil. [Psalm 36.1-4] 

How silly we must seem to continually devise new ways to remediate our problems, never understanding that those problems are curses upon our sin that require repentance, not resourcefulness. But, such is the condition of one who does not fear God.

To fear God is to view the first three of the Ten Commandments (in particular) with fanatical commitment.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

To fear God is to fear nothing else. It is blind conceit for one to fear anything besides God, setting out to remedy that fear for himself - it is idolatry. Idolatry always involves blindness as blindness is absolutely necessary to prevent the wicked from seeing their own wickedness of fearing (which is a form of trusting) anything besides God. In that blindness, everything they say is crooked and deceitful and consequently everything they do is the same. Instead of repenting and turning to (fearing) God alone, all their resourcefulness is spent on solutions to their problems which is, in reality, idolatry - hatching sinful plots to remedy their curses not with repentance (turning to God alone), but with man-made fixes, making no attempt to turn from evil.

It is no wonder the Bible says the following:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. [Psalm 111.10]

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. [Proverbs 1.7]

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. [Proverbs 9.10]

Contrary to the popular belief of many, the fear of the LORD has nothing to do with respect, but instead everything to do with strict obedience. People can respect someone without necessarily agreeing with or, obeying them. In contrast, to fear someone Biblically is to understand that agreement with them (obedience) is the only option.

God says, "I will provide for you," but debt says, "you need me."

God says, "I will protect you," but insurance says, "you need me."

God says, "I will heal you," but medicine says, "you need me."

God says, "I will comfort you," but technology says, "you need me."

God says, "I am your God," but religion says, "you need me." What's worse however, is that religion, in helpless powerlessness, all too often concedes that we also need debt, insurance, medicine and technology in what will be proven to be the most effective deception of all time.

To fear anything besides God is idolatry.

I don't know that any other passage in the Bible better describes the timeless condition of idolatry than Psalm 36.1-4. No passage better describes the condition of the alleged Church today. In blind religious conceit, we cannot see how wicked we really are in our adulterous trust in all manner of man-made idols. So severe is the Church's current idolatrous and powerless condition that no one even sees it, let alone has any concern about it. They have no fear of God at all.

And, for the very reason just stated above, Jesus' demand upon His would-be followers must necessarily be "spiritualized" (or, seen as allegory) in order to keep the cloak of darkness upon "religious" people. Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Father, Your Word is true and every man a liar. Idolatry was, is, and always will be the root of man's sin as long as the present earth exists. May the blinders be removed from our eyes as we learn Your Word - learn of Your Son, Jesus, the Living Word - and follow Him, giving up our own way (idolatry) and taking up our cross (without fear of death and destruction as idols warn we will experience without their aid). May we be found fearing only You as is demanded by Your "written" and "Living" Word. So be it.