Author: kezha1

In this Psalm, David is asking God for help in avoiding sins that stem from pride or arrogance. Another name for these type of willful sins in the Bible was presumptuous sins…intentional acts of rebellion against God’s commandments. It’s when we think we know better than God, or as Numbers 15:30 warns us of high handed people who sin defiantly, having no regard for God or His Laws. It’s plowing ahead with a selfish desire and then asking God to bless it in hindsight. Or asking someone to pray about a decision you need to make…all the while having already made it… overstepping God’s counsel and assuming you know best.

The 38 Chapter of Genesis is a story of deception, human failings, and how God can still work through very flawed people. Judah, Jacob’s forth son, had three sons of his own. His first son, Er, married Tamar but died before they had children. Onan, Judah’s second son then had the responsibility for continuing his decreased brother’s lineage…but also died for refusing to uphold the law & custom of kinsman redeemer. Judah then promised his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar when he was grown…but in all reality didn’t intend to do so in fear he’d lose Shelah also. After a long time, Tamar decided to take matters into her own hands in a desperate attempt to secure her rights. She disguised herself as a harlot, playing on Judah’s vices and bore him twin sons. When Judah was confronted with his failure to follow through on his promise, lack of integrity, and immorality, he finally was forced to acknowledge his wrongdoing. Thus, despite human failings on both sides – Tamar, for not allowing God to work on her behalf, and Judah, for his blatant dishonesty – the Messianic line was still preserved with the birth of Perez.

To a good Jewish son, the demands Jesus made seemed radical and against all established traditions. But Jesus was showing the disciple that following Him required unwavering commitment and overrode all earthly loyalties. From the first time Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew with, “Follow Me.” in Matthew 4:19 to today, He continues to call us to a radical love so unreserved that all other earthly loves pale in comparison. Yes, this does mean sacrifice and a releasing of control on our part, but in return, we will become part of an abiding and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

If there was any time that this verse would be most applicable…it would be during the month of December. The whirlwind of Holiday decorating, baking, celebrations, and gift buying can leave us at the end of the month exhausted…and without a moment to contemplate the true meaning of Christmas. The Writer of Hebrews wasn’t speaking to the general public here, but rather to the Community of Believers belonging to Christ through His sanctification. (Hebrews 2:11) So this month, make a point of “fixing your thoughts on Jesus” in common faith with your brothers and sisters in Christ…celebrating the birth of a baby in Bethlehem that would save the world.

This is a heartfelt plea for divine guidance and instruction that comes many times when we’ve reached the end of ourselves. It’s the stark reality between human limitations and God’s wisdom to make good decisions. But for many of us, asking for help from anyone, especially from God, is a hard thing to do. But in order to grow with God, our life must be filled with obedience, submission, and trust… as His good Spirit cares for us with love and compassion. Our prayer should then be as David wrote in Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” And the result… will be emotional stability and a right relationship with our Heavenly Father.

God is not only our Creator but our husband, demonstrating the covenantal ties of unwavering love, commitment, loyalty, and restoration. Therefore, it can be very comforting to our souls when we’re caring for a loved one who once cared for us. This is especially heartening at those times when we look back longingly at seasons in our life when we were lovingly taken care of by that parent or spouse. God’s intimate caring relationship for us is vividly described in Ephesians 5:25-26, where Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love for the Church as its husband is shown to be something we can confidently place our dependence and trust in.

Jesus was wanting the people to understand that the words coming out of their mouths revealed the state of their hearts and the corruption that would render them defiled in the sight of God… not anything they might eat. Later, when Peter asked for this to be explained, Jesus incredulously asked him if he was that dull! Or to put it in modern language, “Don’t you get it Peter??!!” Jesus then explained what He meant fully, (Matthew 15:15-20) but it seemed not to have stuck well in Peter’s mind, for in Acts 10:9-16 we see God using a vision of unclean animals to convince a unwilling Peter that anything unclean God could make clean…and that God’s intentions were to now welcome Gentiles into the community of faith. This all concluded at Cornelius’ home, a God fearing Roman centurion that was desiring to convert to Christianity. That’s where Peter finally “got it” and Cornelius became his first Gentile Believer. Therefore demonstrating God’s overreaching cleansing power by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. (Ephesians 2:8)

This prayer of Jonah’s is coming from finding himself in the belly of a great fish. But it shouldn’t have to take a dire situation to express our gratitude to God. Everyday we’re alive should be worth offering thanks to Him Who gives us all good things. So this Thanksgiving Day, offer to God a sacrifice of praise and thankfulness for all He has given you.

On this day before Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for two things I usually forget to even acknowledge. The first is what a friend of mine calls “God’s sparkles”…those tiny blessings that only you know about. It’s when God winks at you in a loving way… and shows how very special you are to Him. For as this Song of Moses shows us, (in contrast to the chaotic and noisy world around us), the quiet and gentle pitter patter of rain demonstrates the tender and nourishing nature of God as He showers blessings on us. The other thing I’m remiss about, is being grateful for the things that never happen. Later in Chapter 32, Moses tells us that it’s only God that can protect and deliver us from all the seen and unseen dangers that come into our lives. So today, I will take a moment to thank God for all His small blessings, and all the things He’s protected me from.

God’s Word is His written Voice… so that even in the deafening silence of pain & suffering, grief & loss, you can still hear Him. Many places in the Old Testament God’s Voice was manifested in the thunderstorm as it warned His people to receive His Word. (Psalm 29:3-9 & Psalm 18:13) But as we also see so many times, God’s Voice can be found in that still small utterance that pierces through the painful silence of our souls. Psalm 33:4-5 above shows us the characteristics of God…upright, faithful, righteous, just, and steadfast in love. But these also characterize His Word…God’s written Voice for us to hear.