A Good Night's Sleep

 Psalm 3

Worry and fear can bring about a lot of unpleasant effects in our life.  It can distract us so much that we can’t do the work or even leisure activities we want to do.  Worrying can disturb our appetite, making eating difficult.  Perhaps the most frequent effect from worrying is lack of sleep.  Thinking and fretting about our problems while we lie in bed at night, tossing and turning, trying to come up with some solution, steals our sleep away.  It makes us tired, run down, irritable, and only makes the problems worse.  King David was someone who had many problems and anxious times in his life, and could so easily and understandably have given in to worry and lost sleep.  Yet as our psalm for today records, he did not allow that to happen.  Let’s look into this psalm and its background, and see what his secret was.

Psalm 3 was written by King David when he had to flee Jerusalem because of the rebellion led by his son Absalom, which is described in II Samuel 15 - 18.  David was no stranger to difficult times, having spent many years on the run from King Saul who frequently sought his life.  As a general in Saul’s army, he faced the worries and concerns of the frequent wars with the Philistines and other enemies.  When he became king of Israel, there were all the stresses and worries that came with this position.  Then his own son, Absalom, tried to take the throne away from him, seizing control of the palace and Jerusalem, forcing David to flee the city, running for his life.  Not only would that be a very anxious time, it was all the more distressing because it was being caused by his son, his own flesh and blood.

As David camped out with his few true friends, looking back towards the lights of Jerusalem, his capital city now in the hands of his many enemies, seeing the troops of Absalom growing in number by the thousands, he penned these words.  He acknowledged that his enemies were many (vs. 1-2).  Those he thought he could trust had turned against him.  Many believed that David’s reign was over, and that even God could not, or would not, help him.  Despite their dire predictions and comments, David stayed true to God.  What his enemies said of David here, the enemies of Jesus also said to Him as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:43).

We could expect and understand if David gave in to his worries, and lie awake at night letting anxiety overcome him.  However, that is not what David did, even for one night.  David was at peace with whatever outcome occurred.  He knew that God’s great purposes would prevail.  He turned his eyes away from his enemies, and on to the Lord.

As David continued through this psalm, he testified that because of his trust in God, even during these darkest days of his life, he was able to lie down and fall right asleep and awaken later well-rested (vs. 5).  There was no tossing and turning in his bed, no staring up to the roof of his tent, anxiously worrying about what was going to happen.  Since God was protecting him, David didn’t need to worry.  He could rest and go to sleep, even in the worst of trials.

That is a truth which we all need to grab ahold of, especially when the worries loom large in our mind, and restful sleep slips away.  The assurance of answered prayer brings peace to believers and followers of the Lord Jesus.  We can rest when we truly believe that God is in control.  David knew the same Biblical truth that Paul did in the New Testament, and that we should know and believe as well, that when God is on our side, no one can stand against us (Romans 8:31).  It didn’t matter that Absalom tried to take the throne away from him, David knew that God had promised it to him, and that he could trust any promise God made.  His enemies could try what they wanted, God would protect him.  If we have put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, we are then God’s children, and He will watch over and protect us.  We do not need to fear what others who oppose God will try to do.  We should trust God’s promises, just as David did.

Like David learned, we can cast all of our care, all of our worries and anxieties, upon God.  He will take them because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22).  Like David, we can then roll over and peacefully go to sleep.  We can be confident that the Lord will sustain us through the night, and be our shield and glory through the day.

Complainers And Whiners

 Exodus 16:2-15

Have you ever had to spend some time with a chronic complainer?  Nothing is right in their opinion.  This isn’t good enough!  That is not the right type!  You’re not doing it correctly!  Complain, moan, groan, whine, whine, whine!  Even an hour is too long to be with a complainer, let alone a whole day!  Have you ever been on a road trip with a complainer?  That is the worst!  Moses was on a very long “road trip” with the people of Israel, and they were nothing but complainers and whiners the whole time.  This wasn’t just one or two moaning children in the back seat of the car, this was a whole nation of whining and complaining people.  Our Scripture today from the Old Testament book of Exodus gives us a picture of one such episode.

As our Scripture opens, the people of Israel had just been delivered from slavery in Egypt, and God had only just a few days prior parted the Red Sea for them to cross, as the armies of Egypt came after them.  In the weeks leading up to their deliverance, God had performed many miracles in the form of the Ten Plagues, working against His enemies and providing protection for the Israelites.  All of these miraculous events should have been fresh on their minds.  These should have shown the people that Yahweh was a great and powerful God, in reality the only true God.  They should have known through these events that He loved them and would care for them, but their actions proved otherwise.

Literally just a few days after miraculously crossing the Red Sea, the people started complaining and murmuring that they had no fresh water, that the water around them was bitter.  God miraculously provided good, fresh water for them (Exodus 15:22-27).  Now, just a few days past that event, they are complaining and whining again.  They were hungry, they wanted something good to eat.  With having had more miracles provided for them in just a matter of several weeks, more than anyone else would ever see in a lifetime, these people quickly forgot it all.  Those miracles, God’s mighty provision, didn’t register with them on a spiritual level.  How quickly they forgot!  They failed to see, to trust, to believe in God’s power to provide, or in His loving care.

As we continue reading in our passage, we see something amazing.  In the middle of all their complaining, the people actually said that they would rather be back in Egypt as slaves, would rather have died as slaves, then to be led by God on to their promised land! (vs. 3).  Even after God’s mighty deliverance, they preferred to die as slaves in Egypt, rather than follow Him through the wilderness!  Everyone complained.  The negative and self-centered ones convinced all of the people to murmur and complain.  In their sinful minds, the country which had enslaved them looked good in comparison to the wilderness. Negativity and ungratefulness is contagious.  We need to be careful that our bad attitude does not lead others onto a similar, sinful path.

In response to the people’s complaints and Moses’ prayers, God provided the people with manna.  Manna is a word in Hebrew that means “What is it?”  No one knows for sure what this was, other than a miraculous supply of food from God.  It appeared every morning at dawn, and appeared in abundance to supply the nutritional needs for the multitude.  They were to gather it every morning, and if left for the next day it would get wormy, except on the Sabbath, when it remained fresh.  The manna stopped appearing the very day they entered into the Promised Land.

The people may have thought that they were complaining to Moses, however, when we complain and moan to others about circumstances in our life, we are really complaining to the Lord (vs. 7-8).  He hears and sees all that we say and do, and will hold us responsible.  Discontent causes us to forget all of God’s blessings in our life, turning us into ungrateful people.  Because the people of Israel continued in this complaining and ungrateful attitude throughout the whole 40 years in the wilderness, God needed to discipline the people over and over again.

Jesus is a figure of that manna which came down from heaven.  Jesus told us that He is the Bread of Life.  When we come to Him, we will never hunger again, and will have eternal life. (John 6:30-58).  As believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to develop a grateful and thankful heart, always remembering all He has blessed us with.  God provides for everyone who trusts in Him.  Do we feel lost, abandoned, alone?  God will never leave us or forsake us, and He will always provide for our needs.  Like the old-time hymn says:  “Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings, see what God has done!”

Going Through A Storm

 Mark 6:45-52

“Nobody knows the difficulties and problems I am going through, and if they do, they sure don’t seem to care!”  Have you ever felt like that?  Most of us have at one time or another.  Sometimes we might even think that God doesn’t see, or that He doesn’t care.  Such thoughts can be very discouraging, particularly if they persist throughout a difficult time.  We can feel like nothing we do is working out, no one is helping, and that there is no more hope.  In our Scripture today from Mark’s Gospel, we find the disciples in a similar situation.  However, as we shall read, Someone was watching.  Someone did see them.  Someone would come to their help.  Let’s take a look at this narrative from the Bible.

After Jesus fed the multitudes, multiplying the few loaves of bread and fish, we read that He told the disciples to get into their boat and head across the Sea of Galilee to another village.  It was evening, and Jesus was going to go off by Himself and pray for a while (vs. 45-46).   The disciples proceed to row across the large lake, which is about 13 miles long (north to south), and a little over 8 miles wide (east to west).  While out in the lake the wind was against the disciples as they rowed.  They were trying to get to Bethsaida, which was the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44), yet as hard as they rowed while out in the middle of the lake, the strong winds made it a difficult struggle, and they were getting nowhere.  They were expecting to meet Jesus at Bethsaida, probably the next morning.  He had told them to take the boat there, yet how would they reach their destination, where He had told them to go, with these winds?  With the winds and waves, the boat could possibly start flooding over.  It was getting dangerous!  What could they do?

Have there been occasions where you were obeying God and His Word, following what you believed was His will for you, and found that everything was in opposition, everything was a terrible struggle?  This is what was happening with the disciples here.  They were doing what Jesus had told them to do, and yet this big storm came up, hindering them and putting their safety at risk.  Where was Jesus?  Why wasn’t He there helping them?  As the Son of God, why did He allow the storm to come to begin with?

Despite what they may have thought at the time, the disciples were not alone in their struggles.  Jesus had not abandoned them to the storm.  He was aware of what they were going through.  As we read, Jesus saw them from the hilltop where He had been praying to the Father (vs. 48).  He saw the disciples struggling with the boat from where He was on the shore.  Jesus could have commanded the storm and winds to cease from there, allowing them to finish the journey, and then meet them in Bethsaida as planned.  However, Jesus went to be with them out on the water in the middle of the storm.  He did not leave them to struggle all on their own.

As Jesus approached the boat, the disciples saw Him, but they did not recognize Him (vs. 49-50).  Fear had distorted their sight.  All they saw were the waves and the storm, and fear caused them to believe it was a ghost, as people cannot walk on water!  The disciples had quickly forgotten all of the miracles they had seen.  They had forgotten who they were coming to believe Jesus was, and cried in fear.  Jesus had not forgotten them, though, and came into the boat (vs. 51).  It was only after He had gotten into the boat that He commanded the winds and waves to be still.

When we go through struggles and difficult times, sometimes even situations that could have dire consequences for us and/or our loved ones, we need to remember, just as the disciples needed to, that Jesus will help us when we are in trouble.  Though the disciples had lost sight of Jesus, just as we might, He had not lost sight of them.  Jesus sees our struggles, and what we are going through.  He sees and cares.  He will come near us, and get in our boat with us.  Jesus will calm the winds and waves that seek to overwhelm us, and go through whatever struggles we have with us.

One Body Of Believers

 Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

When there is a group project, whether at work or in leisure, it is important that there is unity between all participants.  If participants are at odds with one another, the project will likely fail, or certainly not be as successful as it could be.  Unity within the group is also important if everything is supposed to run smoothly, each one working together to achieve their goals.  The same goes with the church, as we read in our Scripture from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  Jesus gave us a mandate to fulfill the Great Commission, to bring the Gospel to the world.  The church was established to fulfill that commission, and to encourage and build up believers in the faith.  However, if we have no unity among ourselves, we will have a difficult time doing that.  Let’s look at what our Scripture says.

As our passage opens, Paul reminds Christians that we need to live in a manner that honors and pleases Jesus (vs. 1).  Believers are called by the Lord to bring His salvation message to others, and in order to do that, we need to live lives worthy of that calling.  People are watching us.  Can they see Jesus in our words and actions?

As Paul continues, he stresses another important thing for believers to have as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission, and that is to have unity among themselves.  All believers in Christ belong to one body.  We are all united under one head, which is Jesus, Himself.  Paul emphasizes that believers are one.  We aren’t multitudes of believers going at it alone, we are one.  Unity should be a characteristic of the church.  But to do that every believer needs to be wholeheartedly obedient to God and to His Word, the Bible.

As we read in verses 4 - 6, we have one body - the body of Christ, the Christian Church.  There is one Spirit - the Holy Spirit.  Believers all have one hope - the same future certainty and the same heavenly destination.  We have one Lord and submit to the same divine ruler, the Lord Jesus.  True believers have one faith, as we have placed the same trust in Jesus for salvation.  There is one baptism - the Holy Spirit’s baptism at the time of our salvation.  And there is one God and Father which all believers have.  God is over all.  He has over-ruling care of all.  He is through all and in all (vs. 6).  He is actively present in the world, and in the lives of all believers.

Paul continues on in our passage, teaching us that though we are one in the Body of Christ, we each have different gifts which He has given us.  These gifts were given to help with the work of the ministry, to build up the church, and to further His mission of bringing the message of Jesus to the world.  Just as in most businesses, different people have different assignments and tasks to do, so it is with the church.  Paul lists a few of them here in verse 11.  The apostles were called by Jesus, had seen Him following the resurrection, and were sent out to bring His message to the world.  Prophets are those who speak God’s message to the people.  Evangelists are those who go out, bringing the salvation message of the Gospel to the lost.  Pastors are the shepherds of a local church, feeding the sheep God’s message.  And teachers are just that, teaching others God’s Word.

These gifts and abilities, along with others that Paul mentions elsewhere in other epistles, are given for the equipping of believers for the work of the ministry (vs. 12).  People’s differing gifts, talents, and abilities can help the church as it brings God’s message to others.  We are all called to do the work of ministry, not just the church leaders.

As Paul closes this passage, he urges us to not be as children in our faith or behavior (vs. 14).  Children are the opposite of mature believers.  Spiritually immature believers, who are not grounded in good Scriptural teaching, are inclined to accept every sort of beguiling doctrinal error and false teaching.  Satan has his own preachers who sneak in and present a way, other than the Cross, which seems to be right.  We need to be anchored in Jesus and His Word.  Otherwise we will be tossed to and fro, drifting in every direction, away from Biblical truth and moral standards. 

As we seek to follow Jesus and tell others about Him, let us show love and unity between ourselves and other true believers, encouraging each other to use their gifts to build up His Church here on earth.

When Mountains Tremble

 Psalm 114

When we look at a great mountain, we see something that is solid and steadfast.  To completely remove a mountain, such as one in the Rocky Mountains of the western U.S., or one in the Alps or the Himalayas, would be an astounding, possibly impossible feat.  The oceans of the world, along with large lakes and major rivers are also rather sure and steadfast.  We aren’t going to wake up one morning and find the Atlantic or Pacific ocean missing. It would take a mighty and impossibly costly engineering feat to divert or reverse the flow of the Amazon, the Nile, or the Mississippi Rivers.   However, what is impossible with man is not impossible with God.  As we read this week’s psalm, we see that all of nature is subject to its Creator.

Psalm 114 is a short psalm, only eight verses long, giving a brief account of the exodus from Egypt, but one filled with much poetic imagery.  God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt is perhaps the greatest, and most pivotal event in the Old Testament.  It is referenced again and again, both in the Book of Psalms and the prophets.  It is also frequently mentioned in the New Testament, as well.

As our psalm opens, the unknown psalmist describes the Israelites coming out of captivity, of slavery to a people of “strange language”, a foreign people.  When they had come into Egypt a few hundred years earlier, they were just a very large family - elderly Jacob, his eleven sons (Joseph was already in Egypt), their spouses, and all of their children.  Some of Jacob’s grandchildren could already have been old enough to have already had children themselves.   When they left at the time of the exodus, they were multiple thousands.   They knew that they were God’s chosen people (vs. 2).   God was with His people from the beginning of the exodus, when He parted the Red Sea, to the end when they entered the Promised Land, when He parted the Jordan River (Exodus 14:15-31; Joshua 3:1-17).

The parting of the waters of the Red Sea was an extraordinary, miraculous event for God’s people.  With the final of the 10 plagues God brought down upon the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh told the people to leave.  Shortly afterwards he changed his mind, and sent his army and chariots after them.  There they were, the Red Sea before them, the armies of Egypt behind them.  What were they to do?  That is when God stepped in and did what man could not do, He parted the waters and allowed the people to cross on dry ground.  God performed a similar miracle right prior to the people entering in the Promised Land when He parted the waters of the Jordan River, right at its peak during flooding season.

During the time that they traveled through the wilderness, God also spoke to the people through Moses upon the top of Mt. Sinai, where the mountain shook in an earthquake, with lightning and fire appearing (Exodus 19:16-18).  He also provided water for the people from the rock which Moses struck with his rod (vs. 8; Numbers 20:8-11).

The psalmist describes these events in words filled with poetic imagery.  The waters seeing God and His people, and fleeing back (vs. 3, 5).  The mountains skipped like lambs, trembling at God’s presence (vs. 4, 6).  The most fixed of geographical features, the mountains and hills, the oceans, lakes and rivers, cannot resist the power and will of God.  To tremble at God’s presence means to recognize God’s complete power and authority, and our frailty by comparison (vs. 7).  The mountain at Sinai trembled when God, its Creator, descended upon it.  Nature must tremble before the omnipotent God.

The God who delivered His people from bondage, and provided for their needs, is our God today.  All people who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are His children, and He will always care and provide for us.  As we have seen, all of nature, including the most fixed of geographical features, are under His control and command.  He can still unfurl His power any time He chooses.  The world needs to take notice and tremble at His presence.

A Double Portion

 II Kings 2:1-15

If a wealthy person, one with seemingly unlimited resources, told you they would grant you a request, would you ask a big request, or only a small, insignificant, paltry one?  There is a legend about Alexander the Great, that once a courtier came, asking a great, even audacious request of him.  Rather than getting angry, Alexander graciously granted it, saying that the man honored him by asking for something great, as it showed that the man thought of him as a great ruler.  One asks great things from a great ruler, but only meager things from a puny ruler.   In our Scripture passage today we read of someone who asked a bold request when given the opportunity, but as we shall see, it was not done with any selfish motives.

As our Scripture begins, it is the last few days of Elijah upon earth.  Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Bible.  He brought God’s Word to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel during very difficult and dangerous times, particularly during the reign of wicked King Ahab.  At this time, Elijah’s life on earth was going to come to a close.  God had revealed to him, though, that he would not depart life in the normal fashion, and he was to journey to the eastern banks of the Jordan River with his protégé and companion, Elisha.  As the two journey to that destination, they leave Gilgal, passing through both Bethel and Jericho, to the banks of the river (vs. 1-7).  In each of these villages there was a fellowship or school of prophets, where religious leaders or students met to worship, pray, and learn.  There these true believers in Yahweh would get mutual encouragement in the days of terrible paganism and idolatry.

When Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan River, Elijah asked Elisha if there was some request that he could grant his assistant (vs. 9).  Elisha had been Elijah’s personal disciple, companion, and aide for several years.  Elisha had known for several days now that God was going to take his teacher, mentor, and friend away.  Now what could he ask?  As we read in the Scripture passage, we see that Elisha asked that a double portion of Elijah’s spirit would be upon him.  He didn’t ask for fame or fortune, but instead he asked for more spiritual power than Elijah had during his life.

Elisha made a bold request because he knew God’s power, and knew and believed what God could do.  He wanted to accomplish more for God.  He wanted a double portion.  In Jewish culture, the firstborn son always inherited a double portion of the inheritance, along with the right of succession.  Elisha was asking Elijah to succeed him as prophet, and to have spiritual powers beyond his own capabilities to meet those responsibilities as successor.  He desired Elijah’s mighty power to continue to live through him.

We should not be afraid to ask boldly, to ask great things from God (James 4:2).  When we know we serve a great God, we can make great prayers and great requests.  Our God is a great, a mighty, and powerful God.  Nothing is too big for Him to handle.  If something we desire is within the will of God, and not contrary to Scripture, we do not need to be afraid to ask.

As we continue in our Scripture, we read of an extraordinary event, one that would have been very amazing to see.  Elijah did not leave this life on earth like everyone else by dying.  God desired to take His servant up to heaven both body and soul, without him going through death.  As we read, a chariot of fire, drawn by horses, took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind (vs. 11).  A whirlwind is a strong storm with lightning, thunder, and strong wind, similar to a tornado.  God is occasionally seen and connected with such storms (Job 38:1; Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 30:23).

God picked Elijah up with a chariot and horses of fire.  A chariot with horses was the fastest means of transport at that time.  A chariot was the most powerful means of warfare then, too.  This symbolized God’s power and His protection of His people.  Elijah’s mantle was a symbol of his prophetic office (vs. 13).  Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle, showing the people he was his successor.  Elijah was not the first one to be taken bodily to heaven without dying.  The first was Enoch, as we read in Genesis 5:21-24.  Jesus also went to heaven bodily after His resurrection (Acts 1:9).

When a mighty servant of God passes away, nothing of God dies.  As God told Elijah when he complained that he felt he was the only one left who believed and followed Him, God had 7,000 who had never bowed the knee to Baal, ready to serve Him (I Kings 19:18).  Elisha is an example.  God is never caught short-handed.  There is always a faithful remnant, however small it might be.  Let’s not be afraid to pray bold prayers to God, and never be discouraged when a mighty servant of God is called home.

The Compassionate Heart Of Jesus

 Mark 6:30-44

Do you know any truly compassionate people?  That is a good and godly Christian trait to have.  The definition of compassion is to show sympathy and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  Unfortunately many people, including some Christians, are too impatient or wrapped up in their own concerns to show much care and compassion for those in need.  They may give some money or direct them to some social agency for help, but don’t really want to get involved with a needy person.  They have their own problems to worry about.  Others are too judgmental, and choose not to help because they believe it’s the person’s own fault that they got into the trouble they are in, and to help would only be excusing that person’s sin.  In today’s Scripture reading from Mark’s Gospel, we see the compassionate heart of the Lord Jesus, with His love and care for everyone.

As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus and His disciples have gathered together.  The disciples had recently returned from their own brief mission and teaching trips throughout Galilee.  Also, they had just heard the news that John the Baptist had been executed by King Herod (Mark 6:14-29).  That would have been sad and disturbing news to Jesus and His disciples, and He called the twelve to take a short time to get apart into a secluded area to rest and refresh themselves (vs. 30-32).  However, the crowds saw them leave by boat and immediately wanted to follow them.  Most of the people were looking for healing and miracles, though some may also have been wishing to learn from Jesus’s teachings.

Before they were even able to disembark the boat, the crowds had gathered and there was no opportunity to rest.  The disciples, tired as they were, probably were somewhat irritated.  Couldn’t they just have a day or two to rest and recoup?  How do we feel when a needy person or group keeps wanting more and more of our time, energy, and resources?  Do we feel like yelling out, “Stop already!”  Let’s look at what Jesus’s reaction was to this interruption of His desired time away with the disciples.  In verse 34 we read that when Jesus saw the crowds gathering He was “moved with compassion” for them.  He had sympathy and concern for them.  Jesus could have told them to go away and come back in a couple of days, but He didn’t.

Mark described the people as being like sheep that do not have a shepherd.  Sheep are easily scattered if they do not have a shepherd guarding and guiding them.  Without a shepherd they are also in grave danger from both predatory animals and accidents.  Other cattle need much less attention, however sheep need the constant care and diligence of the shepherd.  These people gathering around Jesus and the Twelve were helpless and spiritually starving, lacking spiritual guidance and protection.  They were exposed to the perils of sin and spiritual destruction.  Right then, the nation was more religious than ever before, but they had few true shepherds.  Jesus presented the only true Gospel.  He was the Good Shepherd to the people (John 10:1-16).

In addition to spiritually feeding the people, bringing them the teachings from God’s Word and the Gospel message of salvation, Jesus was also concerned with their physical needs.  The day was ending, and He knew that they had not had any time to eat.  He cared that the people had some nourishment before they would head home, mostly on foot, and many from several miles.  The disciples wanted the people to just head off and buy some food themselves, but Jesus told them to feed them themselves.  With the size of the crowd, that looked like an impossible task, and would cost an enormous amount of money (vs. 37).  There were about 5,000 men there, and with women and children, could easily have been 10 - 15,000 people.

This was not an impossible situation for Jesus!  When the loaves and fishes were in Jesus’s hands, the miracle began (vs. 41).  Jesus looked into heaven, where all blessings come.  His blessing guarantees everything.  The miracle took place between the breaking and the giving.

A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.  When facing a seemingly impossible task, do what you can, then pray to God to do the rest, and trust Him to do so.  Little is much if God is in it!