Contentment

Psalm 81

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to ^(A)The Gittith.^[a] Of ^(B)Asaph.

81 ^(C)Sing aloud to God our strength;
    ^(D)shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
² Raise a song; sound ^(E)the tambourine,
    ^(F)the sweet lyre with ^(G)the harp.
³ Blow the trumpet at ^(H)the new moon,
    at the full moon, on our feast day.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,
    a rule^[b] of the God of Jacob.
⁵ He made it ^(I)a decree in ^(J)Joseph
    when he ^(K)went out over^[c] the land of Egypt.
^(L)I hear a language ^(M)I had not known:
⁶ “I ^(N)relieved your^[d] shoulder of ^(O)the burden;
    your hands were freed from the basket.
⁷ In distress you ^(P)called, and I delivered you;
    I ^(Q)answered you in the secret place of thunder;
    I ^(R)tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
^8 (S)Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
⁹ There shall be no ^(T)strange god among you;
    you shall not bow down to a ^(U)foreign god.
^10 (V)I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
    ^(W)Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel ^(X)would not submit to me.
¹² So I ^(Y)gave them over to their ^(Z)stubborn hearts,
    to follow their own ^(AA)counsels.
^13 (AB)Oh, that my people would listen to me,
    that Israel would ^(AC)walk in my ways!
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies
    and ^(AD)turn my hand against their foes.
¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would ^(AE)cringe toward him,
    and their fate would last forever.
¹⁶ But he would feed you^[e] with ^(AF)the finest of the wheat,
    and with ^(AG)honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+81&version=ESV)

Contentment comes when we put our whole entire trust in the Lord.  There is a difference between complacency and contentment.  Joseph was snatched from his homeland, from his family and placed in a foreign country where he became a leader.  It did not come without heartache but yet he trusted God.  It would have been so easy to turn from God when his family rejected him and sold him.  Yet, he was content to do what the Lord called Him to do.  He wasn’t complacent though.  He didn’t do what he needed to do just to survive, he put his entire being into what God had called him to do.  Even in jail he found the place of contentment.  He ministered to others by serving them gladly and found favor with his jailor.

 Contrast Joseph with the other Israelites in Egypt.  They became complacent to the point that they carried the baskets of bricks and hauled heavy loads on their shoulders because it was their way of life.  They didn’t even seem to think that God might want to deliver them from this.  They appeared to have accepted this way of life because even while wandering in the desert they thought it would be better to return to the enslavement of Egypt than to be enslaved in the desert by the Lord.  I for one would rather work for the Lord more than for any human being yet I sometimes forget that God has placed me in certain places for a reason and I need to be content and know that He is the One in control.  A lesson that would have been wise for the Israelites to heed to.  Somehow Joseph learned this yet we know he had heartache when he finally got to see his family once again yet he trusted God through it all.

This is something I need to learn today. Being content is an act of showing God that you trust Him fully.  No matter the situation you find yourself in trusting God for deliverance and remembering He is in control will lead you to the road of contentment.  God wants us to trust Him and He wants us to listen to Him.  We can listen to His small voice as we seek Him and know that He is God and the fruit of that will be contentment.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

In Jesus Name

Psalm 80

English Standard Version (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to ^(A)Lilies. A Testimony. Of ^(B)Asaph, a Psalm.

80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead ^(C)Joseph like ^(D)a flock.
You who are ^(E)enthroned upon the cherubim, ^(F)shine forth.
²     Before ^(G)Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
^(H)stir up your might
    and ^(I)come to save us!

^3 (J)Restore us,^[a] O God;
    ^(K)let your face shine, that we may be saved!

⁴ O ^(L)Lord God of hosts,
    ^(M)how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
⁵ You have fed them with ^(N)the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
^6 (O)You make us an object of contention for our ^(P)neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

^7 (Q)Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

⁸ You brought ^(R)a vine out of Egypt;
    you ^(S)drove out the nations and planted it.
⁹ You ^(T)cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹ It sent out its branches to ^(U)the sea
    and its shoots to ^(V)the River.^[b]
12 Why then have you ^(W)broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
^13 (X)The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.

¹⁴ Turn again, O God of hosts!
    ^(Y)Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
¹⁵     the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
¹⁶ They have ^(Z)burned it with fire; they have ^(AA)cut it down;
    may they perish at ^(AB)the rebuke of your face!
¹⁷ But ^(AC)let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
¹⁸ Then we shall not turn back from you;
    ^(AD)give us life, and we will call upon your name!

^19 (AE)Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+80&version=ESV)

Hebrews 7:23-28

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(A)forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost^[a] (B)those who draw near to God ^(C)through him, since he always lives ^(D)to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^(E)holy, innocent, unstained, ^(F)separated from sinners, and^(G)exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^(H)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^(I)once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men ^(J)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made^(K)perfect forever.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7%3A23+-28&version=ESV)

Romans 8:26-28

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For ^(A)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but ^(B)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And ^(C)he who searches hearts knows what is ^(D)the mind of the Spirit, because^[a] the Spirit ^(E)intercedes for the saints^(F)according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together^(G)for good,^[b] for ^(H)those who are called according to his purpose.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A+26-28&version=ESV)

There is a lot of scripture here so I want to be brief in my comments.  As I read Psalm 80 today what stood out to me was verse 4 where the Psalmists asked “How long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?”  and I thought, “oh my, is He angry with my prayers?”  At that I remembered the other two scriptures that I have placed in this blog.  At the time of the Psalms prayers were offered up by the priests who were sinners just like the people so even their prayers could make God angry.  What is so wonderful is that now we have the Holy Spirit to guide us and Jesus to be our high priest.  We don’t need to have a human being as our priest because we have the perfect priest in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Wow!  My prayers no matter how self-centered, boring, or off base, Christ can take that prayer and interrupt it to mean what I really mean and present it to God.  So when our words don’t match our heart Christ can take that prayer and make it understandable to God.  And you know what is even better?  God takes those prayers and works things out for our best!  It may not be what we think we want but it is His perfect plan that prevails.

Next time you pray, and say “In Jesus Name”  remember that He is the One that takes that prayer and makes it the perfect prayer for God to hear.  When you pray out-loud and worry that your prayer isn’t perfect remember that you are not praying to the people around you, you are praying to the Father through Jesus Christ and your prayer is perfect to the ears of God because Jesus makes those words perfect.  As well, don’t criticize the prayers of the saints because it is Jesus who interrupts not us.  Remember too that when it is too painful to pray, you can call upon Jesus and He let the Father know even your groaning’s.

Seek Him and know that He is God and He is in Control.

Seeking Him with all my heart

Sheila

How Long Does it Take to Grow Up?

Psalm 79

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Psalm of ^(A)Asaph.

79 O God, ^(B)the nations have come into your ^(C)inheritance;
    they have defiled your ^(D)holy temple;
    they have ^(E)laid Jerusalem in ruins.
² They have given ^(F)the bodies of your servants
    to the birds of the heavens for food,
    the flesh of your ^(G)faithful to ^(H)the beasts of the earth.
³ They have poured out their blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there was ^(I)no one to bury them.
⁴ We have become ^(J)a taunt to our neighbors,
    ^(K)mocked and derided by those around us.

^5 (L)How long, O Lord? Will you be angry ^(M)forever?
    Will your ^(N)jealousy ^(O)burn like fire?
^6 (P)Pour out your anger on the nations
    that ^(Q)do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
    that ^(R)do not call upon your name!
⁷ For they have devoured Jacob
    and laid waste his habitation.

^8 (S)Do not remember against us ^(T)our former iniquities;^[a]
    let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are ^(U)brought very low.
^9 (V)Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and ^(W)atone for our sins,
    for your ^(X)name's sake!
^10 (Y)Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Let ^(Z)the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
    be known among the nations before our eyes!

¹¹ Let ^(AA)the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    according to your great power, preserve those ^(AB)doomed to die!
¹² Return ^(AC)sevenfold into the ^(AD)lap of our neighbors
    the ^(AE)taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
¹³ But we your people, the ^(AF)sheep of your pasture,
    will ^(AG)give thanks to you forever;
    from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+79&version=ESV)

As I read this today I had to think about how God might feel when He heard these words.  The previous chapter talked about how God’s people forgot about Him.  How He finally became angry with them after a long time of patience has been displayed on His people.  Now they are going through adversity and they are asking God how long this must take place.  They are begging for mercy and feeling sorry for themselves because of the enemies attacks on them.

As a mother there were times that I wished my children would grow up a little faster.  I wanted to reason with them and have them understand why things had to happen as they did.  It becomes exhausting raising children from learning to feed themselves to toileting to getting them to go to sleep on their own and the list goes on.  Especially during those toddler years our children seem to take a lot of energy from their parents.  They become teenagers and it begins again.  I personally did not have much trouble with our daughters.   However, my experience working with teenagers comes from being a high school teacher and principal.  More often than not our teenagers think they are grown-ups and can make grown-up decisions.  The only problem with that is that all their decisions are based on themselves and rarely on others.  They tend to ignore authority except to blame them for their involvement in their problems.  Then, when punishment comes it is not their fault but rather the fault of the one inflicting the punishment.  Sound familiar?

The Israelites were notorious for blaming God.  They seemed to forget who their Father really was.  They thought more of themselves than they did of others.  They whined, complained, and rebelled.  When things didn’t go their way and punishment was given to them they did not blame themselves for their predicament, they blamed God.  Sound familiar?

How often do we act the same exact way as the teenager or the Israelites?  We tend to live our lives to please ourselves, our friends, our family yet we leave God out of the picture.  But, when things don’t go quite how we think they should we blame God.  Our authority is God.  Are we honoring Him or are we rebelling against Him?

If I were a parent reading a note from a teenager that read something like this Psalm, asking how long do I have to suffer, I would probably have to reply, “How long will it take you to grow-up?”  I have to wonder if that is what God is saying back to me when I complain, grumble, and become depressed.  He has proven His love to me but how long will it take for me to prove my love to Him?  As I seek Him I learn more and more how much He loves me and can see how patient He has been with me. 

Thank you Father for allowing me to grow-up and know you more.  Forgive me when I have looked at you for the blame rather than looking at my own selfish desires.  Help me to have your patience, kindness, love and forgiveness.  Forgive me for all my failures and my lack of trust in You.  In Jesus Precious and Holy Name I Pray, AMEN

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

God’s Love/God’s Wrath

Psalm 78:42-72

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴² They ^(A)did not remember his power^[a]
    or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
^43 (B)when he performed his ^(C)signs in Egypt
    and his ^(D)marvels in ^(E)the fields of Zoan.
⁴⁴ He ^(F)turned their rivers to blood,
    so that they could not drink of their streams.
⁴⁵ He sent among them swarms of ^(G)flies, which devoured them,
    and ^(H)frogs, which destroyed them.
⁴⁶ He gave their crops to ^(I)the destroying locust
    and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with ^(J)hail
    and their sycamores with frost.
⁴⁸ He gave over their ^(K)cattle to the hail
    and their flocks to thunderbolts.
⁴⁹ He let loose on them his burning anger,
    wrath, indignation, and distress,
    a company of ^(L)destroying angels.
⁵⁰ He made a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death,
    but gave their lives over to the plague.
⁵¹ He struck down every ^(M)firstborn in Egypt,
    the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of ^(N)Ham.
⁵² Then he led out his people ^(O)like sheep
    and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
^53 (P)He led them in safety, so that they ^(Q)were not afraid,
    but ^(R)the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
⁵⁴ And he brought them to his ^(S)holy land,
    ^(T)to the mountain which his right hand had ^(U)won.
⁵⁵ He ^(V)drove out nations before them;
    he ^(W)apportioned them for a possession
    and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

⁵⁶ Yet they ^(X)tested and ^(Y)rebelled against the Most High God
    and did not keep his testimonies,
⁵⁷ but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
    they twisted like ^(Z)a deceitful bow.
⁵⁸ For they ^(AA)provoked him to anger with their ^(AB)high places;
    they ^(AC)moved him to jealousy with their ^(AD)idols.
⁵⁹ When God heard, he was full of ^(AE)wrath,
    and he utterly rejected Israel.
⁶⁰ He ^(AF)forsook his dwelling at ^(AG)Shiloh,
    the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
⁶¹ and delivered his ^(AH)power to captivity,
    his ^(AI)glory to the hand of the foe.
⁶² He ^(AJ)gave his people over to the sword
    and ^(AK)vented his wrath on his heritage.
^63 (AL)Fire devoured their young men,
    and their young women had no ^(AM)marriage song.
⁶⁴ Their ^(AN)priests fell by the sword,
    and their ^(AO)widows made no lamentation.
⁶⁵ Then the Lord ^(AP)awoke as from sleep,
    like a strong man shouting because of wine.
⁶⁶ And he ^(AQ)put his adversaries to rout;
    he put them to everlasting shame.

⁶⁷ He rejected the tent of ^(AR)Joseph;
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
⁶⁸ but he chose the tribe of Judah,
    Mount Zion, which he ^(AS)loves.
⁶⁹ He ^(AT)built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
    like the earth, which he has founded forever.
⁷⁰ He ^(AU)chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
⁷¹ from ^(AV)following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to ^(AW)shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his ^(AX)inheritance.
⁷² With ^(AY)upright heart he shepherded them
    and ^(AZ)guided them with his skillful hand.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A42-72&version=ESV)

Do you ever wonder why God works the way He does?  Why can’t a Christian just live a comfortable life without the struggles of the world on their shoulders, after all, we are children of God?  When we ask questions like that we can turn to Psalm 78 and find our answer.  When God provided for His children, they responded by building a golden calf and bowing down and worshipping it.  Even today some religious cultures have statues such as these that they incorporate in their worship all in the name of the LORD.  The Israelites grumbled and complained when God provided them with food and drink and they doubted His love for them because of their circumstances.  Does that sound like anyone you know?  I know that it sounds like me.  There are times that I just want God to give me something positive in my life and then I realize He has given me many blessings upon blessings but how soon I forget when trials come my way.  I used to not understand how the Israelites could be so blind to the Power of God yet I am the same way.

I have put other things before God.  I have grumbled and complained.  I have been blessed and yet did not recognize it.  I have not been thankful as much as I should have been.  That sin of “more” that started in the Garden of Eden hangs on.  God blesses and we want more.  God gives and we think it is not enough.  God destroys and we get mad.  God is the God of the Universe and He loves us yet He is One that we do not want to provoke to anger.  How do you think we are doing at that?  Seek Him and know that He is our Great God whose love abounds but whose wrath will come to those who do not recognize Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila