PSALM 143
Psalmist prayer non-judgement verse 1- 2
Hear my prayer O LORD – give ear to my supplication
in YOUR faithfulness answer me
and in YOUR righteousness
and enter not into judgment with YOUR servant
for in YOUR sight shall no man living be justified
Psalmist reveals effects of enemy on him verse 3- 4
For the enemy has persecuted my soul
he has smitten my life down to the ground
he has made me to dwell in darkness
as those that have been long dead
THEREFORE is my spirit overwhelmed within me
my heart within me is desolate
Hands lifted up in prayer verse 5- 6
I remember the days of old
I meditate on all YOUR works
I muse on the work of YOUR hands
I stretch forth my hands unto YOU
my soul thirst after YOU
as a thirsty land SELAH
Morning renewals from the LORD verse 7- 8
Hear me speedily – O LORD – my spirit fails
hide not YOUR face from me
lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit
Cause me to hear YOUR loving-kindness in the morning
for in YOU do I trust
Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk
for I lift up my soul to YOU
Lead to land of uprightness verse 9- 10
Deliver me – O LORD – from mine enemies
I flee to YOU to hide me
Teach me to do YOUR will – for YOU are my God
YOUR Spirit is good
lead me into the land of uprightness
Revive your servant LORD verse 11- 12
Quicken me – O LORD – for YOUR name’s sake
for YOUR righteousness’ sake
bring my soul out of trouble
And of YOUR mercy cut off mine enemies
and destroy all them that afflict my soul
for I am YOUR servant
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. (6663 “justified” [tsadaq] means be just, righteous, to be right, straight, cleansed, to be upright, and be vindicated)
DEVOTION: The Psalmist David admits his present condition. He is overwhelmed with those who are troubling him. He turns to the LORD in repentance. He needs the LORD to answer his prayer.
He realizes that no one is clean in the eyes of the LORD. No one can claim to be sinless. No one can come into his presence with clean hands. David knows all about his shortcoming before the LORD. He doesn’t want any special privileges.
He is counting on the LORD to manifest HIS faithfulness or loving-kindness and HIS righteousness.
The reason David needs the LORD’S help is because he has enemies who are persecuting him to his inner being. He is hurting. He feels like he has been beaten down to the ground. He doesn’t see the light that he is supposed to see coming from the LORD. He feels the darkness all around him. He really needs the LORD to come to HIS aid. He doesn’t think he can get any lower.
Having said all this, he states that he remembers the LORD’s help in the past. He remembers the times that he meditated on the Word of God and saw the light. He was living in the Light of the Word of God.
Now he was again going to the LORD in prayer and asking for the help he had received in the past. He wanted to see the works of the LORD again active in his life. He describes it as someone who was without water for a long time and needed a drink. His soul was looking forward to another drink of the grace and mercy of the LORD
Are we thirsty for the LORD to manifest HIMSELF to us? Do we realize how dry we are at present? David did!!! Sometimes we are satisfied with a few drops of rain instead of asking for showers of blessings.
CHALLENGE: Don’t be satisfied with a few drops of water – ask the LORD for HIS showers of blessing. HE is waiting for us to realize that HE wants to bless us. HE commands us to ask. We should want the windows of heaven to open.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. (8074 “desolate” [shamem] means to tremble, to be affected with wonder, possibly with the implication of being confused, appalled, to be astonished, to be laid waste, or deserted.)
DEVOTION: Are their days in your life where you feel overwhelmed? Is a Christian supposed to feel overwhelmed? It happens!
Here we find David having a day when he is feeling overwhelmed and desolate. He is confused because he thinks that because he has the LORD there should be just good days. This is our thinking as well as believers today.
However, that is not what the LORD promised. HE promised HE would never leave us or forsake us but that doesn’t mean that we won’t have bad days because we sometimes think too much of the trouble we are having.
The LORD wants us to come to HIM with all of our troubles. HE will answer any questions with HIS peace that passes understanding. So we can have a storm going on around us but in our heart we can have peace if we trust HIM.
Too often we look at the storm rather than the LORD. HE wants us to always look at HIM and watch for HIS deliverance from the storm. HE hides us in the cleft of the rock during each storm that HE allows in our life.
We are going to have storms but HE is right there to protect us during the storms that HE allows to come our way. If there were no storms we wouldn’t be turning to HIM like HE wants us too.
HE is teaching us not to be independent but to be dependent on HIM at all times. Storms are coming and have come into our lives but HE is our shelter in the time of storm!!!
CHALLENGE: When a storm comes in our life where do we turn? Are we learning to trust HIM even during the storms of life? That is what HE wants us to do.
: 8 Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (1870 “the way” [derek] means road, path, distance, journey, manner, direction, habit, course of life, or moral character.
DEVOTION: The beginning of the Psalm gives us the statement of need on the part of David. He admits that no one can be upright in the LORD’S sight unless the LORD forgives him. He states his case and now his desire is to see the LORD’S answer to his request.
He wants the LORD to know that he trusts HIM. He wants direction from the LORD as to where and what he should do next. He will not stop praying until the LORD reveals the open door that he is to go through to defeat his enemies and move on in his work for the LORD as the leader of the nation.
He uses such words as deliverance, teach and quicken. He wants deliverance from his enemies. He wants to learn more about the working of the LORD in his life. He wants to have a revival in his soul in his position in the LORD.
As far as his enemies are concerned he is turning them all over to the LORD for him to deal with them as HE sees fit. He doesn’t want them to receive any mercy from the LORD. He would prefer that the LORD destroy them completely.
We all want direction from the LORD. We would like it if the LORD would appear to us each morning and tell us what we should do today. It would make serving HIM so much easier. HE doesn’t do it that way. HE gives us HIS word to give us direction for each day. We have the ministry of the Holy Spirit active in our lives. HE shows us HIS attributes each day. The psalmist knew that the LORD’S mercies were new every morning. Here he wants to hear God’s loving-kindness each morning.
He acknowledges that he trusts in the LORD for his daily benefits or blessing. The way he learns to walk in the right direction is by lifting up his soul to the LORD in prayer. Our morning prayers can give us direction for our day. We should ask the LORD to fill us with HIS Holy Spirit each morning. The Holy Spirit can give us “fresh oil” to know what we should do that day. We should be open to HIS leading throughout the day. Our schedule for ourselves can be different, and usually is, from HIS schedule for our day. We need to adjust to HIS leading. Are we spending time with the LORD each morning? What has HE said to us today? Are we willing to adjust to HIS leading? It is good for us to plan each day but leave it open for HIS direction throughout the day.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for “fresh oil” from him today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: In the midst of severe persecution and difficulty the psalmist calls upon the Lord to “teach me to do your will.” That is something that every child of God desires to know and to do. How can we do the Father’s will and have confidence in the knowledge we are doing it? Robert J. Morgan presents Principles for Divine Guidance. 1) Submission to the Sovereign is a key principle in guidance (Rom. 12:1; Jonah 1:1–2). The Lord is not looking for better methods or bigger men or women. He is looking for surrendered hearts. 2) Searching the Scriptures (Ps. 119:105). God speaks to His children through His Word. 3) Supplication in the Spirit (James 1:5) is necessary to obtain divine guidance. Daily, disciplined, diligent prayer is never a waste of time, and very often the Lord gives us insights while we are in the very act of praying. We also need 4) Suggestions from our Soulmates—the advice of our close friends and family members (Prov. 15:22). A final principle is 5) Satisfaction in the Soul (Isa. 26:3), an inner conviction or “gut instinct,” a sense of peace from God about a possible course of action. [Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2002 Edition. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 307.]
Don’t be in a hurry and trust that the Lord knows the timeframe better than you!
CHALLENGE: “To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge; to do the will of God is the greatest achievement.” Then he added, “The will of God is not always easy, but it is always right.” Herschel H. Hobbs, My Favorite Illustrations (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1990), 124. Be a willing student and submissive servant of the Lord! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Servant verse 2, 12
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
I meditate on all YOUR works verse 5
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer for daily mercy verse 1- 12
Hear verse 1, 7, 8
Prayer verse 1
Supplication verse 1
Answer verse 1
Stretch forth hands verse 6
Thirsting for God verse 6
Lift up soul verse 8
Bring my soul out of trouble verse 11
Destroy them that afflict believers soul verse 12
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 7, 9, 11
Faithfulness of God verse 1
Righteousness of God verse 1, 11
Judge verse 2
Loving-kindness verse 8
Will of God verse 10
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 10
Mercy verse 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
YOUR Spirit is good verse 10
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemy verse 3, 9, 12
Human spirit verse 4, 7
Human soul verse 6, 8, 11, 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Persecution of believer verse 3
Smite believers verse 3
Cause believer to dwell in darkness verse 3
Overwhelmed verse 4
Desolate verse 4
Enemies of believers verse 9, 12
Afflicting soul of believers verse 12
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prayer verse 1
Supplication verse 1
Answered prayer verse 1
Servant verse 2, 12
Justified verse 2
Remember God’s past works verse 5
Meditate verse 5
Muse on the work of God’s hands verse 5
Thirsting for God verse 6
Hear loving-kindness verse 8
Trust verse 8
Walk verse 8
Lift up soul to LORD verse 8
Deliverance verse 9
Protection verse 9
Teachable verse 10
Lead verse 10
Uprightness verse 10
Quicken verse 11
Trouble verse 11
Mercy verse 12
Afflicted verse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dead verse 3
Pit (Death) verse 7
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method.
QUOTES regarding passage
Psalm 143. Two themes run through this urgent plea. The writer is pursued, crushed, “darkened,” faint, dismayed, beset, in danger of death. He urges that his foes be silenced and destroyed. He is plainly hard-pressed and frightened.
But his cry is also for mercy, relying on God’s faithfulness alone; he cannot face God’s judgment. He seeks comfort from the past, but needs a present blessing to slake his spiritual thirst. He begs for a quick answer, an early (morning) reassurance, especially that God will not turn away. He acknowledges his need to be shown God’s way, taught God’s will, helped by God’s Spirit to walk safely. He is, as plainly, spiritually despondent and penitent. (Elwell, W. A. (1995). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, Ps 143:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
2 Another reason for the urgency of God’s response lies in the psalmist’s awareness of his unrighteousness. He knows that sin is to be found in him and that God’s judgment could find him guilty and therefore condemn him to remain in his troubles (cf. 130:3). The psalmist is fully cognizant of God’s righteousness and of his own sinfulness. Therefore he appeals to the Lord’s faithfulness and righteousness (v. 1).
How contrary is this spirit to the confession of innocence in several psalms (7:3–5)! Both expressions are valid, depending on the context in which one finds himself. The confession of innocence is appropriate when one is insulted and persecuted for righteousness’s sake, and the confession of guilt is proper when confronted with one’s own frailties. The recognition of worthlessness becomes an expression of full dependence on the Lord’s mercy. Confidence may lead to spiritual pride and independence, whereas self-depreciation may lead to continual introspection and spiritual depression. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, pp. 851–852). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
In this psalm the thought of David’s spirit fainting (vv. 4, 7) is developed from the previous psalm (142:3). Psalm 143 is a prayer for deliverance and guidance. When the psalmist prayed for merciful relief from the wicked who oppressed him, he acknowledged that no living man is righteous. He desired deliverance and guidance and found encouragement from remembering God’s ways. ….
143:5–6. Yet David mustered confidence when he remembered the former days. His faith was rekindled and his spirit strengthened when he recalled the mighty works of the Lord in the past. So he prayed eagerly for the Lord to meet the needs of his hungry, thirsty (cf. 42:2) heart. The image of parched land portrays his soul’s great spiritual need at that moment, that God would come to his rescue. ….
143:8–12. The prayer in verse 7 is detailed in verses 8–12. First, he desired that the loyal love (ḥeseḏ; cf. v. 11) of the Lord lead him in the way he should go (v. 8). Second, he wanted to be rescued from his enemies (v. 9; cf. 140:1; 142:6). Third, he wanted to be taught by the Spirit of God (143:10). And fourth, David wanted to be preserved alive by God’s righteousness (cf. v. 1) and love (cf. v. 8) from his enemies (vv. 11–12). Each of these prayers was based solidly on his trust in the Lord. As God’s servant, David trusted in Him. Even though he had sinned and was now in trouble, he was confident God would guide him to safety. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 894). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Three times in verses 8–10 David prays for guidance; and each request has its own nuance. The way I should go (8b) gives slight prominence to the fact of individual destiny, i.e. that each of us is uniquely placed and called (cf. John 21:21f.). Teach me to do thy will (10a) settles the priorities, making the goal not self-fulfilment but pleasing God and finishing his work. The words lead me (10b) speak with the humility of one who knows his need of shepherding, not merely of having the right way pointed out to him. David, no less than Paul (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18), teaches us to look to God’s good spirit for this leading; in other words, for an inward work of inclining the will and awakening the mind. The plea for a level path, or more accurately ‘level land’ (the term used for the broad plateau allotted to Reuben, Deut. 4:43), implies the admission that one is prone to stumble, not only to stray. It can also be translated, in less pictorial terms, ‘the land of uprightness’, which reinforces the prayer ‘to do thy will’ (10a). (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 513). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
143:8–12. The prayer in verse 7 is detailed in verses 8–12. First, he desired that the loyal love (ḥeseḏ; cf. v. 11) of the Lord lead him in the way he should go (v. 8). Second, he wanted to be rescued from his enemies (v. 9; cf. 140:1; 142:6). Third, he wanted to be taught by the Spirit of God (143:10). And fourth, David wanted to be preserved alive by God’s righteousness (cf. v. 1) and love (cf. v. 8) from his enemies (vv. 11–12). Each of these prayers was based solidly on his trust in the Lord. As God’s servant, David trusted in Him. Even though he had sinned and was now in trouble, he was confident God would guide him to safety. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 895). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
What were the answers for which David was waiting anxiously? The same answers we want to receive today. For one thing, we want to see God’s face (v. 7). David had often heard the priestly benediction declare that God’s face would shine upon His people in gracious blessing (Num. 6:22–27), but if He was displeased, He would hide His face from them (10:1; 13:1; 69:17; 102:2). To know the shining of His face means to walk in the light of His countenance and enjoy the smile of God upon our lives, but the absence of that blessing was like a living death (28:1).
We also want to hear God’s Word (v. 8). To see His smile and hear His voice gives us the strength we need to overcome the enemy. David moved from the darkness (v. 3) to the morning and the dawning of a new day (5:3; 30:5; 59:16; 88:13; 130:6; 90:14). The Word reminded him of God’s unfailing love, and the Word strengthened his faith (Rom. 10:17) and gave him guidance on the dangerous path he had to take from the cave to the crown.
We also want the blessing of experiencing the protection of God (v. 9). Jehovah was David’s “Rock” (18:2, 31, 46; 19:14), and he hid himself in “the cleft of the Rock” (Ex. 33:22) and was safe from the enemy. “Rock of ages / Cleft for me / Let me hide myself in Thee.” Another answer we receive from the Lord is a knowledge of the will of God (v.10). His good Spirit (Neh. 9:20) teaches us from the Word and shows us the path we should take (119:105). A knowledge of God’s will gives us confidence in the difficulties of life; it keeps us going when the going gets tough. Finally, God answers prayer by helping us bring glory to His great name (vv. 11–12). “For thy name’s sake” was the great motivation of David’s life and ministry (see 1 Sam. 17:26, 36, 45–47). “Hallowed be Thy name” is the first request in the Lord’s Prayer, and it ought to be the motivation of all our prayers. David knew that he had a great work to do for the Lord, and he depended on the Lord to help him accomplish it and bring honor to His name. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., pp. 206–207). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
Ver. 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies, &c.] Either Saul and his courtiers, or Absalom and the conspirators along with him; who were many, and lively and strong, stronger than he; and therefore God only could deliver him, and to him he sought for it, and not to men; and so deliverance from spiritual enemies is only from the Lord. I flee unto thee to hide me; from their rage and fury; who was the only asylum or place of refuge for him, where he could be safe. It may be rendered, with thee have I hid; that is, myself: so Arama gives the sense, “I have hid myself with thee.” Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, interpret it to this purpose, “I have hid my affairs, my straits and troubles, my difficulties and necessities, from men; and have revealed them unto thee, who alone can save.” The Targum is, “I have appointed thy Word to be (my) Redeemer.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 300). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
He was a “nobody,” just another black man trying to get by in a white man’s world.
He probably would have remained a nobody in the U.S. had it not been for a visit by an old friend.
In 1960, the President of France and international war hero, Charles DeGaulle, visited the United States. The French President made one request to the White House: He wanted to see an old friend, a French knight whose bravery and heroics helped defend the free world.
Not knowing this man, the White House had to search for this mysterious hero – what they found was a simple, elevator operator in New York. His name was Eugene Bullard.
It was then that the U.S. began to learn about Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first African-American fighter pilot in history.
Bullard was born on October 9, 1894 in Georgia. After witnessing his father nearly lynched (and for a supposed offense, which he had never committed), he remembered that his father told him that in France, a man is accepted as a man regardless of the color of his skin. So, the young Bullard stowed away on a ship, and eventually made his way to France. When World War I broke out, he joined the French Foreign Legion, then the Aéronautique Militaire and the Lafayette Flying Corps, where he distinguished himself, becoming the first African-American fighter pilot in history. When the U.S. finally joined the war, Bullard tried to rejoin his countrymen, but despite all his military honors, he was ignored because he was black.
Bullard would be seriously wounded several times, but he never gave up his fight for freedom and justice. At the beginning of World War II, he even worked as a spy, fighting against Nazi sympathizers. In 1954, France invited him to be one of three people to relight the everlasting flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. In 1959, he was made a chevalier (knight) of the Légion d’honneur, which is France’s most coveted award.
When he finally returned to the U.S., no one knew him, and he lived in poverty and relative obscurity. The only reminders of his hero status in his humble apartment were a few photos and a framed case containing his 15 French war medals for valor.
When the French president finally got to meet the courageous French knight, he publicly and internationally embraced Eugene Bullard as a true hero.
When he died a year later, On October, 12, 1961, he was laid to rest with full honors by the Federation of French War Officers.
It would take his own country 33 years, but on August 23, 1994, Eugene Bullard was posthumously commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
Bullard “was a man who hesitated to speak of himself but one who stood on the principles of honesty and integrity. He treated everyone as he wished to be treated . . . He lived by the belief that all men were created equal and should be treated accordingly,” according to William I. Chivalette, Curator at the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute.
He is remembered for painting a red bleeding heart pierced by a knife on the fuselage of his plane. Below the heart was the inscription “Tout le Sang qui coule est rouge!” which translates to “All Blood Runs Red.”
~ Eugene Bullard, October 9, 1894 – October, 12 1961. (Thanks Frank for this story)
Paul calls his ministry the fulfillment of a “mystery.” In the Bible, a mystery is nothing mysterious but something previously unknown. The mystery was that Jews and Gentiles would join together to form a new entity-the church. This mystery was foretold by Jesus, but the details of the doctrine, walk, and destiny of the church were communicated by Paul and his fellow apostles. Now as a new thing-the body of Christ-we are all to allow Christ to live His life through us. (QuietWalk)
NO SIN
In him is no sin. 1 John 3:5
There can be no true view of salvation and of the redemption that is possible for us in the Lord Jesus Christ unless we are right about the person. That is why John used such strong and striking language in 1 John 2 when he talked about those people who were leading them astray by denying the person of our Lord. “Those antichrists,” he said in essence, “are liars, and they must be called such because they are robbing us of the whole of our salvation.” If we are wrong about the person, we shall be wrong everywhere.
So as we look at this person we are reminded again in this verse that here is one who has been in this world of ours with all its sin and its shame, but who was without sin. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He remains unique and separate. He alone is the Son of God. He is not just a great moral teacher, nor just a great religious genius. He is not one who has gone a little bit further than all others in this quest for God and for truth. No; He is the Son of God incarnate! “in him is no sin.”
But not only was there no sin in Him and in His birth, He committed no act of sin. He always honored God’s holy law; He obeyed it fully and carried it out perfectly. God gave His law to man. He intended that the law should be carried out, that it should be honored and obeyed. Let me go further and say this: No one can ever be with God and spend eternity with Him unless they have honored the law. God’s law must be kept, and without fulfilling it there is no fellowship with Him and no hope of spending eternity with Him. What God has demanded from man, man has failed to do; but here is One who does it.
A Thought to Ponder: If we are wrong about the person, we shall be wrong everywhere.
(From Children of God, pp. 53-54, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Father of Lights
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:1)
God, Himself, is both author and finisher of everything we have that is good. This, of course, is the testimony concerning His creation in the beginning, which was both “very good” and “finished” (Genesis 1:31; 2:1). The unique name “Father of lights” seems to suggest a remarkable scientific insight. Since light is the most basic form of energy, and yet is equivalent also to all other forms, and since literally everything in the physical universe is energy in some form, it is singularly appropriate to speak of the totality of all God’s good and perfect gifts in creation as “lights.” And, since all these energies are not now being created (only “conserved”), their original source can only be from the Father of lights!
There even seems to be a hint of both of the great laws of science, energy conservation as well as energy deterioration. The term “variableness,” used only here, means literally “transmutation.” Just as God is immutable, the total amount of His created “lights” is conserved—neither created nor destroyed. The Second Law states that, in all energy conversions (that is, in everything that happens), the entropy of the universe increases. “Entropy” means “in-turning,” coming from two Greek words, en and trope—the second of which is used in this verse. Entropy is a measure of disorganization, and its inexorable increase is a result of God’s curse on the creation following man’s rebellion. Thus, although the total energy of the universe is conserved (by the First Law), the available energy is decreasing (by the Second Law). Nevertheless, God Himself is not bound by this law that He has imposed, for a time, on His creation. With Him is not even a “shadow” of any “turning” (trope). God never changes, and His purposes can never be defeated! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Pastor’s Helper
Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 2 CORINTHIANS 11:29
In a famous scene from the film Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O’Hara searches for a doctor to help her sister-in-law, Melanie, who is about to give birth. As she weaves through stretcher after stretcher of bleeding, dying soldiers, the camera pans back to reveal a swath of misery—a huge square teeming with desperate, injured soldiers lying in the sun.
Finally she finds her friend Dr. Mead, who is exhausted from facing an endless parade of need and hopelessness. “Are you crazy?” he tells Scarlett. “I can’t leave these men for a baby. They’re dying. . . . Look at them, bleeding to death in front of my eyes. No chloroform, no bandages, nothing! Nothing to even ease their pain.”
That scene reminds me of the day Dr. Robert Lewis, my friend and former pastor, made the startling statement that the church staff was spending more time dealing with preventing divorce, comforting those going through a divorce and helping people recover from a divorce than with all other spiritual needs and issues combined. The consequences of this “war” were littered from one end of the church to the other—marriages shot through with deception, adultery, distrust, financial woes, and bitterness. But what could our paid ministers do among so many?
October is Pastor’s Appreciation Month, and you may not be formally trained as a counselor. You may not know the textbook definition for some of the crises people are dealing with. But what could you do to step in and serve your pastors, to relieve them of some of the weight and show some of the same “intense concern” that the apostle Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 11:29?
Rather than asking our pastors to do more, we need to come alongside and get involved. And not worry about getting a little blood on our hands. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.