Tag: God’s mercy!
Will the Lord Reject Forever?
Scripture reading for June 18th: Psalms 73-77
“Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion?” Psalm 77:7-9
When we are in trouble and seeking the Lord, it sometimes seems like the heavens are brass and God is nowhere to be found. The psalmist had been crying out to God and has only questions without answers. Satan likes to tempt us with suggestions of rejection, vanished mercy and love. What is a person to do when these negative thoughts assault us? Do we have a pity party, break out the bottle and drown our sorrows, or throw in the towel?
“Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:10-12
When our minds are renewed by the word of God, we can go back and meditate on God’s past deeds. God is faithful and has always been faithful to His people. He has delivered them again and again from situations that looked impossible. God is able and willing to save and deliver His people when they call on Him. The psalmist decided to appeal to the years of faithfulness demonstrated by God to His people by remembering miracles and mighty deeds. As the psalmist meditated, new faith and confidence began to arise in his heart!
“Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.” Psalm 77:13-15
God is holy and righteous, performing miracles. His mighty arm, Jesus Christ, is the holy and righteous one who came demonstrating God’s mercy and miraculous power. He will redeem all who come to Him in faith! He has displayed His mercy and power among all peoples through the cross of Calvary! The ultimate display of power was raising Jesus from the dead! Praise the Lord that God has not rejected us, but saved us through His Son!
Give Me a Discerning Heart!
Scripture reading for April 3rd: 1st Kings 1-4
“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1st Kings 3:5)
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1st Kings 3:9)
Solomon sacrificed a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon as he took the throne of his father David. He knew that he needed God’s wisdom and favor to govern God’s people wisely. God appeared to him in a dream and gave him a blank check–he could ask for whatever he wanted! Solomon asked for a wise and discerning heart to administer justice! God was pleased and gave him what he desired as well as riches and honor.
Immediately after this, Solomon was tested with a difficult case. Two prostitutes came before the king arguing over their baby sons. One baby had died and his mother had tried to replace the dead son with the other mother’s live son. The king gave an order to bring a sword and cut the live baby in half. The real mother had compassion and wanted to give her son away to save his life. The other mother wanted to kill the baby. Solomon awarded the live baby to the compassionate mother and all Israel marveled at his wisdom. (1st Kings 3:15-28)
Solomon grew in wisdom and insight and had great understanding. He spoke 3000 proverbs and authored over a thousand songs. He was a scientist and understood plant and animal life. People from all over the world came to hear Solomon’s wisdom.
Solomon is a type of Jesus Christ. He is a son of David. He was humble when anointed to be king. He was the wisest man who ever lived, other than Jesus Christ. Scripture says that in Jesus Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-3) We who have Christ as Savior have access to that wisdom for He was made unto us wisdom! (1st Corinthians 1:30) People from every tribe, tongue and nation are coming to Christ for wisdom and understanding!
Have you asked God for a discerning heart? Discernment is pleasing to God and so necessary in the day in which we live. This prayer is fully answered in a relationship with Jesus Christ!
Vengence Belongs to God
Scripture reading for March 24th: 1st Samuel 24-26
Revenge is common in our world today. People remember wrongs done and they don’t get mad, they just get even! This thinking is contrary to the word of God! Only God knows the heart of people perfectly. God has made each person and has a purpose for each person. When we destroy another just to get even, it is a very selfish thing to do. We take the place of God when we attempt that. That sounds like original sin and the temptation of the serpent!
David is tempted three times in three chapters and would have been considered “justified” in his actions if he had taken revenge. The first incident involved King Saul hunting him to try and take his life. David and his men were hiding in a cave and Saul came into the cave to relieve himself. David’s men urged him to kill Saul but instead, he went and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Even this act caused David to speak God’s heart! “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” (1st Samuel 24:6)
The second incident involve a man named Nabal. This man insulted David and his companions after they had protected them in the wilds of the Judean wilderness. It was customary to show some gratitude by helping out with food because of the kindness, but Nabal was foolish and selfish. David was insulted and called his men to strap on their swords to get even. Nabal’s wife Abigail was wise and interceded for her foolish husband. David was moved by her humility and God spoke to him again through her about revenge. “May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.” (1st Samuel 25:33)
In the chapter 26, David is again offered the opportunity to kill Saul as he hunts David yet again. David has learned to trust that God will either get even in his own time, or show mercy. (1st Samuel 26:9-11) Would you take time today to examine your own heart for feelings of revenge? “As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1st Samuel 26:24)
The power of prayer!
Scripture reading for July 28th: Isaiah 36-39
In Isaiah 38 we have the record of an interesting incident in the life of a good king of Israel, Hezekiah. Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The Lord sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him to get his house in order because he was going to die. (Isaiah 38:1) God told this man that his time was up on earth! Who are we to argue with what God says?
In the next verse, we find Hezekiah turning his face to the wall. He humbly prayed to the Lord a simple prayer and wept bitterly. “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” (Isaiah 38:2) Isaiah then heard the Lord speak to him again. He was to go back to Hezekiah and tell him that the Lord had heard his prayer and seen his tears and would add 15 years to his life. The Lord also assured him that He would deliver the king and Jerusalem from the Assyrians. (Isaiah 38:4-6)
God also gave Hezekiah a special sign of His favor and mercy. He made the sunlight go back ten steps on the staircase of Ahaz. As God had promised more time, He demonstrated His power to turn back the clock! Wow, what an amazing God we serve! What a powerful answer to prayer and what grace for a visual sign of the answer!
This record seems so easy! But there are several things to note that are instructive for us. First, Hezekiah simply reminded God of his life of faith! (James 5:16) He had lived by faith for many years and had a habit of trusting God. What a good record to draw on! Second, Hezekiah was sincere and did not just put on a show. He was real with God about his feelings and desire. Third, he did not demand anything from God, but simply appealed to the one who held His life in His hands. God answered because he heard the prayer and saw the tears! (Isaiah 38:5) God saw a sincere heart of faith and it moved Him. Faith always moves God! (Mark 11:22-24) Faith pleases God like nothing else! (Hebrews 11:6) Jesus asked in respect to prayer if He would find faith on earth when He came again. (Luke 18:8)
If you are facing an impossible situation today, try simply asking God like Hezekiah of old. Trust Him to hear and answer! Here is Hezekiah’s response to God’s grace: “But what can I say: He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Isaiah 38:15-17