Do not be like the hypocrites!

God loves people that are genuine. He knows who they are and what they look like. He can tell the difference between someone who is putting on a good show, and those who are seriously following Him. He knows what genuine prayer is like, genuine kindness and genuine devotion. Those who truly love God are genuine and they do not pay much attention about what others think of them, for they have understood that what God sees in them is much more important. They are God-pleasers not people pleasers because they genuinely do their best to put God first. Some people are not like this and even use faith based activities like prayer or fasting to try to impress others rather than focusing on God. Here is what Jesus has to say about that;

Matthew 6:16–24 (ESV): 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

How you appear to God is far more important than how man sees you. Do not put on appearances for people, but spend more time preparing your mind and heart to meet with God. Then you will avoid being a hypocrite. It is easy to become one, saying and doing things that are good principles but not following them through in your own life. It is like someone telling others not to smoke because it is bad for you, and doing it themselves. Here Jesus calls people hypocrites who go without food (fast) but are making a show of it by ensuring that they look hungry and miserable. It seems that they even forgo washing as well just to make sure people know that they are without food (v17). This is not what God desires from fasting. For those giving up food in this way are not putting God first or being genuine in their faith. 

Fasting is giving up food for a period of time to show reliance on God, get closer to Him, spend usual eating times thinking about Him, praying, and reading Scripture. It is a chance to show how much you depend on God for your survival and comfort depend on Him when you fast. You will feel physical hunger, but denying that in order to set aside comfort to focus on God is a good thing. It shows humility before God and reliance on Him to fulfill your every need. This is genuine faith. Fasting is an opportunity to focus on God, spend time with Him, listen and speak to Him and show loyalty and love to Him. You know and God know if this is your attitude when you fast. Fasting is about putting God first, above even your physical needs to remember who really is the most important One.

As a follower of God, you should have times of fasting in your life. Jesus expects you to. So, when you do, do not make a fuss, do not tell everyone about it, just get on with it and honour God in it. Get on with your life as usual, wash, dress yourself as normal and make an effort during the fast to be kind and loving to others, not allowing hunger to impact your emotions or responses. There is no point trying to do something for God if you are going to do it in a manner that dishonours Him, so you need to be mindful of your reactions during fasting times and continue to honour God by loving the people around you, otherwise you can fall into the hypocrite category.

Although Jesus says that ‘your fasting may not be seen by others’ it does not mean that you should not fast as a church about a matter, or as a group praying about an issue. For as you do others will be aware that you are taking part. This is not the situation that Jesus is talking about in this passage. Jesus is talking about when you personally decide to fast, do not boast about it, but be genuine. Jesus is clear that when you fast, God does not want you to make a fuss about it. Just get on with life and the people around you, you should be able to fast and be yourself. The ‘hypocrites’ go about their daily lives doing it wearing expressions of misery and moaning about how hungry they are, they maybe even fast washing so that everyone they meet can ask what was wrong, and they may excuse their being snappy or angry with hunger. This is not behaviour that God approves, and He calls it hypocrisy, Do not be like that. 

Fasting is hard. You deny yourself food for a set time to honour God. This includes what you put in your mouth and what comes out of it. Your behaviour and interactions with others matter just as much as your dedication to fasting. Just because you are hungry it does not mean it is ok to be rude or unkind, you will have to manage your attitude. It is difficult, but not impossibile as you have a great God that you can rely on for the strength you do not have. To truly fast, you put God first, no-one or nothing else. It is an act of humility, love and dedication to Him, so when you next choose to fast check your attitude and desires before you begin for it is not easy, and you want to ensure that you will honour God in it. 

Listen and Obey

 When Jesus was born he was honoured by wise men from another land, the Roman governor hears this baby being referred to as ‘king of the Jews’, angels and divine dreams were involved - not many other births have been heralded in this way! It is amazing how the heavenly realms were so involved in letting the people of Earth know who this child was even before he was born. It isn’t just at Jesus birth that supernatural and heavenly things happen. The next passage continues to explain another intervention of God into Jesus’ life when he was still young, and we shall consider the impact this has on Joseph, Mary and Jesus;

 2:13–18 (ESV): 

13 Now when they (the wise men) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 

 18  “A voice was heard in Ramah, 

weeping and loud lamentation, 

  Rachel weeping for her children; 

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” 

The wise men had obeyed God by not telling Herod about where Jesus was and heading home in a different direction. This made Herod furious as he had to think of a plan to not be usurped by this ‘king of the Jews’ that had been born. God knows the hearts, minds and plans of all, so he knew what Herod’s next move would be. God then warns Joseph and gives him clear instructions to run away to Egypt. This would have been confusing and difficult for Joseph and Mary. They would probably just be getting used to bringing up their son by then, settled into navigating newly married life and becoming parents, and God says go. Joseph did not delay, he did not understand why, but he obeyed God straight away. Joseph trusted that God’s way was right, even though i am sure the last thing Jospeh wanted to do was upheave his small, young family and head off to another nation. It does not always seem convenient when God speaks and tells you to do something, but do you obey anyway like Joseph did? 

Jospeh heard God, and got ready to leave without knowing what was going to occur in the area. Joseph went ‘by night’ to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. I wonder what she made of the decision. I wonder if she just followed her husband because she knew how Joseph had been obedient and faithful before through a dream. She knew the character of Joseph, so did she just compliantly go? Mary and Joseph are a great example of a God-fearing couple. Upheaving their lives because God says so, saying “yes” to God seems to be their motivation, and look at the impact they have had on the World! They even went to Egypt, the place God has commanded His people not to go to, ‘The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day’ (Jeremiah 42:19). Joseph would have known this command of God from the Old Testament. Joseph was clearly a devout Jew, so would have been aware of what the Scriptures taught. ‘Do not go to Egypt’ is clear, and God says it is a warning, yet now God is commanding this newly formed family to go to a place they have no community support, to a place they are not meant to be as God’s people. Maybe Joseph obeyed because he knew God had spoken and he had already seen God do some unusual things like make a virgin pregnant and send foreign men to give gifts to Jesus. So, maybe Joseph didn’t overthink too much and just knew he had to do what God said to do now. Sometimes we can over complicate things and persuade ourselves that maybe God didn’t really mean…. maybe he meant i should do that sometime…or maybe i just didn’t hear right. Joseph did not allow his own thoughts, concerns or history dictate what God could do now. He listened and obeyed, Mary trusted and followed, Do you?

Look at the pain and grief Mary and Joseph were spared because they were obedient to God’s voice. Have you ever thought, that when you obey God’s Word it can save you from pain and distress? When you hear God speak, maybe through; angels, dreams, visions, stirring in your Spirit, other people, an audible voice, reading the Bible, through natural things or events, do you realise that His commands and words are for your benefit? It may be hard, you probably won’t really want to do it, but do you realise that through your obedience you can escape some of the hurt that is coming. Mary and Joseph in the moment would have realised the inconvenience and disruption, they even left at night which would have been scary and felt sneaky. They would have felt uncomfortable going to Egypt, a place where God had previously said he didn’t want His people going, they had no idea where they could stay, they could only take with them what they could carry on the long journey (at least a week), plus they had a small child with them!  Yet, even though they likely had all of these thoughts and concerns they trusted and followed God. The outcome was that although all of the nation then suffered immense grief as all of the male children under 2 were killed, Jesus was safe. Joseph and Mary were spared the pain of losing the child given to them because they  did what God had told them. 

When God tells you to do or not to do something, do you realise that it is for yuor benefit, more for your benefit than what you want to do or are already doing? God knows best. He sees the future and He cares about you, that is why He speaks to you, ignore Him at your peril! God wants your best, are you iiving your best life - one that is in humble submission and obedience to God? Joseph and Mary had trouble and disruption, confusion and promise in their lives. They continually trusted and followed God whatever He said next, even when it seemed ridiculous and strange. Will you do the same?

The character of Joseph

Having set the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew goes onto speak about his conception and birth. For the circumstances of the pregnancy and birth of this child were most unusual and miraculous:

Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV):

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 

 23  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, 

and they shall call his name Immanuel” 

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. 

This passage of Scripture shows a humble and righteous man in Joseph. He had probably waited for quite some time before getting to officially marry Mary, the betrothal process taking up to 2 years. In Israel at this time betrothal was a long period to allow for negotiations about bride price and arrangements for the marriage to be made. It was not a private agreement between two people either, families and the wider community would be aware when a man and woman were joined together in this way. During betrothal the couple were considered legally bound to one another already, it is much more than what we may understand an engagement to be. Betrothal is an official agreement, already binding two people together that can only be broken through divorce. It is a serious commitment, and this is what Joseph and Mary had entered into. This makes the circumstances of Mary becoming pregnant so serious and devastating for them both.

During this process of betrothal Joseph finds that his promised wife is pregnant. Not only that, but she has a most unusual story as to how! No wonder he initially thought about divorcing her, she not only has been unfaithful, but is lying about it. However, Joseph did not act rashly, he considered what to do. He clearly loved Mary as he was ‘unwilling to put her to shame’, he knew what treatment would befall her as an unmarried mother. Joseph, simply referred to as a ‘just man’ acted in a respectful and honourable manner towards Mary when he did not need to. Society would likely have responded in a very different way. If she wasn’t stoned to death, Mary would at least have been ostracised. Joseph did not want that for her. Instead, he chose to love her even in the way he ‘resolved’ what action to take. He could have humiliated and shamed Mary in front of her family and the whole community, yet he honours her instead. Even though Joseph must have been heartbroken; the promise of a wife, the awaited union, the hope of family to come, all shattered as he finds out his betrothed is pregnant and he had nothing to do with it. Yet Joseph did not act out of anger or fear, or even in concern for his reputation. Instead he considered and determined his course of action. This shows he was an honourable and considerate man, sensible, not prone to anger, and he didn’t just go along with cultural norms. Joseph desired to do the right thing by himself, Mary, and his community. Even before the angel appeared to him, we can see Joseph is a kind, generous and considered man who is slow to anger. He would make a good husband and father with those qualities, no wonder God chose him.

Then, the angel comes. The circumstances of the pregnancy are revealed, and Joseph, despite his own reservations, concerns and the likely whisperings of society, is obedient to God. He did as the angel told him as soon as he woke up! He had considered and delayed his course of action before then, but as soon as he knew God had spoken, he acted. What faith and faithfulness! He did the unthinkable really, he married a pregnant young woman who was not carrying his child! Yet he did it because God said so. It would not have been easy for Joseph. He would have had awkward conversations as Mary’s pregnancy became more obvious, there would be rumours, his reputation would be called into question as well as Mary’s. It must have been difficult for them both. However, both Joseph and Mary knew what had happened and were obedient to God, even though it was scary and they didn’t know who would believe them. 

Not only was Joseph obedient in marrying Mary, but even after the official wedding ceremony is complete, Joseph chooses not to consummate their marriage until after Jesus is born. He respects God so much that he puts aside himself, his rights and desires, in order to honour both God and Mary. What a humble, sacrificial man. Joseph shows himself to be a man committed to God and doing the right thing, even at his own expense. Kind, generous and faith-filled, obedient, slow to anger, considered and considerate. It is not surprising that God chose him to be the earthly father to His son. Out of painful and difficult circumstances, Joseph got to help mould and develop the Son of God. We can see that as a great privilege, which i am sure it was, but it did not come without pain and difficulty. Joseph was willing to deny himself in order to honour God and others. If you want to make an impact in the World for God’s Kingdom, are you willing to do the same; to be obedient to God even when it is inconvenient, painful and cross-cultural? God can call you to do some amazing things, but do you have the right character for it? Joseph did.

Your life matters

Jesus was born as a baby, to a real family, with real heritage and a list of forefathers, like yourself. Some were good godly people, some weren’t, some have impressive stories to tell, others seem to be just names in a list. Yet they were all related to The Son of God. They didn’t know it, but their life meant something special. They all had to live because of the the plan of God for The Messiah to come. If one person was missing, then Jesus could not have been born in this family line. Your life also means something, you matter. You are fulfilling something of the purpose of God just because you are breathing! God can do something through you and after you that is so special that it changes the lives and purpose of people to come. Are you living like your life matters? 

You exist now because God planned it. You have a part to play in the kingdom of God being displayed on Earth in your generation and for future ones. It doesn’t matter if you know your heritage ir not, but your life counts. All of the names in the list of Jesus’ genealogy, whether we know the story of their lives or not matter, so do you. 

As you read the genealogy of Jesus below, you may recognise some names, you may not, but be encouraged that they were all important. Without them, the next generation would not come, each person had a part to play in God’s purposes being fulfilled, and the birth of the Messiah, Jesus.

Matthew 1:1–17 (ESV): 

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. 

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. 

Isn’t it incredible how God plans things?! The beauty of the time line and number of generations between different stages of Israel’s history. All of it significant because of the salvation that God has always fought for for His people. There are generations of; captives, prophets, warriors, kings, men, women, rich, poor, working class, good men, evil men, foreigners (Gentiles), and Jews that led to the birth of Jesus. Jesus was descended from Abraham - the father of the nation, he was also born form the lineage that included women from other nations like Rahab and Ruth, whom had been grafted into the nation of Israel because of their love and respect of God. Even Jesus’ genealogy demonstrates God’s acceptance and elevation of people. It demonstrates His acceptance of those who were once far off, that they too can be loved and valued as part of His kingdom. It also shows quite simply that Jesus really was human! He was born into a family with a known history, a mixed one at that full of ups and downs, faithful and unfaithful people, probably like yours. All of these people are linked through blood to culminate in not just a great king’s life like David’s, but the son of David and the son of Abraham - the Lord Jesus Christ - The Son of God! 

Each person’s life previously had led to this moment, the birth of The Messiah, Jesus! The people in his heritage matter because they existed, Jesus’ geneaology proves that whatever your lineage, or place in the generations, God can redeem all things. Jesus descended from foreigners, prophets, exiles, kings, fathers, faithful and unfaithful people. You do not have to live the same life as your forefathers, you can redeem or build on what has gone before. God wants to demonstrate His love and power in and through your life and for the generations to come. Your life matters. You have the opportunity to re-write the history of your family if that is needed and to leave the investment of a story of faith for the future generations. So how you live and the choices you make today matter, what will your legacy be for the people who come after you? 

What do you trust in?

 Psalm 146:1–10 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

 Praise the Lord, O my soul! 

 2  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

 3  Put not your trust in princes, 

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 

 4  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; 

on that very day his plans perish. 

 5  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

whose hope is in the Lord his God, 

 6  who made heaven and earth, 

the sea, and all that is in them, 

  who keeps faith forever; 

 7  who executes justice for the oppressed, 

who gives food to the hungry. 

  The Lord sets the prisoners free; 

 8  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. 

  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; 

the Lord loves the righteous. 

 9  The Lord watches over the sojourners; 

he upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

 10  The Lord will reign forever, 

your God, O Zion, to all generations. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What do you trust in?

Are there things and people that you trust in other than God? Material goods will break or rust, and people at some point will let you down. Nothing and no-one else can offer you the salvation you need. People may be able to help you out for a bit, even for as long as they live, but eventually their support will end and run out. What then? 

Only God is everlasting and ever-loving. His love, favour, grace, compassion, comfort and support will never die. He ‘keeps faith forever’! He executes justice and gives food to the hungry, He sets people free and heals, He lifts up those who are down, looks out for travellers and takes especial care of the fatherless and widow. Whatever it is you need God can provide - are you asking Him to? He never runs out, He never gets fed up of hearing your pleas, even if they are the same ones. His breath will never end, His plans will never fade or be forgotten. He will be there whenever you call upon Him.

Are you totally trusting in God? God has everything in His mighty hands. You don’t need to take responsibility for solving all of the issues and problems that you see, or depend on other people or things to solve the difficulties that you face. Instead you can trust God with them. God has the power, resources, knowledge, compassion and kindness that you need. In times when you feel unsettled, where do you run to? Is there a particular person that you call, or an activity that you do to try yo make you feel better? Have you tried praying and reflecting on who God is instead? For ‘Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God’. This does not mean that you shouldn't talk to people about what is going on, or never do anything other than pray, but what is your first response? Nothing and no-one else can bless your life and give you eternal hope like God can. So, ‘put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation’ but hope in the Lord your God who will reign forever. God has made all of creation, and He has kept it running for however long the world has existed for, He reliably causes the sun to rise and set each day, so He can take care of you and your life, and those you care about. Hope in Him. The 'Lord loves the righteous', think about those you love and what you would do for them, then consider that God loves you the same way, so why not trust in Him?

Being real

 Psalm 145:1–21 (ESV):  

1  I will extol you, my God and King, 

and bless your name forever and ever. 

 2  Every day I will bless you 

and praise your name forever and ever. 

 3  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, 

and his greatness is unsearchable. 

 4  One generation shall commend your works to another, 

and shall declare your mighty acts. 

 5  On the glorious splendour of your majesty, 

and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 

 6  They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, 

and I will declare your greatness. 

 7  They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness 

and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 

 8  The Lord is gracious and merciful, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

 9  The Lord is good to all, 

and his mercy is over all that he has made. 

 10  All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, 

and all your saints shall bless you! 

 11  They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom 

and tell of your power, 

 12  to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, 

and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. 

 13  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 

and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 

  [The Lord is faithful in all his words 

and kind in all his works.] 

 14  The Lord upholds all who are falling 

and raises up all who are bowed down. 

 15  The eyes of all look to you, 

and you give them their food in due season. 

 16  You open your hand; 

you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

 17  The Lord is righteous in all his ways 

and kind in all his works. 

 18  The Lord is near to all who call on him, 

to all who call on him in truth. 

 19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; 

he also hears their cry and saves them. 

 20  The Lord preserves all who love him, 

but all the wicked he will destroy. 

 21  My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, 

and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. 

This psalm tells us that God; is your King, He is great, deserves praise, He is unsearchable, has done great things, He is known from generation to generation for His great deeds. He is glorious and splendid, righteous, gracious and merciful, He is slow to anger and His love is enduring and never-ending. What a Father in Heaven we have! Verse 10 then simply states, ‘All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you’. Everything God has made and done somehow thanks God for His goodness, Jesus declares that 'the very stones would cry out' If his disciples did not rejoice in and praise God (Luke 19:40), isn't that an interesting thought. I wonder what the praise of rocks would be like, or the worship of trees and the songs of the weather. If God's people do not glorify God, then all of God's works will praise Him somehow. So, are you giving thanks to God and blessing Him, or are you leaving it to the stones? 

I know life gets you down at times, and you may struggle to see the positive, but God hasn’t changed. He is still King, He is is still glorious, mighty, merciful, gracious and never-ending in His love for you. You have a duty as His child to show your gratitude, and to, ‘make known to the children of man’ His mighty deeds. Are you? What do others see and hear about God in your life? If you are busy moaning about how tough life is, what are they going to think about God? You can change the way you speak about such times through being grateful that God is sustaining you, and that you have an everlasting hope because of Jesus. Consider what you are sharing with others, it is great to be real about what is going on for you, but what is your overarching story? Is it that God is in control, glorious and powerful, or is it something else? Also, how honest are you with people about your life? Do you really share about what is going on for you, the highs and lows? People need to see that you experience both otherwise they will think a life with God is unreal and unachievable for them. When life is hard, through living your life transparently amongst others you can show that ‘The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down’. If you pretend all is well all of the time, what are they going to think about you and about God? 

You have a duty to demonstrate God's love and power in your life to others - to believers and not-yet-believers. That means being real about the struggles you face and the joys, demonstrating that you have One you are hoping in who is dependable, loving, generous and trustworthy. It is then that others will see the beautiful reality that God is real, relevant and interested in the lives of everyday people. When you lack resources, but are sustained, are you sharing that with others so that they see that God is the one that opens His hands to you and satisfies you? When you get brilliant news, do you share that with others letting them know that God is the source of that blessing? Your life and the way you talk about it should inspire people to believe in Him as you do, to trust Him and make Him their Lord and saviour as you have. So, what do people see of God from the way you live, and the way you talk about your faith in Him? 

Search me O God

Psalm 139:1–24 (ESV):  

1  O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 

 2  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 

you discern my thoughts from afar. 

 3  You search out my path and my lying down 

and are acquainted with all my ways. 

 4  Even before a word is on my tongue, 

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 

 5  You hem me in, behind and before, 

and lay your hand upon me. 

 6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 

it is high; I cannot attain it. 

 7  Where shall I go from your Spirit? 

Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

 8  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! 

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

 9  If I take the wings of the morning 

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

 10  even there your hand shall lead me, 

and your right hand shall hold me. 

 11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, 

and the light about me be night,” 

 12  even the darkness is not dark to you; 

the night is bright as the day, 

for darkness is as light with you. 

 13  For you formed my inward parts; 

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 

 14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

  Wonderful are your works; 

my soul knows it very well. 

 15  My frame was not hidden from you, 

  when I was being made in secret, 

intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

 16  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; 

  in your book were written, every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet there was none of them. 

 17  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 

How vast is the sum of them! 

 18  If I would count them, they are more than the sand. 

I awake, and I am still with you. 

 19  Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! 

O men of blood, depart from me! 

 20  They speak against you with malicious intent; 

your enemies take your name in vain. 

 21  Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? 

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 

 22  I hate them with complete hatred; 

I count them my enemies. 

 23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! 

Try me and know my thoughts! 

 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting! 

Have you ever asked God to ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!’? Or does that idea terrify you? David must have been completely confident in his righteousness as he wrote this psalm. He asked God to search him, and he was prepared to act on anything that God would highlight as ‘grievous’ - What faith! David clearly had confidence to approach God like this, and totally trusted in the goodness, righteousness and mercy of the One he spoke to. He understood that God is holy and pure, and so who better to search and know him, and point out any wrongdoing than someone who is purely good. This demonstrates David’s deep desire to live a life in line with God’s ways and precepts. He is prepared to allow God to pinpoint where he is going wrong, because he knows it is better for him. Plus it will benefit those he loves and leads as he becomes a better follower of God. So he completely trusts and even asks God to have a critical look at his whole life. This would mean his; actions, inactions, thought processes and decisions. David knows that God can ‘discern my thoughts from afar…. and are acquainted with all my ways’. David knows he can trust God and invites Him to show him what He sees. Often we are not very good at judging ourselves, either being too critical or too lenient in our self-assessments, so much better to ask Father God who intimately knows and loves you, He will give you a real and just appraisal!

David knows that because God really knows him; his design, thoughts, speech, heart, desires, ways, patterns of work and rest, God can truly judge. God knows all of these things, and still loves David. The same is true for you. David knows that God sees where he goes whether near or far, in the open or hidden, in darkness or daytime - God knows all of it! The same is true for you. Nothing is hidden or unknown to Him. God knows, loves and understands you better than you even know yourself. So who better to ask to search and know you? Who better to ask what you should do, say, or if you are thinking right? 

When you find things confusing or are unsure whether you should have said or done something, go to God. Ask Him about it. Ask Him to, 'Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts'. For He will tell you the truth. God is good and pure, and He knows and loves you. His response will be upright and just, He will lead and guide you, admonish and uplift you so that you can learn to follow Him better. Other people can give you ideas, opinions, correction and affirmation, but there is only One who knows you well enough to really understand and see beyond the surface. It should not be a scary thing to go to God asking Him to search you, know your heart, and your thoughts. He loves you and has invited you to live for eternity with Him. So you can confidently ask Him to reveal things in you because He will do it with kindness and love. He does not seek to hurt or harm you - look at all the times He has protected and fought for you. Instead God will listen, speak to you, and give you good direction. He will heal your heart and your mind if you ask Him to, and will lead you into ‘the way everlasting’. Is that where you want to go? Are you willing for God to search your heart and mind so that you can live as a better follower?

Mountain of God

 Psalm 125:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, 

which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 

 2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so the Lord surrounds his people, 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

 3  For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest 

on the land allotted to the righteous, 

  lest the righteous stretch out 

their hands to do wrong. 

 4  Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, 

and to those who are upright in their hearts! 

 5  But those who turn aside to their crooked ways 

the Lord will lead away with evildoers! 

Peace be upon Israel! 

Those who believe in God are like a mountain - formidable, unmovable, and constant. God’s people have constancy and permanence, reassurance and companionship, because together they cannot be moved and they are going to withstand, forever! When you gather with other believers, you are joining something abiding and immoveable, constant and eternal. If you need permanence and reassurance in your life, surely this gives you inspiration and hope. God's people, His church are like a mountain, secure and everlasting. Since the beginning, there have been God' people on the Earth, and no matter the problems, persecution and temptations that come, there is always a faithful remnant that remain as solid, faithful and constant as a mountain. Are you one such believer?

Not only are the people of God a magnificent mountain, but they also have the certainty and protection of God supporting and surrounding them too, as God is described in this psalm as a range of mountains (v1-2). God enhances His people’s solidarity as He provides security by His presence. He is bigger, greater and all encompassing, now and forever! God constantly and reliably surrounds His people for their security, safety and protection. This psalm provides an assurance of God’s continuous presence with His people. So, if you ever feel unsure or unsettled, recall to your mind that God’s people are ‘like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved', surrounded by the love and faithfulness of God 'forevermore'. 

Another guarantee in this psalm is that ‘the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous’. There will be wickedness in existence, that is sure, but it does not have permission to become permanent in the places given to God’s people. Righteous people have an awareness of, and come across wickedness in their lives, yet they are not surrounded by it, for they are already surrounded - by the constant, protective, eternal Almighty God! Sometimes as God’s people, we forget that. It can be easy to see evil practices and wickedness, as it is different and unacceptable to the way of God, so it stands out like a stain on a garment. Yet, it is only a blot, and although noticeable does not effect the function of the garment. The stain can be removed, it is not permanent and does not need to effect the rest of the clothing. Sometimes we see wickedness as obviously as a stain, and focus on this, rather than looking at the stability and faithfulness of the godly believers. Those who are surrounded by the love, care and protection of the best stain remover there is! The reality, as described in this psalm, is that sin and wickedness are not permanent features in the 'land allotted to the righteous'. So do not get distracted by the influence of evil or the impact of sin. Do not get sidetracked yourself by doing what you know you shouldn't, but if you do, thank God that through Jesus every blot and stain can be removed from your life. It has no permanence for God has dealt with it all through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Temptation is difficult to combat, but the New Testament promises us that when you ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7). Evil cannot remain amongst God’s people, although this psalm recognises that some will be ‘lead away with evildoers’. don’t let that be you - remain on the mountain, resist the devil, and remain faithful to God. It is up to you whether you remain within the mountain of believers, surrounded by the security of God's love, constancy and forgiveness, or ‘turn aside’ to the influences of evil around you. Righteousness leads to becoming a mountain with fellow believers. Going astray leads to instability and unrest. Where do you choose to dwell? Are you settling your life onto the mountain of believers, surrounded by the love, power and constancy of God? 

Do you fear the Lord?

Psalm 112:1–10 (ESV): 

1 Praise the Lord! 

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, 

who greatly delights in his commandments! 

 2  His offspring will be mighty in the land; 

the generation of the upright will be blessed. 

 3  Wealth and riches are in his house, 

and his righteousness endures forever. 

 4  Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; 

he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 

 5  It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; 

who conducts his affairs with justice. 

 6  For the righteous will never be moved; 

he will be remembered forever. 

 7  He is not afraid of bad news; 

his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 

 8  His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, 

until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 

 9  He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; 

his righteousness endures forever; 

his horn is exalted in honour. 

 10  The wicked man sees it and is angry; 

he gnashes his teeth and melts away; 

the desire of the wicked will perish! 

‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!’ What does it really mean to live as one who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments? A person who fears the Lord is not just a good, happy person who says that they know there is a God. The person who ‘fears the Lord’ is someone who is in awe of God and faithfully obeys Him, in the big and that small matters. Are you such a person? 

It is important to consider this as the psalm states, ‘blessed is the man who fears the Lord’. There is an automatic, guaranteed favour upon those who fear God. This includes a blessing upon their children - they will be mighty, plus their generation will be blessed! All because a person fears the Lord. So if you want to make an impact in the world, want your children to be mighty, and you want to have a positive influence in your generation - learn how to fear the Lord! Helpfully, this psalm gives some indicators as to what someone who fears God looks like, so that you can be someone who is blessed of God who influences generations.

One of the first elements that is expressed of such a person is, ‘Light dawns in the darkness for the upright’. Oh dear, that doesn’t sound much fun does it?! There will be darkness for the one who fears God. At times it will feel scary, confusing and difficult for there will be dark times. Yet when the upright one demonsrtates grace, mercy and righteousness, light will dawn (v4). This is not saying the light will obliterate the pain and difficulty of the dark times, but that one who fears God will come to notice a measure of light. A direction, help and hope which will, in time, transform the darkness just like the dawn does. For the dawn doesn’t remain a glimmer, but it is the beginning of the assurance that a new day is arriving. For the righteous person, when they remain gracious, merciful and righteous throughout the difficult dark times, they demonstrate their faith and fear of the Lord God through conducting themselves in a right manner. Their faith and godly conduct brings an undeniable hope and assurance that is set not on what is around them, but who they know is above them. The person who fears God is someone who is seen as faithful and good throughout the good and the bad seasons. This reminds me that the New Testament says, ‘by their fruits you shall know them’ (Matthew 7:16). This means that you can tell what type of person someone is, not for what they say, but by the results of their words and actions. For when someone produces good fruit, it is because they are healthy and good on the inside. Their faith is genuine and their fear of God real. This psalm expresses the same thing. You can tell if a person lives the faith they profess if they continue to pursue righteousness, grace and mercy throughout the tough times. When you are under pressure, and see that you are in the darkness, do you maintain your integrity? Do you steadfastly believe and trust in God, remaining righteous, gracious and merciful to those around you, ready to forgive and love? This is the way of the one who fears the Lord.

The one who fears God also considers carefully how they handle money. ‘It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.’ Being a good steward of the resources you have is important to God, and so it should be to you too. Do you deal fairly with money? Are you honest about the taxes you pay, the way you lend or borrow? Do you pay people back, and are you generous with what you have? If someone were to look at your bank account today, how would you feel, and what would they see? Your bank account reveals what you value as you spend money on the things that you deem necessary and important. So, does the way you handle money reflect the values of God? He wants to give His righteous ones ‘wealth and riches’, could God trust you with handling such favour well, for the glory of His kingdom?

Next, how do you respond to bad news? Whether that is national, international, or personal bad news. What is your reaction?  Some people become full of fear and grief and these emotions dictate their response. Although it is natural to have emotional responses to the things that occur, is your faith affected? ‘For the righteous will never be moved’. No matter what hits the one who fears the Lord, their trust in God, faith and faithfulness will not falter. They will get emotionally and physically impacted, but they do not let their emotions overcome them. Instead their emotions are overcome by faith. Their hearts are firm not because of circumstance, not because they do not feel anything, or that they do not experience difficulties, but because they trust in God more than anything else. So what directs your responses when tragic news comes? You can be overwhelmed, hurt and disappointed, but do those emotions direct your actions, or does faith in God? Even when it does not make sense to you, even when you are in deep pain, what is the guiding factor in your responses - are feelings or faith in control? You can have a heart that is steady and free from fear (v8) when the only One you fear is the Lord God as then you will never be moved.

The one who fears the Lord will also demonstrate concern and support for others, namely the poor. Do you notice those people and show care to them? This psalm simply says that the one who fears God, ‘has given freely to the poor’. They pay attention to those less well off than themselves, and give to them without expecting anything in return. Throughout scripture we can see that God highly values the poor. He has deep regard and consideration for them, and so as one who fears Him, your response should reflect His. God has been generous, loving and giving to each of us, and so by taking care of others who need it, we have the great privilege of demonstrating a small part of who God is by generously sharing what He given you. 

In all of your affairs, as someone who fears the Lord, conduct them in righteousness, and generosity. Do what is right. There are no elements of life that are excluded from God’s expectation that you behave in a righteous manner. He expects those who fear Him to live lives of integrity, no matter the twists and turns they experience. When a man or woman of God lives in this way, they show that they are moved only by Almighty God. People can try and catch them out, but only righteousness, generosity, grace and mercy are revealed. No wonder their generation and future generations are blessed! ‘Blessed is the man who fears the Lord’! - will that be your story?

Israelites, sheep and faith

 Psalm 95:1–11 (ESV): 

95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; 

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 

 2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 

 3  For the Lord is a great God, 

and a great King above all gods. 

 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth; 

the heights of the mountains are his also. 

 5  The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land. 

 6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; 

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 

 7  For he is our God, 

and we are the people of his pasture, 

and the sheep of his hand. 

  Today, if you hear his voice, 

 8  do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, 

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 

 9  when your fathers put me to the test 

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 

 10  For forty years I loathed that generation 

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, 

and they have not known my ways.” 

 11  Therefore I swore in my wrath, 

“They shall not enter my rest.” 

At the beginning of the psalm you may notice the repetition of the phrase ‘let us’. Yet this is not used to ask for permission to do something, but rather the Israelites are encouraging one another TO do something. They are calling each other to worship God. Reminding one another that God is Lord, He is Saviour and He is worthy to be thanked and praised because, ‘the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods’. There is no-one and nothing like Him. He is supreme. He alone created the deepest and highest parts of the world, no-one else has. He also made the seas and the land, all the expanse that we see, and that we do not - God crafted it all. Therefore how can any other power or person ever have authority over Him?! He is ‘a great King above all gods’. Other things may claim power, seem great, make great boasts or be assertive and convincing, but none can even stand before the great King of all. It is good for us to remind ourselves of this. and to encourage one another to worship the One who deserves it. It is easy to lose focus, get distracted or feel down about circumstances and so not feel like worshipping. At times you need other godly men and women to call you to worship to say to you, ‘let us sing’, ‘let us make a joyful noise’, ‘let us come into his presence’, and you need to do this for others too.. There is no reason great enough for you to withhold worship to ‘the Lord, our Maker!’. Who keeps you to account and keeps calling you to worship God? ’the Lord is a great God’ all of the time therefore you can sing, dance, pray, praise and be joyful always because that truth always remains. The fact the God is great is so powerful and strong a truth, that when you really think about it you cannot help but ‘make a joyful noise’!

God is the Maker, He not only made all of the Earth, but he also made you. Therefore He is THE God and He is YOUR God - the only One in supreme authority, plus He makes it personal, He is your God, for you and with you plus you can have relationship with Him. Yet the relationship is not equal - He is your shepherd for you are like a sheep before Him - helpless, fluffy and vulnerable. You need looking after, guiding, carrying, and even telling off sometimes. Do not be like the Israelites by becoming stubborn and hardening your heart (v8). You are vulnerable and weak before God, you do need Him. Do you allow God to guide, correct and carry you? Or are you too intent on doing things your own way? You were never meant to sort all your problems out or make all the decisions independently. A sheep that does that wanders off, gets lost and injured - they don't even know where the best grass is or where the dangers are, that's why they need the shepherd. The Israelites kept forgetting that they were sheep. God provided and guided them, and He urged them to be obedient, but they did not adhere to His words in the big or small things. Instead God says they hardened their hearts and went, ‘astray in their heart’. They didn’t do what they were told, they didn't follow their shepherd. Can the same be said of you? When you hear God’s voice, do you listen and obey, even when it is something you don’t want to hear? Or do you allow your heart to go astray as the Israelites did when they encountered testing times? 

Two notable times that we can see that happening are in Meribah and Massah. These were areas that the Israelites came to during their 40 years in the wilderness where they felt they were not adequately provided for by God as they had no water. This is a big problem. Humans cannot survive more than a couple of days without water. Plus they had cattle to care for, so they were rightly concerned about this. Their response was that they moaned at each other and complained that they had been better off in Egypt. They feared for their lives because they did not have the basics for survival. When that happens it is natural to be concerned and to try to find a solution as something essential is missing from your life. However, the Israelites did not seek their shepherd. They did not trust Him or turn to Him. Instead they complained to one another, then blamed Moses as their earthly leader. The Israelites did not pray. They did not seek God. They did not worship. Instead they moaned to one another about their situation, becoming increasingly fearful that they would all die. When Moses heard about it, he and Aaron approached God. This was their first response, unlike the people, Moses and Aaron demonstrated great leadership and loyalty to their shepherd and ‘great King’. They trusted that even when death stared at them, God could do something. So they prayed, and at both Massah and Meribah, they witnessed God’s miraculous solution as water gushed forth from a rock! These separate situations occurred almost 40 years apart. So we can see that God was giving the Israelites the chance to learn from their previous mistake and lack of faith. He was inviting them to have a different response, but they didn’t. Despite the amount of times that God had healed them, won their battles, guided them with fire and smoke, stopped their shoes from wearing out and provided manna for them each and every day. Despite these miracles, these proofs of God’s power and presence, the people failed to appreciate that God could fulfil every need. They still did not trust Him or surrender to Him. They failed to comprehend that God can do anything, you just need to ask! The Israelites happily accepted God’s daily blessings but seem to see them as something they had a right to, rather than seeing them as a beautiful expression of His love and care for them. Even though they had a lot to be thankful for, and a history of God’s provision and power, their response to this lack of water the second time demonstrated their lack of faith and trust in God. They had not learnt, they had not allowed the mighty miracles and the everyday blessings from God to influence their hearts or faith. The Israelites made the same mistakes and made the same complaints previous generations had. Yet God still provided. Two men had enough faith to approach God, Moses and Aaron. They talked with Him, and God provided, again, miraculously. God acted for the whole nation on the faith of two. Do not underestimate the power of prayer because it does not depend on who is praying, but on the One who hears!

God says of the nation of Israel, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways’. It was easy for them to enjoy the benefits of the safety and care that God gave on a physical level, but they did not have the internal security, confidence and joy of knowing God as their King and Saviour. On the surface they accepted that they were God’s people as part of Israel, but internally their thoughts, desires and mindset were not aligned with God and did not demonstrate any allegiance to Him. When times got tough they did not talk to Him about it. They did not trust that as He is Maker, King and Lord that He could and would do something about their troubles. They just complained. Are you the same? Do you follow God out of habit, duty, or because others do? The fruit of faith is seen when you encounter difficulty. What do you do when life gets hard? When people let you down, disaster occurs, or something life threatening happens, what is your first response? For that shows if you are a sheep faithfully trusting in your shepherd or not. Do you call out to God, let Him know what has occurred and invite Him to show up and change things, or do you go around moaning to whoever will listen? You could approach God, recalling that God has been great before, and trusting that He still is and will be again. This is what Moses and Aaron did unlike the rest of the nation. The people had not really given their lives to God, they only wanted Him to give them what they wanted. Yet they were not obedient, trusting or loving towards Him. Only Moses and Aaron trusted God. When there was a problem, they knew who to go to. They knew there was only One who could solve any issue and bring transformation, the ‘great King above all gods’. So they went straight to Him, and they were involved in some great signs, wonders and miracles because they were all in, are you?

What do you do when your soul is full of troubles?

 Psalm 88:1–18 (ESV): 

1  O Lord, God of my salvation, 

I cry out day and night before you. 

 2  Let my prayer come before you; 

incline your ear to my cry! 

 3  For my soul is full of troubles, 

and my life draws near to Sheol. 

 4  I am counted among those who go down to the pit; 

I am a man who has no strength, 

 5  like one set loose among the dead, 

like the slain that lie in the grave, 

  like those whom you remember no more, 

for they are cut off from your hand. 

 6  You have put me in the depths of the pit, 

in the regions dark and deep. 

 7  Your wrath lies heavy upon me, 

and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah 

 8  You have caused my companions to shun me; 

you have made me a horror to them. 

  I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 

 9  my eye grows dim through sorrow. 

  Every day I call upon you, O Lord; 

I spread out my hands to you. 

 10  Do you work wonders for the dead? 

Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah 

 11  Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, 

or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 

 12  Are your wonders known in the darkness, 

or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 

 13  But I, O Lord, cry to you; 

in the morning my prayer comes before you. 

 14  O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? 

Why do you hide your face from me? 

 15  Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, 

I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. 

 16  Your wrath has swept over me; 

your dreadful assaults destroy me. 

 17  They surround me like a flood all day long; 

they close in on me together. 

 18  You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; 

my companions have become darkness. 

Life is hard! 

Sometimes, when you think about all you have been through you can rack up the negative situations, experiences, health issues and relationship breakdowns and feel like this psalmist did - on the edge of death and despair. You can end up seeing that there is suffering from the start to the finish of life, and end up feeling empty, alone and as if life is vanishing from your body. Yet, what great advantage as believers in God do we have in these times! 

For you have someone to turn to, someone to moan at, and an eternal future to behold! Although life can feel cruel and miserable, in desperation you can cry out, ‘O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?’ You have the great privilege of knowing who to go to when life seems insignificant, wearing and disappointing. For, where else can you go when your inner self is consumed with turmoil and misery - who else can know or understand your innermost thoughts when ‘they surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together’? Even if you have no person left who cares or you can trust, you have Jesus! 

Do not let the negative thoughts take over. Be real about how you feel, but seek the truth and trust and believe in that rather than get bogged down with emotion and circumstance. Look to the Word of God, talk with faithful, God-believing companions and keep praying. Seek the truth. For emotions, circumstances, memories, and even friends change, but the truth of God never fails! 

You may feel like you have no strength, death is close, that your ‘soul is full of troubles’, that your sin is too big, and that you have been rejected by all. Yet remember God. These psalmists do. They recall  that life isn’t over yet and that God is the ‘God of my salvation’ plus He cannot show wonders and love to those that are no longer on Earth, but He can to you who are alive. Therefore allow your mind to rest secure in the knowledge that He is your salvation. His faithfulness, love and power are certain. So call upon God everyday like the sons of Korah; keep praying, keep believing, keep waiting and see what God can do!

Incline your ears....

 We shall look at Psalm 78 in two parts as it is quite long, so here we have the first 35 verses. Let us consider what they show us about God and man.

Psalm 78:1–35 (ESV):  

1  Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 

 2  I will open my mouth in a parable; 

I will utter dark sayings from of old, 

 3  things that we have heard and known, 

that our fathers have told us. 

 4  We will not hide them from their children, 

but tell to the coming generation 

  the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, 

and the wonders that he has done. 

 5  He established a testimony in Jacob 

and appointed a law in Israel, 

  which he commanded our fathers 

to teach to their children, 

 6  that the next generation might know them, 

the children yet unborn, 

  and arise and tell them to their children, 

 7  so that they should set their hope in God 

  and not forget the works of God, 

but keep his commandments; 

 8  and that they should not be like their fathers, 

a stubborn and rebellious generation, 

  a generation whose heart was not steadfast, 

whose spirit was not faithful to God. 

 9  The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, 

turned back on the day of battle. 

 10  They did not keep God’s covenant, 

but refused to walk according to his law. 

 11  They forgot his works 

and the wonders that he had shown them. 

 12  In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders 

in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. 

 13  He divided the sea and let them pass through it, 

and made the waters stand like a heap. 

 14  In the daytime he led them with a cloud, 

and all the night with a fiery light. 

 15  He split rocks in the wilderness 

and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 

 16  He made streams come out of the rock 

and caused waters to flow down like rivers. 

 17  Yet they sinned still more against him, 

rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 

 18  They tested God in their heart 

by demanding the food they craved. 

 19  They spoke against God, saying, 

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness? 

 20  He struck the rock so that water gushed out 

and streams overflowed. 

  Can he also give bread 

or provide meat for his people?” 

21  Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; 

a fire was kindled against Jacob; 

his anger rose against Israel, 

 22  because they did not believe in God 

and did not trust his saving power. 

23  Yet he commanded the skies above 

and opened the doors of heaven, 

 24  and he rained down on them manna to eat 

and gave them the grain of heaven. 

 25  Man ate of the bread of the angels; 

he sent them food in abundance. 

 26  He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, 

and by his power he led out the south wind; 

 27  he rained meat on them like dust, 

winged birds like the sand of the seas; 

 28  he let them fall in the midst of their camp, 

all around their dwellings. 

 29  And they ate and were well filled, 

for he gave them what they craved. 

 30  But before they had satisfied their craving, 

while the food was still in their mouths, 

 31  the anger of God rose against them, 

and he killed the strongest of them 

and laid low the young men of Israel. 

 32  In spite of all this, they still sinned; 

despite his wonders, they did not believe. 

 33  So he made their days vanish like a breath, 

and their years in terror. 

 34  When he killed them, they sought him; 

they repented and sought God earnestly. 

 35  They remembered that God was their rock, 

the Most High God their redeemer. 

As we consider this psalm we see the importance of remembering. Asaph implores the people to listen to the stories he has to tell about God’s greatness, His majestic power, justice, holiness and reliable record of works. He calls them to remember - recall what God has done. It is vital that we take time to learn about and consider the works of God of old. From your own life, from others, previous generations as well as from the Bible. Make sure you are aware of the stories of God’s people and listen to others as they demonstrate and speak of what God has done. It will build your faith, encourage and help you in times of temptation and need. Do not have the attitude that your life and generation are so unique or that the past is irrelevant - that is pride and will lead to your downfall. Instead, ‘give ear’ to the sound teaching available to you. 

Asaph is a reliable source to listen to - he is a leader in the temple, renowned songwriter, worship leader and faithful servant of God. So it is worth listening to what he has discovered about the life of Israel and the character of God. He encourages those who hear his words to really listen and take onboard what he is saying because he knows the value of understanding the works of God and His character. Through the psalms he has written we have seen that Asaph points people to God even when he is struggling. By so doing he is demonstrating how to endure trials well, how to grow in faith and appreciate God. He shares his thoughts, questions and concerns, his actions and the conclusions he finds. Through these writings Asaph reveals something of his own, steadfast, faithful and faith-filled character as well as assuring us that God is always in charge, always compassionate, always strong and always caring. 

Where do you look to when you are full of concerns and questions? 

Do you have someone in your life like Asaph - a faith-filled man or woman who will show you God no matter what? It is worth seeking out the company of such people. Those who have a sound understanding of doctrine and are willing and able to share testimonies of God’s greatness (past and present). Ensure that you value people who have learnt about God’s love and forgiveness and can tell you stories of God’s patience, holiness, miracles and power. They will encourage and inspire you to keep going when life gets tough and may well help you avoid mistakes and disobedience when you listen to them. You need others to help inform your faith. There are those around you who know and understand more than you, that are wiser and more mature. They have been instructed to teach the younger generation (v5-7). These people wish to invest in you and help you avoid being part of ‘a stubborn and rebellious generation’ by leading you to, ‘not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments’. That is the one of the purposes of sharing testimonies and stories - to help you avoid the mistakes that previous God following people have made. The aim is to encourage you to avoid distractions and despair so that you can live a fulfilled and faithful life with God championing and protecting you. So, I encourage you to allow others to speak into your life in order to help you remember that ‘God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.’ There are wonderful, faithful, understanding people in your midst. Do not dismiss their stories or explanations, but take care to be informed and consider how these things impact your life today. Do ‘not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments’ and consider ‘the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done’! Then you won’t have to live under God’s wrath (v21-22, 31-34) but in His love, redemption and steadfast love. 

worshipping in the worst times

Psalm 71:1–8 (ESV): 

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame! 

2  In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; 

incline your ear to me, and save me! 

3  Be to me a rock of refuge, 

to which I may continually come; 

you have given the command to save me, 

for you are my rock and my fortress. 

4  Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, 

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. 

5  For you, O Lord, are my hope, 

my trust, O Lord, from my youth. 

6  Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; 

you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. 

My praise is continually of you. 

7  I have been as a portent to many, 

but you are my strong refuge. 

8  My mouth is filled with your praise, 

and with your glory all the day. 

9  Do not cast me off in the time of old age; 

forsake me not when my strength is spent. 

10  For my enemies speak concerning me; 

those who watch for my life consult together 

11  and say, “God has forsaken him; 

pursue and seize him, 

for there is none to deliver him.” 

12  O God, be not far from me; 

O my God, make haste to help me! 

13  May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; 

with scorn and disgrace may they be covered 

who seek my hurt. 

14  But I will hope continually 

and will praise you yet more and more. 

15  My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, 

of your deeds of salvation all the day, 

for their number is past my knowledge. 

16  With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; 

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 

17  O God, from my youth you have taught me, 

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 

18  So even to old age and grey hairs, 

O God, do not forsake me, 

until I proclaim your might to another generation, 

your power to all those to come. 

19  Your righteousness, O God, 

reaches the high heavens. 

You who have done great things, 

O God, who is like you? 

20  You who have made me see many troubles and calamities 

will revive me again; 

from the depths of the earth 

you will bring me up again. 

21  You will increase my greatness 

and comfort me again. 

22  I will also praise you with the harp 

for your faithfulness, O my God; 

I will sing praises to you with the lyre, 

O Holy One of Israel. 

23  My lips will shout for joy, 

when I sing praises to you; 

my soul also, which you have redeemed. 

24  And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, 

for they have been put to shame and disappointed 

who sought to do me hurt. 

Although this psalm does not credit a particular person as the author, both psalm 70 and 71 seem to be similar in content. They both tell of a time that is troubled due to the persecution of others and the writers are asking God to intervene and rescue. When I first read this I thought it was a follow-on psalm from the previous one, however we do not know if David is the writer even though the themes and expressions are similar. As we consider the book of Psalms, there are many with a similar theme; of difficulty, petitioning God and trusting Him. So, whether or not this is written by David doesn’t really matter, as it just shows that we can all have similar struggles, and we need help to overcome them. People of the past as well as the present have encountered hardship and the psalms helpfully show us how to pray through it, trust God in it and worship throughout. 

This psalm then, although about a tough time, focuses on the ‘Holy One of Israel’. The author is continually reminding themselves that they are coming to a loving, mighty God. There is worship from beginning to end.  Most of the verses mention something great about God, so this cry for help and petition is enwrapped in praise - how incredible! The psalmist has come to God for rescue and relief and considers that God is; a refuge, One who does not put to shame, a listener, rock, always available, fortress, rescuer, hope, trust, One you can lean on, One who brings life, strong, glorious, close, a helper, righteous, mighty, bringer of salvation, doer of wondrous deeds, teacher, constant, powerful, reviver, lifter, empowering, comforter, Holy, redeemer. That is a lot of recognition of who God is for someone who is in trouble.When life is difficult and despairing do you pray like that? 

My daughter read something recently that said 'if you don't feel like praying, pray harder, if you don't feel like worshipping, worship harder.' This seems to be what this psalmist does. He petitions and praises God whilst persevering through this trouble. The writer acknowledges God’s active presence from even before he was born up til now, their old age (v17-18), and they know God’s love, comfort and greatness hasn’t finished yet. The same is true for you. No matter your age or experience, God desires to show you His love, comfort and greatness. God has not finished working in your life either.

Thanking and praising God in the midst of hardship takes strength, and doing so builds strength, resilience and faith. It is about looking upwards to God and His kingdom rather than looking around and inward at the trouble, persecution and demoralising activities that can surround you. So, do not focus on the things that get you down and that seem to defeat you. Acknowledge them and put them into prayer, like this psalmist does, so that you are putting them into the hands of the One who can do something about it! 

This psalmist says, ‘my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long’. Is that how you tackle your problems? By remembering God and how awesome He is, thinking about His amazing deeds? Do you make an effort to remind yourself, and others, of where your help comes from? Take inspiration from this person who has lived a life of faith - Practice gratitude when life is troublesome, and praise God through every difficulty. For trouble should not diminish your understanding of the previous works of God, in fact, they should inspire you with the great things God can do now! Hold onto the truth of who God is, His love for you and His strength, then let your ‘lips shout for joy’!

what do you do when you are rejected and alone?

 Can you relate to feeling as David did in this psalm?

Psalm 69:1–36 (ESV):   

Save me, O God! 

For the waters have come up to my neck. 

2  I sink in deep mire, 

where there is no foothold; 

I have come into deep waters, 

and the flood sweeps over me. 

3  I am weary with my crying out; 

my throat is parched. 

My eyes grow dim 

with waiting for my God. 

4  More in number than the hairs of my head 

are those who hate me without cause; 

mighty are those who would destroy me, 

those who attack me with lies. 

What I did not steal 

must I now restore? 

5  O God, you know my folly; 

the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 

6  Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, 

O Lord God of hosts; 

let not those who seek you be brought to dishonour through me, 

O God of Israel. 

7  For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, 

that dishonour has covered my face. 

8  I have become a stranger to my brothers, 

an alien to my mother’s sons. 

9  For zeal for your house has consumed me, 

and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 

10  When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, 

it became my reproach. 

11  When I made sackcloth my clothing, 

I became a byword to them. 

12  I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, 

and the drunkards make songs about me. 

13  But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. 

At an acceptable time, O God, 

in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 

14  Deliver me 

from sinking in the mire; 

let me be delivered from my enemies 

and from the deep waters. 

15  Let not the flood sweep over me, 

or the deep swallow me up, 

or the pit close its mouth over me. 

16  Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; 

according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. 

17  Hide not your face from your servant, 

for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. 

18  Draw near to my soul, redeem me; 

ransom me because of my enemies! 

19  You know my reproach, 

and my shame and my dishonour; 

my foes are all known to you. 

20  Reproaches have broken my heart, 

so that I am in despair. 

I looked for pity, but there was none, 

and for comforters, but I found none. 

21  They gave me poison for food, 

and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. 

22  Let their own table before them become a snare; 

and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. 

23  Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, 

and make their loins tremble continually. 

24  Pour out your indignation upon them, 

and let your burning anger overtake them. 

25  May their camp be a desolation; 

let no one dwell in their tents. 

26  For they persecute him whom you have struck down, 

and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. 

27  Add to them punishment upon punishment; 

may they have no acquittal from you. 

28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; 

let them not be enrolled among the righteous. 

29  But I am afflicted and in pain; 

let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 

30  I will praise the name of God with a song; 

I will magnify him with thanksgiving. 

31  This will please the Lord more than an ox 

or a bull with horns and hoofs. 

32  When the humble see it they will be glad; 

you who seek God, let your hearts revive. 

33  For the Lord hears the needy 

and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. 

34  Let heaven and earth praise him, 

the seas and everything that moves in them. 

35  For God will save Zion 

and build up the cities of Judah, 

and people shall dwell there and possess it; 

36  the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, 

and those who love his name shall dwell in it. 

David feels like he is sinking, that God isn’t doing anything. He is worn out with emotional distress and hoarse with crying out to God about it. Yet none of this is because he has done anything wrong. He admits that he has messed up before (v19), yet this situation with his friends and family rejecting him is nothing to do with any error or sin on his side, but because of his wholehearted commitment to God (v9). Can you imagine that? 

Many people in the world can, we hear accounts about those who are persecuted for their faith. There are traumatic stories of imprisonment, restriction and death threats. People in other nations undergo these things because of their love for God and for living life God’s way. Even in our country I have heard of stories of christians making a right stand against an issue resulting in being rejected, disciplined, businesses in trouble, taken to court. All for doing things God’s way. I bet they felt something of what David felt. Feeling like they are in too deep, drowning, rejected, attacked. I have not experienced this level of persecution, yet I found it hard enough when I felt an outcast at work due to the faith I have. It was horrible, yet that was mild compared to level of persecution that David, and others have been through. The reality is, as people of God, we should expect some kind of push back, rejection and trouble. There is an enemy in the world that does not want to see God’s kingdom come, or His people succeed, and so Satan will do everything he can to cause suffering and difficulty. Are you prepared to suffer for your faith, and will you endure it?

David, even though he was taunted and rejected by many even his own family, was prepared to go through it because of his love for God. He was sold out for God and he suffered ridicule and rejection because of it, he acknowledged that these things, ‘have broken my heart, so that I am in despair’. David felt broken by the words and actions of others. David grieved for the lost relationships and felt like he was being engulfed in misery, drowning in a sea of grief because of the extent of his heartache. He was rejected and abandoned as those he loved and relied upon turned away from him, rejected and ridiculed him. He suffered. There was a great emotional response because he cared for these people, yet he knew his words and behaviour would not change because he loved God more. No wonder David felt so distraught, he knew the cause of the tension between himself and others was his love for God, and he couldn't change that, so he had to endure heartache and the hardship. When the faith you have effects the relationships you have developed, this will really test your commitment to God. You will have to choose between God and those you care about and it will lead to despair, heartbreak and loneliness, what will you do when you encounter such difficulties?

David cried out to God, and didn't stop crying out to Him! We can hear how David suffered, and we can look at our Saviour Jesus to see how he too suffered rejection, heartbreak, loneliness and pain because of loving and obeying God. Yet both David and Jesus continued to pursue God. They did not turn back, they asked for relief, for change, for help, but they chose to continue to suffer because they knew God is greater. They understood that His love, protection, guidance, comfort and strength are worth suffering for. They also knew that these things are available even in the midst of the turmoil. They spoke to God and trusted Him to help them through. After all, if everyone else has rejected you, who is left to help, encourage and strengthen you? 

David pours out his heart to God, ‘my prayer is to you, O Lord’. He depended on no-one else for salvation, rescue or relief. David knew who could save him from, ‘sinking in the mire’. So he held onto this hope, this faith that God’s ‘steadfast love is good’. That was enough for him to endure and have hope for a new day. Is that enough for you? 

Only God can sustain and protect you from drowning in despair and save you from the trial of rejection and hopelessness. His love is good and steadfast, and He supports and saves those He loves, so keep going and copy David. Allow yourself to feel the pain of radical obedience, ask God for help, and continue to worship. His love will carry you through every circumstance no matter how bitter or joyful. Rely on Him to, ‘draw near to my soul, redeem me’ and continue, no matter what to, ‘praise the name of God’. ‘For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.’ Trust in God, for man may reject you, but God will not and He will revive your heart (v32).