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?

God's promises are secure whether you like it or not!

 Psalm 89 is a long one and seems to have 4 parts, so we will look at each of them;

1  I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; 

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 

 2  For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; 

in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.” 

 3  You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; 

I have sworn to David my servant: 

 4  ‘I will establish your offspring forever, 

and build your throne for all generations.’ ” Selah 

 5  Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, 

your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! 

 6  For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? 

Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 

 7  a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, 

and awesome above all who are around him? 

 8  O Lord God of hosts, 

who is mighty as you are, O Lord, 

with your faithfulness all around you? 

 9  You rule the raging of the sea; 

when its waves rise, you still them. 

 10  You crushed Rahab like a carcass; 

you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 

 11  The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; 

the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. 

 12  The north and the south, you have created them; 

Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. 

 13  You have a mighty arm; 

strong is your hand, high your right hand. 

 14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; 

steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 

 15  Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, 

who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, 

 16  who exult in your name all the day 

and in your righteousness are exalted. 

 17  For you are the glory of their strength; 

by your favour our horn is exalted. 

 18  For our shield belongs to the Lord, 

our king to the Holy One of Israel. 

• God is worth worshipping forever for His steadfast love, righteousness, justice, faithfulness and strength. He is always worthy to be praised and made much of for He is the source of love and joy and He displays His glorious might through guiding, loving and protecting those who love Him. Those who follow God can see how God has demonstrated His power, justice and righteousness not just in their own lives, but before and beyond their existence. What characteristics of God are you seeing today?

20  I have found David, my servant; 

with my holy oil I have anointed him, 

 21  so that my hand shall be established with him; 

my arm also shall strengthen him. 

 22  The enemy shall not outwit him; 

the wicked shall not humble him. 

 23  I will crush his foes before him 

and strike down those who hate him. 

 24  My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, 

and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 

 25  I will set his hand on the sea 

and his right hand on the rivers. 

 26  He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, 

my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 

 27  And I will make him the firstborn, 

the highest of the kings of the earth. 

 28  My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, 

and my covenant will stand firm for him. 

 29  I will establish his offspring forever 

and his throne as the days of the heavens. 

 30  If his children forsake my law 

and do not walk according to my rules, 

 31  if they violate my statutes 

and do not keep my commandments, 

 32  then I will punish their transgression with the rod 

and their iniquity with stripes, 

 33  but I will not remove from him my steadfast love 

or be false to my faithfulness. 

 34  I will not violate my covenant 

or alter the word that went forth from my lips. 

 35  Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; 

I will not lie to David. 

 36  His offspring shall endure forever, 

his throne as long as the sun before me. 

 37  Like the moon it shall be established forever, 

a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah 

• Here the psalmists proves how God has delivered on His promise over David. God has; anointed him king and strengthened him, protected and fought for the nation of Israel, extended the nations boundaries, developed an intimate relationship with David (v26), been honest and revealed what will happen if David’s descendants turn their backs to Him. Isn’t it incredible the promises given to one man and his family?! Due to David’s trust and faith in God, God gave him incredible promises not just for his life, but for generations to come. Promises of steadfast love, peace, and a legacy. I wonder what promises God has given you. For He will surely be faithful to every single word He has spoken. God wants to bless you and your family for generations to come - are you getting close enough to Him to hear His voice and His promises?

38  But now you have cast off and rejected; 

you are full of wrath against your anointed. 

 39  You have renounced the covenant with your servant; 

you have defiled his crown in the dust. 

 40  You have breached all his walls; 

you have laid his strongholds in ruins. 

 41  All who pass by plunder him; 

he has become the scorn of his neighbours. 

 42  You have exalted the right hand of his foes; 

you have made all his enemies rejoice. 

 43  You have also turned back the edge of his sword, 

and you have not made him stand in battle. 

 44  You have made his splendour to cease 

and cast his throne to the ground. 

 45  You have cut short the days of his youth; 

you have covered him with shame. Selah 

• The tone radically changes in these verses. The psalm abruptly veers from one of joy, worship, praise and acknowledging God’s power and steadfastness, to the reality of disobedience. For God keeps His promises when we are faithful and when we are not. The anointed king, still a descendent of David, has become an object of wrath as they did not follow the ways of God. So, God fulfilled His promise that, ‘if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,  32  then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes’. God keeps ALL the promises He makes even the ones we don’t want Him to. If you ignore God, break His commandments and are disobedient, then although His steadfast love will last, you will be; cast off, experience God’s anger, become ‘breached’, lose the strength you once had, see enemies elevated, and be ‘covered with shame’. This is as much a promise of God as the fact that when you delight in God, bless Him, worship and follow Him, you will enjoy the benefits of living in His favour.It is like a child that leaves home; they no longer have access to all the household has to offer for they have distanced themself from it. It is not God being cruel, it is a choice you make in how close you choose to live to Him - in His household following His ways, or outside of it. There are promises for what life will look like in both circumstances. Take some warning from this psalm. We see that the tone abruptly changes from joy, peace and contentment of godly leadership, to one of defeat and descent as the kings desert God. So, today, which promises of God are you living in? The promise of favour due to obedience or the promise of disobedience - being cast off and rejected?

46  How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? 

How long will your wrath burn like fire? 

 47  Remember how short my time is! 

For what vanity you have created all the children of man! 

 48  What man can live and never see death? 

Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 

 49  Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, 

which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 

 50  Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, 

and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 

 51  with which your enemies mock, O Lord, 

with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. 

 52  Blessed be the Lord forever! 

Amen and Amen. 

• How long will the wrath of God not only be poured out on the king, but also the nation? This is the question the psalmist now asks. The whole nation of Israel was suffering due to the lack of godliness within the king. The psalmist is a faithful follower of God, as are many others, but they are still oppressed and distressed because of the consequences of the king not following God. Innocent people suffer when there is ungodliness. The king’s decisions, values and actions affect the whole nation, not just himself. Do you know that the same is true for you? You are probably not a king, but whether you choose to follow God or not, this decision has consequences for not only yourself but those around you too. The disobedience of the king led to the suffering of the whole nation - the godly and ungodly people. In the same way your obedience or disobedience affects your family, friends and community - you have wider impact than you realise. There are wide reaching consequences in your decision to live a faithful or unfaithful life. 
• It is clear that the psalmist clearly does not like the situation they are in, and he is not afraid to say so to God. Although he acknowledges that this suffering is due to disobedience of leadership, he does not like the fact that the steadfast love of God and faithfulness seem to be missing in his lifetime as he sees fellow believers mocked and downtrodden. So, he asks God to remember this suffering and to remember, ‘how short my time is!’ I like this, it is like the writer is trying to hurry God up into bringing about a change so that he can know some relief and joy in his life. Although the writer acknowledges the reason for this hardship, he does not accept that nothing will change because he knows the power, might and love of God. So why should he and the fellow faithful ones put up with this suffering?! Yes, the king has walked away from God’s ways, but there are still faithful people within the kingdom, so what is God going to do for them? It is good and right to seek God’s intervention, grace, love and favour for your life and those around you. Even if you are not someone with much power or authority like a king, you do know the One who holds it all. So do not be afraid of seeking His favour for yourself and those around you. Ultimately it is God is who reigns and is faithful. So even if there are things happening around you that you know are due to someone else’s disobedience, you can still ask God to demonstrate His steadfast love to those faithful to Him. Why not ask Him to remember how short your life is and seek Him to show you joy, peace and love?! ‘Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.’

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. 

Living as a community

Psalm 74:1–23 (ESV):  

1  O God, why do you cast us off forever? 

Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 

2  Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, 

which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! 

Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 

3  Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; 

the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! 

4  Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; 

they set up their own signs for signs. 

5  They were like those who swing axes 

in a forest of trees. 

6  And all its carved wood 

they broke down with hatchets and hammers. 

7  They set your sanctuary on fire; 

they profaned the dwelling place of your name, 

bringing it down to the ground. 

8  They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; 

they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 

9  We do not see our signs; 

there is no longer any prophet, 

and there is none among us who knows how long. 

10  How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? 

Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 

11  Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? 

Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! 

12  Yet God my King is from of old, 

working salvation in the midst of the earth. 

13  You divided the sea by your might; 

you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. 

14  You crushed the heads of Leviathan; 

you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 

15  You split open springs and brooks; 

you dried up ever-flowing streams. 

16  Yours is the day, yours also the night; 

you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. 

17  You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; 

you have made summer and winter. 

18  Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, 

and a foolish people reviles your name. 

19  Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; 

do not forget the life of your poor forever. 

20  Have regard for the covenant, 

for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 

21  Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; 

let the poor and needy praise your name. 

22  Arise, O God, defend your cause; 

remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 

23  Do not forget the clamour of your foes, 

the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually! 

Sometimes, God’s people are focusses for anger, deprivation and persecution. We can see that in the amount of times they were exiled in the Old Testament, plus the spread of the gospel in the New Testament was largely due to the persecution of God’s people. The same is true today. It can seem like God forgets, abandons and ignores His people. The people of God experience unfair treatment at times, they are hurt, ignored and harassed. Asaph saw what was going on in his time and felt that it was unfair how Israel were struggling. He felt God had forgotten or abandoned them, although he knew it wasn’t really true. He refers to Israel as ‘your heritage’, ‘your congregation’, ‘the sheep of your pasture’ clearly showing that Asaph is confident that Israel belongs to God and that they are His special, chosen ones. Yet sometimes it is hard to see that when the people of God are experiencing the longevity of suffering. Have you ever seen or heard the church being under attack or unfair restriction? I am sure in every collective of God’s people there are difficulties as the enemies of God are trying to put an end to holiness and faithfulness (v3). 

Asaph recalls how the dwelling place of God, the temple was desecrated (v3-8). The enemy enjoyed doing it and seeing the Israelites in pain, and it seemed that God was doing nothing. Even as His abode on Earth was attacked, burnt and chopped to pieces. Can you imagine being one of His people at that time having to live through this? Seeing the dwelling place of your God brought to ruins - how can you see God in moments like those? It would have been devastating, heartbreaking. It may have felt as if God had left. As we read accounts like this we know that these events happened because the people of God were unfaithful, so God was allowing them to suffer in order to bring them to repentance and salvation. Yet, can you imagine what it must have been like to go through it? There were always some faithful people around who were loyal to Him and tried to direct the Israelites to God and they suffered just as the unfaithful ones did. All of the Israelites suffered the judgement and punishment of God because the people of God are a collective; a flock, congregation, church. God’s people are not a bunch of individuals or a common interest group, but a family, a close knit tribe, a community. 

In Western culture this can be hard to fathom as the emphasis is on personal, independent, individual identity, not communal responsibility. When something goes wrong or well, the individual celebrates or commiserates, others may congratulate or comfort them but they are not so intimately acquainted with the individual’s situation that they take it on as their own experience. So this psalm shows us something different - that those who are set apart as God’s people are one; one flock, one congregation, one tribe (v1-2). The experiences they have are shared - communally celebrated and commiserated. There is togetherness and unity. When one family member is hurting, the whole family feels the pain. This is how it is with the people of God. They all undergo the joy and pain of being set apart as the people of God. 

This means that each individual has a responsibility for the welfare of the community of believers that they are a part of. Every believer is a part of the church and holds collective responsibility for the wellbeing of that community. You have a responsibility to live your life right not just for you, but because it also affects the community of believers that God has put you in. Your obedience or disobedience is not an independent decision as it affects everyone around you, you are part of the flock. The way you live and your faithfulness or sin affects the people in your life. You are part of something bigger than yourself, and you have responsibility to others in how you live. Your decisions matter, and you should consider the church when you make them as you are part of God's family and so what you do has consequences for them. 

Asaph is experiencing suffering because of the sin and disobedience of others, yet he doesn't cry out to God that it is unfair, that he hasn't done anything wrong so why should he be punished, instead he asks how long it will last, because the community of believers are hurting and getting a bad reputation, and he knows God cares, because they are His. The Israelites understood that they were part of a family, household, tribe and a nation. They understood they had personal responsibility to ensure they played their part. This is why Asaph calls for the deliverance of God’s people as a whole, not as individuals. For they are His flock (v1), congregation and tribe (v2) (all collective nouns). Asaph is calling for for communal redemption, not individual salvation. The redemption of all of the people of God is necessary, otherwise the community is incomplete and hurting. 

Your life is important to the community of God that you are a part of. You are important to your brothers and sisters, and you have a duty to honour and pray for them. Asaph takes on this mantle through this psalm as he petitions God for the nation’s salvation. He asks for the people of God, who are already set apart for Him, to be redeemed. For although God has saved us already, we still need redeeming! Even though we are connected and part of the family, the people of God still need to be brought back into God’s possession. How often do we forget who we are and make our own choices and just get on with life instead of considering that we are part of something bigger and more important? God still needs to redeem us. 

Do you pray, like Asaph, for the redemption of the tribe you are a part of? Do you live in consideration to your community when you make decisions for your own life? 

My feet had almost stumbled....

 Psalm 73:1–28 (ESV): 

1  Truly God is good to Israel, 

to those who are pure in heart. 

2  But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, 

my steps had nearly slipped. 

3  For I was envious of the arrogant 

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

4  For they have no pangs until death; 

their bodies are fat and sleek. 

5  They are not in trouble as others are; 

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 

6  Therefore pride is their necklace; 

violence covers them as a garment. 

7  Their eyes swell out through fatness; 

their hearts overflow with follies. 

8  They scoff and speak with malice; 

loftily they threaten oppression. 

9  They set their mouths against the heavens, 

and their tongue struts through the earth. 

10  Therefore his people turn back to them, 

and find no fault in them. 

11  And they say, “How can God know? 

Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 

12  Behold, these are the wicked; 

always at ease, they increase in riches. 

13  All in vain have I kept my heart clean 

and washed my hands in innocence. 

14  For all the day long I have been stricken 

and rebuked every morning. 

15  If I had said, “I will speak thus,” 

I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 

16  But when I thought how to understand this, 

it seemed to me a wearisome task, 

17  until I went into the sanctuary of God; 

then I discerned their end. 

18  Truly you set them in slippery places; 

you make them fall to ruin. 

19  How they are destroyed in a moment, 

swept away utterly by terrors! 

20  Like a dream when one awakes, 

O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 

21  When my soul was embittered, 

when I was pricked in heart, 

22  I was brutish and ignorant; 

I was like a beast toward you. 

23  Nevertheless, I am continually with you; 

you hold my right hand. 

24  You guide me with your counsel, 

and afterward you will receive me to glory. 

25  Whom have I in heaven but you? 

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

26  My flesh and my heart may fail, 

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

27  For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; 

you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 

28  But for me it is good to be near God; 

I have made the Lord God my refuge, 

that I may tell of all your works. 

Ever felt jealous and envious of those who do not follow God? Maybe because they ‘are not stricken like the rest of mankind’ and do not live to good moral standards yet seem to prosper. They seem to do better, have more stuff, and they enjoy life in a way you do not. Asaph clearly felt like this, he was jealous of the worldly gains of the wicked when he compared his life to theirs he saw that his is hard, and theirs easy. When you live your life following God it can feel like there are restrictions upon you, rules that stop you having the same type of fun and entering into certain relationships. If you have noticed this and it has bothered you, don’t worry, Asaph the chief musician of Israel from the tribe of Levi - a key worship leader, felt the same! 

If you compare your God-following life with those who do not, you can feel like you can’t do certain things, have less, give more, don’t seem to be as ‘lucky’ and life is a struggle most of the time. You talk different, dress different and act different because you faithfully follow what God has to say about these things instead of following the culture. However you undergo internal and external pressure, difficulty and stress as a result. Asaph saw this and admits, ‘my feet had almost stumbled’. He felt really pressured and enticed by the life of those who were living disregarding God, as he saw that the ‘wicked’ people ‘are not stricken like the rest of mankind’. They can do what they like and not care about it, their lot seems easy and enjoyable. So he was intrigued and found their lifestyle inviting. Asaph, one who has written many worship songs and prayers through the book of Psalms, and was responsible for leading others to honour, love and worship God felt like this. This shows me that none of us are exempt from temptation, we all want to have a fun and easy life, don't you?

Have you ever been tempted to join the ranks of the wicked? We probably all are, and some do. They look at the contrast between the people who follow God and those who do not, and the christian life looks restrictive, boring and responsible, so leading life without God seems simpler, freer and exciting. It is no wonder that Asaph observes that, ‘his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know?”’ Have you noticed the same? Some people get fed up, and so when an attractive temptation comes along they convince themselves that it is not too bad, that “everyone is doing it” so it doesn’t really matter and, ‘How can God know?’ These people initially convince themselves that it is not so bad, and surely God wants them to have a good and easy life, maybe God won't even notice. Asaph admits that he, 'almost stumbled'.  He had begun to persuade himself that maybe there was a better life waiting for him outside of God's domain. Leading an ungodly life intrigued and enticed him as he saw that those who do not follow God are, ‘always at ease, they increase in riches.’ Asaph wondered, could he live his life like those others who do not follow God? For he has kept himself pure of heart and lived obeying God, leading worship, faithfully following and serving God’s people, but he does not have what these others do. Is that fair? (V13-14). His life is dutiful and God-honouring, but it is not always rewarding. In fact it can be boring and hard work at times.

Before Asaph gave up his faithful, obedient, God-honouring life, he spent some time considering this comparison he saw between the faithful and the wicked. He tried to get his head around it but he couldn’t, he says it wore him out (v16). It didn’t make sense to him and he got tired of trying to understand. So, what he did next was key. He didn’t just abandon the life he had been living following God to explore the alternative straight away, but he went to God (v17). 

The psalm does not say that he spoke to God about what was going on, but that he simply, ‘went into the sanctuary of God’. He met with God, placing himself in His presence. Even though at this time Asaph was feeling resentful, annoyed and hard done by, he still chose to be with God. Sometimes, just being in God’s presence, getting close to Him, spending time with him, with or without words or music, can cause things to make sense or to seem not that important any more. This is what Asaph found. Whilst in the presence of God, he had a revelation; ‘then I discerned their end’. Whilst in the presence of the Almighty, connecting with the creator and protector of life, Asaph has a realisation. He recognises that those who do not follow God, ‘are destroyed in a moment’. They may seemingly enjoy life and have much, but one day the life they have lived will end. The luxuries, fun, relationships and investment in earthly things will be; destroyed, broken apart, ruined. ‘For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you’ (V27). Is that the end you want to your life story? Asaph didn't!

So, no matter how enticing and enjoyable the present life of others looks, do not be tempted or distracted - they are heading for ruin. Instead, do as Asaph did and get into God’s presence. Spend time with Him. Then you will see the reality of a life lived away from Him. Do you want to take the risk of having a lifestyle that is seemingly good now, at the expense of the eternal peace, comfort and steadfast love that God gives? Is anything worth sacrificing that for? When you are tempted to live a different kind of life, to sin, to turn your back on faith, what is your response? Asaph, ‘went into the sanctuary of God’. He approached God, chose to get near to Him. He didn’t hide, run away or follow the wicked, but he went into the sanctuary - into God’s presence. Why not try that for yourself next time temptation comes - chose to get close to God and see what will be revealed to you. Asaph declares, ‘for me it is good to be near God’ and, 'there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you', what do you think?

Lord, rebuke me not in your anger

 Psalm 6

1  O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, 

nor discipline me in your wrath. 

2  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; 

heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 

3  My soul also is greatly troubled. 

But you, O Lord—how long? 

4  Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; 

save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 

5  For in death there is no remembrance of you; 

in Sheol who will give you praise? 

6  I am weary with my moaning; 

every night I flood my bed with tears; 

I drench my couch with my weeping. 

7  My eye wastes away because of grief; 

it grows weak because of all my foes. 

8  Depart from me, all you workers of evil, 

for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 

9  The Lord has heard my plea; 

the Lord accepts my prayer. 

10  All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; 

they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment

At the opening of this Psalm, David accepts that he has done things wrong as he says, ‘O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.’ This is an admission that he deserves correction and punishment. He acknowledges that the season of suffering he is going through is warranted, it is his own fault as he has gone his own way, done his own thing. How brave and honest David is to admit that!

Do you do the same? Do you accept that sometimes you suffer, experience pain and hardship due to your own wrongdoing? Do you admit that actually, sometimes, you deserve the difficult times that have come upon you because you have messed up and not done things the way God wants you to?

David acknowledges his faults and pleads with God not to, ‘discipline me in your wrath’. Instead of asking God to wipe away all the difficulty and release him from suffering and punishment, David recognises that he has earned this correction, but he asks for leniency. David knows the awesome capability of God, so he humbly asks God to not pour out punishment in His anger. 

There’s a difference between discipline and angry discipline isn’t there? You see it when a parent corrects a child. If the parent is in a calm frame of mind the discipline will focus on repentance, making amends and some considered consequences, yet if the wrongdoing is dealt with from a position of anger - that child is going to really suffer and the punishment is going to be harsh. This is what David is afraid of and seeking to avoid. He knows what he has done wrong, he is sorry for it and accepts that there are consequences for his actions, but he does not want an angry outpouring from God, who does?! David has seen and read about how God deals with those He is angry with both through the scriptures and his own personal experience, so he was rightly afraid of having so displeased God that he would have to suffer like that. 

David knew he could approach God and ask for mercy because he was a man of faith who desired to honour God with his life. Although sometimes he made mistakes and sinned, he was quick to recognise, repent and mourn when he had gone awry. Are you quick to do the same? Do you quickly acknowledge, apologise and try to rectify what you have done wrong? Or do you ignore your faults and try to explain away your actions attempting to make them sound less bad or inconsequential? 

When you have done something wrong in your life, and you know it, are you aware that God may well correct you and that can look like suffering, confusion, illness and pain? Being corrected and punished by God is not something that we often like to consider. Those in David’s time would have been quick to acknowledge and consider suffering as a result of sin, in fact, that would probably be their first thought in times of difficulty. Nowadays, we are so aware of the grace, forgiveness and mercy of God that I do not think we really consider that we still deserve discipline. We are privileged to live in a time where we can believe and trust in the powerful work of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. His defeat of death and sin that were pinned to the cross as he died means that you and I no longer have to live with the guilt, shame or power of sin as Jesus has taken it all on. The reality is though that we do not always walk in that freedom. We still sin and displease God by our actions or inactions. No matter how hard you try, you will get it wrong sometimes, you will sin. When you do, are you quick to go to God about it and seek restoration? Do you realise that when you sin God may well rebuke you and discipline you?

You can know the forgiveness of God when you turn away from wrong and seek it, but be aware that sometimes a period of suffering is required. You can, as David did, ask for God to be merciful, to be lenient in His correction. If you know that you have disobeyed God, like David did, you may well have a season of feeling, ‘greatly troubled’. David tells us that both his body felt like it was breaking and dying, and his soul was distraught and David came to realise that it was due to his wrongdoing. Do you ever pause to consider that sometimes what you are suffering is due to sin? God still gets angry at sin and He may allow you to you get ill or have troubled times because you are not living your life in obedience to Him. 

You may not think this sounds like a very positive message, but a good, loving parent is one who disciplines their child. If you see that you are living in the consequences of sin and disobedience, then know that what you are going through shows that God loves and cares for you. You are His child, and so He will discipline you. You won’t like it, but you can speak to Him about it, you can repent, be forgiven, and you can ask, as David did, for God to show you mercy. 

Please note:

Not all suffering is a result of disobedience and sin (consider Job). Sometimes suffering occurs because of the reality of living in a broken and decaying world, or because of others’ sinfulness. So please do not think that all suffering is a punishment from God, but i think in general our society is too quick to absolve themselves from any responsibility, so it is good to ask ourselves, 'Lord, is there any wicked way in me'?

What is sin?

  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. 

James 4:16–17 (ESV)

James here is telling us that sin is not just the things that you do that you know are wrong, but also not doing the things that you know are right. Have you ever considered that? 

Being apathetic, noncommittal or neglecting to do the right thing is just as sinful as doing something you know is wrong. Think about the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. I am sure most would say that the men who walked passed and did nothing were wrong. They did not show good character, kindness, faith or love by ignoring the plight of the injured man. The priest and levite walked passed, they were men of faith so they knew better. They would have read the scriptures and understood that God instructs them to love their neighbour, yet they still went their own way, ‘so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.’ Those two men were ignorant and they sinned by doing nothing. I doubt that the priest and levite considered that their lack of action was deliberately sinful. Maybe they were too busy, distracted or scared to help. However, did they know the right thing to do and fail to do it? 

It is easy to sin this way for all of us, no matter how much you love God and know His word. Have you ever not done what you know is right because you have been afraid, too busy, or not thought it was a big deal? If you have known the right thing to do and not done it, that is sin.  Just like we acknowledge that the levite and priest were wrong, it is wrong for you to overlook doing what you know is right too. I think we have all sinned in this way because it can be scary to do the right thing, or will take too much time, so we neglect to do it instead of being obedient to God. That is the reality. 

All sin is doing the opposite to what God wants. That is whether you knowingly do something you know is wrong or not doing what you know you should. It is so easy to sin isn’t it?!

The Bible tells us, ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). So it should be no surprise if you realise that you have neglected to do right at times. James has not written this to condemn you, but quite possibly to wake you up to the reality that sin is easy to get into and so thank God for Jesus! Jesus has put to death all sin. The things you have done wrong and the things you should have done but haven’t - his death and resurrection cover all of it! This means that you can be restored to God and to the sin-free state God always intended you to be in. How incredible is that?! All you need do is recognise what Jesus has done, ask God for His forgiveness for when you have got it wrong, accept it, and then ask God for His Holy Spirit to empower you to do what you know is right in future. Sin may be easy to get into, but if you know Jesus has paid the cost for all of it, sin is also easy to be free from. Jam

keep yourself in God's love

 God is kind. He has warned us that such things as Jude writes about will happen. God allows us to know that there will be people that try to take His ‘beloved’ ones off task. That there will be false teaching and people professing that they are believers leading ungodly lives stuck in sin. God shows us this in different books of the Bible, through different people because He wants us to be aware. Not scared, but prepared, and ready for what is going to happen. God is kindly preparing us and showing us how to live, and He uses authors such as Jude to explain these things to us. 

Jude tells us that this we will see these people living irreverently as the ‘last time’ approaches. A reminder that the world we live in will not last forever. Jude is reminding us that the world is finite, not to cause you to be afraid, but so you can get prepared for not just living in this world, but so that you're ready to live for eternity. He has already mentioned the destination of those who lead others astray by their teaching and untamed sin- where do you want to end up? This is an opportunity for you to assess your life and refine your behaviours and beliefs as necessary. We all make mistakes and can fall into believing things that are not true, being swayed by tempting talk and inviting actions. Today is a chance to put some things right as Jude has shown what the consequences of living a false life of faith are. Therefore be aware of how things can creep in and distance you from God. Be on guard for what is un/helpful in your life and use today to make a change.

*17*But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. *18*They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” *19*It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. *20*But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, *21*keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 

Jude 17–21.

Again, Jude reminds his readers how important and how loved they are as he reminds them that they are, ‘beloved’. He repeats this because he wants them to recognise that they are dear to him, this is why he is instructing, guiding and warning them in the way he is. The contents of this letter would seem pretty scary if it wasn’t enwrapped with love. It is from this affection that Jude is asking the readers to remember their faith, remember the past, remember the prophecies. So that they can all come into right alignment with God's will. So that their eternal destination and treatment by God is what they wish for and expect. In order to help them live a life of faith and help them avoid the inviting instructions of those that have led people of faith astray, Jude here gives three instructions to keep them, and us, on the right path as believers in Jesus;

I) ‘building yourselves up in your most holy faith’

In this world where we lean on the understanding of others and seek the opinions and expertise of one another, here, Jude is telling us to figure it out ourselves. You are responsible for how you learn and grow in faith, not anyone else. Jude tells you and I to build ourselves up. It is not the job of a leader, pastor, speaker or writer, but you yourself are responsible for the faith you have. Therefore make an effort to learn about it; read, pray, interrogate the scriptures, discuss with others, listen - know what the Bible says, and what it doesn’t. Don't just trust others and their understanding, but figure things out for yourself. Research, ask, and consider what this faith in God, through Jesus and with the Holy Spirit is about. Through that you will gain a better understanding of who God is and will gain confidence in what you believe. Jesus did. So that when he faced temptation in the wilderness he was well equipped to face it and succeed. You too will face temptation, are you well equipped for when it comes? Have you built up your confidence in God and understood how He wishes you to live?  You are responsible for building your faith. How are you doing that?

2) ‘praying in the Holy Spirit’

Praying in the Spirit bypasses the brain, we may start off with an idea of what we want to pray for but then get carried to pray for something else, or end up praying in tongues. Both are guided by the Spirit. Prating in the Spirit and having the gift of speaking in tongues is a great thing that makes no sense to others not of faith. It is something inside of us that communicates with God, it connects us with His heart and strengthens our own faith and resilience. If you do not currently pray in the Spirit, then give it a go. It strengthens the connection you have with God and strengthens you. Romans 8:26-27 says, 'the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.' Allow the Spirit to help you to pray.

3) ‘keep yourselves in the love of God’

 Once you have recognised and accepted the love of God, do all you can to remain mindful and accepting of it. We are told and convinced of the fact that God loves us throughout the Bible and since the creation of the universe, but have you ever considered that you have to be mindful of keeping yourself in God's love? keep yourselves in the love of God’ is a command. This is telling you that despite what comes your way, God's love is always available, but are you keeping that in mind and is your heart still focussed on following God? Life happens, you make mistakes, you have desires, you may get bored, fed up, lose the passion you once had, encounter tragedy, feel burnt out. Yet, when you encounter these things ensure you remind yourself of the truth, and that how you live, what you do and think matters. Do not turn your back on or wander away from God. It will not go well for you - look at the previous verses for how that pans out - for humans and angels alike. Even if you don’t feel like it, stay obedient. Keep reminding yourself of who God is, keep meeting and talking to other believers, keep praying and keep going. Keep yourself in God's love - lead a life that makes it easy for God to love you. We all see the different moods, characters and behaviours of children. Sometimes it is so easy to see things to love in them, when they are kind, generous, supportive, fun. Then there are other times! Times when it is easy to dislike them, and it takes work to love them. It is the same for us in our relationship with God. Are you acting like His loveable child, or are you making it difficult for God to love you? Keeping a loving relationship with God alive is your responsibility as well as God's. God will do His part, will you do yours? Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:9–10). Jesus, the Son of God tells us how to keep in the love of God -through obedience. Children show love and trust when they do as they are told. It is not something any of us probably like, but it is still true. As God's child, are you remaining in His love and doing as He asks? 

'you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, *21*keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.'

Come, let us build

I have started reading through Nehemiah, and it really struck me anew that there really was a marvellous mix of people that worked together to build up the city wall of Jerusalem. 

The city had been destroyed by battles; the walls burnt and broken, and the pieces left to lie in ruins for years. It was a war-torn, abandoned city. Once the pride and joy of its inhabitants, now it was a place with a few stragglers left or a few returning Jews released from exile amidst a pile of rubble.

Then Nehemiah turned up. Before that though he was in a totally different city, serving a foreign king as a cupbearer. Yet he had a heart for Jerusalem. He was heartbroken by the state of the city of God that had been reported to him. This city, Jerusalem, was the home of his ancestors, the place where the temple of God had been, where festivals had been held by the gatherings of God’s people, now a place of desolation. 

So, he prayed. After all, what could he do? He himself was an exile, and a servant of the king. He prayed. Then God gave him the opportunity to return to Jerusalem, so he took it and went to see what was going on and what he could do.

After prayer and secretly checking out the condition of the city, Nehemiah rallied the people together and became the instigator for the vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah told the people what he felt God directing him to do - rebuild and repair the the city wall, he then extended the invite to everyone, ‘Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem’. Nehemiah knew it was a big task, but that didn't deter him, instead he asked others to join in and help. It wasn’t a mandate, or a law; it was an invitation, an inspired call to action. Nehemiah told the people what he had seen, what he felt and asked them to be a part of it. Many responded. Many did not. 

The overall corporate voice seems to have been, ‘Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work’. Amazing response! People were willing. They hadn't quite seen things the way they were, or what they could do, until they were inspired and gathered by Nehemiah. Then they wanted tog et involved to make whatever difference they could. That's how a great marvellous mix of people came together to build.

The first mentioned in Nehemiah was the High Priest - the top religious man of the time, along with his family. It seems like they set the precedent; they set aside their robes and status and began the work of builders. This religious family took up Nehemiah’s call to do the dirty, hard lifting work, and they toiled til they had completed and consecrated their section. Many others did the same; men and women from different areas, tribes, vocations and ages. They all did their bit. There were; leaders, goldsmiths, perfumers, rulers, levites, priests, servants and merchants all involved, yet not one mention of a carpenter or builder, isn’t that interesting? You don’t have to be a skilled expert to faithfully do what God has called you to do, you just need to be willing. This story in Nehemiah proves it.

This people were compelled and committed to realising the vision Nehemiah cast to rebuild the city. They heard the call, and signed up to the task. Not an easy one either, they had to work really hard, ‘from the break of dawn until the stars came out’. This was no half-hearted effort, it was all consuming, difficult, labouring. There would have been times when they were; tired, fed up, worn out, grumpy, aching and scared, but they were not put off. They knew the call was to build, and each person dedicated their time, effort and energy to the reconstruction of that city wall. They didn’t focus on the everyday inconvenience, discomfort or danger, but on the promise of a fulfilled mission, the commitment of a people working together to complete a work of God. The city wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt by families and individuals working diligently. Everyone did what they could despite the hard work, late hours and threats. They strengthened one another and look what they achieved - The city wall was built in 52 days! That is impressive! A people willingly working together to build God's kingdom can do incredible things.

So, how can we apply this to our lives? Consider these questions:

What is it that your church is rallying people to build where you live? 

Where is the gap in the wall that you can faithfully build? 

God is calling you, asking you if you would join in the reconstruction work that is going on where you are, ‘Come, let us build'. He invites you to join in, are you going to take up the call, or be like those that didn't? because there is an alternative response to this call. Looking back at the verses in Nehemiah 3, there are those that did not rally, that did not get involved. They were notable in their absence, ’their nobles would not stoop to serve the Lord’. I think that is very sad, don't you? There were, and there are, those that profess to be God’s people, but they won’t get stuck in. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, there are people that will opt out of the hard work of building because it is difficult and inconvenient and maybe because they feel inadequate. Are you one of those? 

If so, look at what you’re missing out on. As we read the book of Nehemiah it is not always fun, in fact it is hard and it will challenge and stretch you, plus you will probably get outside influences and distractions trying to halt you. Yet those that respond to the call to build are part of something bigger than themselves. They see the miracle of completion, the joy of relationship and protection. They see answers to prayer and enemies defeated, they see how God has had a massive hand in their lives and achievements. They see themselves and where they live transformed. So, really, are you willing to miss out on that? 

Today, you have a chance to respond to the call of God to build. 

Are you going to be like the faithful men and women that responded, who could quite rightly have said, “I’m not a builder, I am a perfumer/priest/servant/etc……. What can I do?” Yet they didn’t. They did not regard their experience level, skill or status as a hindrance, instead their response was a willing, ‘Let us rise up and build’!

With the little or the much you have, are you willing to see what God will do with it and how He will use you to build His kingdom? It won't be easy, it will challenge you and stretch you, but will you obey the call?

It could be that God is inviting you to help an existing team, join a prayer initiative, serve refreshments, be part of a community service team, or maybe even start building a part of the wall that hasn't even been started yet, a new initiative that will build the kingdom of God where you are.

If you're not sure what to do, then ask God - He will show you, probably several times if you're anything like me! God has invited me, many times, to do things I have been ill equipped to do. Like; join the welcome team when I was too shy to speak to anyone (I would be the quiet one hiding in the corner or putting away the chairs to avoid conversation), or be part of the prayer team when I never prayed aloud, then to start a Sunday morning youth work when there were no young people in the church at the time. I was weak, incapable and unskilled in all of these things, but I was willing.  And do you know what?! I grew and changed, learnt new skills and abilities and I have seen God do great things. I am not the same person I was, because my attitude was like those willing builders Nehemiah inspired.

Regardless of capacity, status or skill, are you willing to ask God what it is He wants you to build? 

‘Let us rise up and build’? 

Shaky Servant

 

The faith of Abraham’s servant is quite astounding. He is faithful to Abraham, and totally respects the faith Abraham has, acknowledging something significant about ‘the God of my master Abraham’. 

Although, at the beginning of Genesis chapter 24 the servant seems overwhelmed by the task his master is giving him, the servant has trust enough in Abraham and God to do as Abraham asks. 

The servant even prays a bit of an outrageous prayer (ever done that?!). Then he sits there, I believe, in awe-struck silence, as his prayer is answered straight away right in front of his eyes. 

We can see from the text that he was clearly stunned, he and questioned whether it was really that easy the task he had been sent on. He knew it shouldn’t be. He had started the journey with many questions and concerns. Yet he still stepped out in nervous faith, more carried along by the faith of Abraham and his obedience to him. It was then that his own faith grew. 

As we read more about the unravelling of this story, the servant honestly retells the events to those listening, and they acknowledge, “the thing has come from the Lord”. 

As the servant sees that God indeed is with him, he worships, he recognises that it’s not anything of his own self that deserves this situation to work out as it has. He knows he has been sent by a God-filled man, and he humbly continues with his mission having seen what God has already achieved through his obedience. 

I love this story because I see the humility of this servant whose name isn’t even mentioned.  He doesn’t know if he really believes in this God, as he refers to Him as, ‘the God of my master Abraham’. The servant is obedient even though the task set before him stretches him and demands something unusual. His obedience to the faith-filled Abraham is ultimately what leads him to begin to understand that there really is a God, and that this God is significant. This God makes things happen, even those things that seem ridiculous, this God is present, this God listens, this God fulfils His purposes, this God is awesome and is worthy of worship. 

Yet, the servant would not have grown in faith in this way unless Abraham had challenged him to go on this journey. The servant had seen Abraham make decisions in faith, but had not had to do it on his own before. Abraham sent him, and look at the increase of faith this produced in that man, and the blessing it brought to Abraham’s family. 

Are you willing to be sent on a faith journey? 

Is there someone who’s faith you admire that is setting a challenge for you to move and grow in faith? If so, be obedient, take the risk - what’s the worse that can happen? 

When you step out in faith, it is terrifying, it is different, and people may think you’re a bit crazy, but be ready, like the servant, to pray outrageous prayers and see outrageous answers. It won’t just change your life, but the lives those around you too. The task of Abraham's servant seemed ridiculous really, yet he trusted in the faith of his master, someone who had seen God working in so many ways in his life, the servant took stock of the success and faith of this man, and realised that eventhough he did not share the faith of Abraham, he could trust that Abraham knew what he was asking of him and expecting of God. So, the servant stepped froward with trepidation. He by no means was certain of success, or of what would happen, but he had confidence in Abraham, even if he didn't have the same confidence in God yet. 

Are you willing to go like Abraham’s servant was? It is ok to have questions, it’s ok to not be sure, it’s ok to be nervous and excited. It’s great to pray and trust. So, are you willing to take the first shaky steps into a new future as you trust in the faith of others when they call you to step out?

Perpetuation of sin

Sin is dangerous. Ignoring God's rebuke is dangerous. It is dangerous for you and the generations that follow. If you're reading this today and know there are things in your life that God doesn't like, make a decision today to get rid of it because it will get hold of you and destroy you, your faith and your family. Don't believe me? Think i'm being over-dramatic or too harsh? Then lets look at the Bible and consider the generations that followed Cain....

*17*Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. *18*To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. *19*And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. *20*Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. *21*His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. *22*Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 

*23*Lamech said to his wives: 

Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; 

you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: 

I have killed a man for wounding me, 

a young man for striking me. 

*24* If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, 

then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” 

We do not know much about some of the generations that are in-between Cain and Lamech, but look at the perpetuation of sin that occurred in the generations between Cain and Lamech. Considering that they would of known and understood that they are descended from the first ever people on the planet who walked with God, look how far away from God’s perfect plan they wander; Lamech has not one wife but two for a start, this clearly does not reflect God’s design that two become one flesh (- what do 3 become?) Then look at Lamech’s speech, or i would call it a boast; how he murdered someone for injuring him, how he seeks revenge and seems to have a lust for vengeance. 

The generations between Cain and Lamech are not mentioned much beyond their capabilities, they certainly do not mention that any of them have faith in God (maybe they did but it doesn't seem to be as signifciant a part of their life as their accomplishments). Yet we get this snippet about Lamech, which clearly shows the level of degradation humankind had got into. 

It all stemmed from pride. Cain was proud and would not accept instruction, down the line this led to Lamech's pride in murdering someone! can you see how sin gets out of hand?

You may not see your wrongdoing as a big deal. it is. It is a big enough deal to separate you from God (who is supremely holy), and warrant the death of an innocent man who willingly went through torture so you and your descendents could be free from the entanglement of sin. 

Temptation, pride, disappointment, even success can quickly descend into sin. It can overcome you if you do not allow God or His people to correct you. If you choose to go your own way instead of God's then you can see your life, and the lives of those who come after you descend into wickedness. If Cain had listened to God’s warnings, if we listen to God’s warnings instead of doing what we want, how different our lives and the lives of those around us could be. 

So, the question is, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind you? 

How your descendants turn out could well depend on your obedience to God today. 

obedience

'In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. *8*Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. *9*And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him'
Hebrews 5:7–9.

I think these verses are a beautiful demonstration of Jesus humanity.

Just look at the experience of Jesus - at times, he became so distressed that he prayed with ‘cries and tears’. He called out to God and petitioned Him for things. Jesus felt his own weakness, distress and trouble. Do you ever feel like that? And feel like there’s nothing else to do but cry to God? Jesus, the very son of God, also felt the same.
He recognised that he needed help, and that there were parts to human life he didn’t like, so he called out to God. He cried out to the one he knew could change things, he shed tears in front of God, and even asked for things that his own humanity wanted. Jesus even asked for his situation to change - that he wouldn’t have to be tortured and crucified, he asked to be released from suffering and pain - don’t we all do the same at times? We all want relief not pain. Jesus had the same inclinations. So, he asked God for a way out - he didn’t get it, but he asked. Jesus, even though he poured out his fears and longings to God, he continued to hold God in reverence - he didn’t shake his fist at God and blame Him for his situation, but he requested assistance and demonstrated incredible obedience and faith. Jesus understood that God, ‘was able’ to change the outcome, yet Jesus also submitted to whatever it was that God wanted even when it was different to his own desires.

Jesus remained obedient. Even when his desires were not fulfilled, even when he knew he couldn’t escape the pain that was coming, he still did what he knew was right and what God wanted.
In fact, these verses state, ‘he learned obedience through what he suffered’.
Jesus grow in understanding, knowledge and obedience. Jesus had to learn these things, just like we do. Jesus learnt how to be obedient, and what better way for obedience to be tested than through adversity. It’s easy to be obedient when we are asked to do things we want to do, it’s when we are asked to do things we don’t want to do that our obedience, relationships and loyalty are tested. Jesus experienced the same. He had to learn to be obedient.

Jesus had to learn and grow like we all do. He also
had to suffer pain like we do.
How wonderful that our God has had the same experience of living this human life, he was just like us. He did not escape feeling sad or happy, lonely or crowded, comforted or in pain.
Jesus lived in such a way that demonstrated his humanity, obedience and godliness. The result of all this was that Jesus was, ‘being made perfect’. That could only happen through him learning obedience through suffering.

So, next time you enter a situation of suffering, don’t despair. Know that, like Jesus, this is a time for you to learn obedience and that through the experience you are, ‘being made perfect’.

The king's command is supreme

*2*I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him. *3*Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. *4*For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 
Ecclesiastes 8:2–4.

Who can say to the king, let alone God - “what are you doing?”! 
I think we forget that. We often question authority and the decisions of our leaders, yet what gives us any right to do so?

The verses above show that we should be obedient and honouring of an Earthly king - of the monarchy, government and those in authority - we should honour and respect them, but do we?

How often do you hear people bemoaning the current leaders? Grumbling about government? How often are our leaders scrutinised and found to be lacking?
Yes, leaders may let us down, those in authority may abuse their power or make poor decisions, but they are the ones who have been given the authority by Almighty God. They have been put in their position of power for purpose. We have no idea of the difficulty of governing and ruling, our leaders have to make big, difficult decisions and they do it to the best of their ability and knowledge. They will, at times, make mistakes, just like the rest of us do in our everyday lives. I don’t know why we place those in authority on a different level to ourselves - they are just as human as we are and we should honour and respect them, if for no other reason than, ‘because of God’s oath to him’. God has ordained those in leadership, therefore if we believe and trust in God, we should believe and trust in Him for those in authority. God has ordained their position, who are we to question, “what are you doing?” Some may seem like they are the most ungodly characters around, appear stupid or irresponsible, yet God has His plan. He has allowed them in that position for a time, so, even we disagree with our leaders, their policies or decisions, what benefit is it to moan about it? What good does it do to question, “What are you doing?” Instead, trust in Him, the ultimate King as He has all power and authority.

As God is the highest king, and, ‘the word of the king is supreme’ - Are you following what God has asked you to do?

Are you being obedient to His instructions in your life? The words of the king are supreme - That’s an interesting concept isn’t it? God’s word is supreme - it is unchanging, unchallengeable and is of the highest authority. I guess that ties in with the previous verse where it talks about honouring our leaders and being obedient. The kings word outweighs any other agenda. God gives us commands and words to follow - He is the supreme authority, so what do you do when He asks you to do something?

Often, when God asks me to do something I feel fearful and try to back out of it, but I need to live more with the recognition that His words are supreme, they are the ultimate authority, outweighing any kind of excuse or emotional response that I may have. My feelings are not supreme, fear is not supreme, worry, joy, sadness, - these things are not supreme, but the words of our King are supreme. They matter, they have significance and power. Recognising the supremacy of His words should help us to, ‘Keep the king’s command’.

In summary then, God is ultimate, He is control and even has authority over the leaders in this world. We have no right to question the supremacy of God’s words, works or wisdom. When God speaks, when God acts, we should trust completely in who He is. The truth is, He is not just a King, but also a gentle, loving father. Whatever He does, He does with purpose, whoever He places in positions of power, He does for purpose, whatever he speaks or commands you to do, He does for purpose.