As the writer of Psalm 104 sat in his chair and took out his writing instrument, he contemplated the constant, ongoing care God shows over all His works. Some part of God’s creation is awake at all times.

104:21-23       The young lions roar after
their prey.
And they seek their food from
God.
When the sun rises they
withdraw
And lie down in their dens.
Man goes forth to his work
And to his labor until evening.

There is a rhythm in creation that reminds me of God’s constant watchcare over and provision for His creation. During the night, as I sleep, God provides for the lion as it prowls for food. As the lion does its thing (hunts), God does His (provides).

About the time the lion is lying down to rest from his nocturnal labor, I’m arising from my night of rest. Throughout the day as I do my thing (work), God does His (provide). So God continues, day by day, with infinite consistency. He gives us the ability to work and feel gratified that we’ve taken part in the process of providing, but without Him all our work would be in vain.

103:1   Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name.

What a great way to start any day, no matter what that day has in store. According to the psalmist, there are plenty of reasons for me to bless the Lord: He pardons my wrongdoing; He heals my diseases; He pulled me up from the spiritual pit; He places His compassion and kindness on me like a crown, He satisfies my years with good things; He performs righteous acts; He judges rightly; He makes known His ways to human beings; and my favorite, He has removed all my sins from me as far as the east is from the west.

But as I read this psalm this morning, I noticed something I haven’t seen before. David, the poet, speaks in the second person. “Who pardons all YOUR iniquities. Who heals all YOUR diseases” (verse 3). Who’s he addressing? Not God. The answer is actually in verses 1 and 2. “Bless the Lord, O MY SOUL.” He’s talking to himself—to his soul–to the part of Him that processes spiritual truth. The soul is the part of the individual that communicates with God and others on a deeper level than the flesh, or even superficial dealings of the mind; such as when someone asks me, “How are you?” and I respond, “Fine,” without really thinking about a genuine response. My soul is the real me. It’s who I am. It’s why I can communicate with God and others on an intimate level—a real level. We even use terms such as “bare the soul” to describe a level of honesty and openness that makes us vulnerable to other people.

The soul is what God sees even when I try to hide what’s in there. God has a way of penetrating the veneer and seeing the real me. He sees my soul, and He pardons anyway; heals anyway; and crowns me with compassion anyway. Sometimes in church we sing the song, “Jesus, lover of my soul.” God does love my soul; but my soul, the real part of me, the part that has fellowship with Him, must also have a healthy fear and awe of Him. I must not forget His benefits. “But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him” (verse 17). To forget any of God’s benefits, and take them for granted, is  like slapping away the hand of someone trying to rescue me from drowning.

Father, thank you for all your benefits. Your lovingkindness lasts forever. I will never forget.

It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes when I’m praying and listening to God, it’s as if God is actually answering my prayers and questions while I’m praying. This seems to be what the psalmist experienced as he wrote and prayed in Psalm 102.

He prays,
“Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress;
Incline your ear to me;
In the day when I call answer me quickly” (102:2).

Wouldn’t most of us like for God to answer our prayers quickly?

But as the psalmist prays, God seems to answer him and give him assurance. The poet recounts times of anguish and affliction, then writes,

“But you, O Lord, abide forever, and your name to all generations… For the Lord has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory. He has regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created will praise the Lord. For He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth, to hear the  groaning of the prisoner; to set free those who were doomed to death,” (verses 12-13, 15-20).

God may not answer quickly, but He does hear, and He does answer. The answer to our prayers can even be seen in future generations. God will do things today that will cause even people not yet created to praise His name. I don’t normally think about my world after I’m gone. I see the world so much from my own perspective. And even when I contemplate my own death, I think about my existence in heaven, not what earth will be like without me. What an awesome thought to consider that my grown children will call up the same God as I do. My grandchildren will see the same wonders of God (and hopefully more) as I have. My great grandchildren will call out to the God who has a long history with me. When God intervenes in their lives, He’ll remember how He interacted with me in the same way. I wonder what will be going through the mind of God. When my grandson asks for the same things as I did at his age will God smile and think, “I’ve seen all this before”?

I hope the generations that follow me will see even more and experience more of God’s grace than I have; but if God never answers another prayer of mine, He’s done plenty already.

101:2-3a       I will give heed to the blameless way.
When will you come to me?
I will walk within my house
in the integrity of my heart.
I will set not worthless thing before my eyes.

Blamelessness and integrity are often mentioned in Scripture as qualities that bring God’s approval. Blamelessness, in the New Testament sometimes referred to as staying above reproach, has to do with how another person views me. My blamelessness, or lack thereof, affects my reputation as a person who honors God with his life or someone who brings dishonor upon the Lord. In other words, blamelessness is a virtue noticed more in public than in private. Integrity carries with it public and private implications. Maybe that’s why the psalmist writes, “I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart” (verse 2). Integrity does the right thing and lives blamelessly when no one is around.

Blamelessness and integrity have the potential every day to play themselves out in the life of the disciple of Christ. For example, when I’m in a crowd of religious people, I may espouse my beliefs that it’s a sin to get drunk. But if I have too much to drink at a company Christmas party, I’ve not been blameless in that area of my life. But let’s say I pass that test and resist the temptation in public. Then later, when I get home I tie one on. I’m not being blameless and I’m certainly not walking in integrity.

Here’s another scenario. Suppose a person would never go to a public theatre to watch a pornographic movie, but doesn’t hesitate to watch it in the privacy of his own home. That’s not living a life of integrity. Integrity is doing the right thing and living the right way even when no one’s around. The psalmist said, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes” (verse 3).

The bottom line is that God is our audience of One. Whether we’re in a public setting  or within the walls of our own home, he sees us. He watches over us. There’s no escaping Him. That’s encouraging when we need His protection. It’s sobering. when it comes to our accountability.

I love the attitude of joy expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 100. I don’t know for certain why people get the impression that a life completely devoted to God through Christ is a life of sorrow, misery, and a lack of joy. I suppose there are a couple of possible reasons. (1) Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Suffering Savior, and He certainly suffered during the anguish and pain He experienced on the cross. But He also demonstrated throughout His life that true peace and joy are results of a person’s relationship with God, not their particular circumstances. (2) Another possible reason is the countenance of people who claim to be followers of Christ. Christians can be negative, pessimistic, and hyper-critical of others. But nowhere in the Bible does God forbid people to have fun and have a positive outlook on life.

100:1-3     Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.

After this proclamation of joy, the writer tells the reasons for his outburst. He says that the Lord made us, and we are His special people—the sheep of His pasture. Normally, it wouldn’t be much of a complement to be called a sheep. Sheep aren’t very smart, and they’re completely helpless—totally dependent upon the shepherd. But considering that our Shepherd is the King of kings and Lord of lords, being a sheep in His pasture is a high honor and blessing.

God also allows us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Think about how intimate these privileges are. As I enter the gate of God, I approach the outer parameter of His presence. Gates normally mark the outskirts of someone’s property. If I drive through an owner’s gated property, I’m in the vicinity of the main residence, but not in the courts. If I’m allowed to come into the inner court, or residence, I’ve probably received a personal invitation to spend some time with the owner. The inner court is reserved for friends, not people who are only taking a tour of the property.

God invites me, not only to enter His gates, but to come into His inner court, to thank Him, to bless Him, and to praise His name.

99:1    “The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble.”

The fear of the Lord. That’s something I don’t hear people talk about much any more. I did when I was a child and teenager. My pastor was a “hell-fire and brimstone” preacher. He preached about heaven, but he also preached about hell. He proclaimed the love of God, but was just as quick to speak of the wrath of God. I wonder why we don’t hear that kind of preaching as much anymore. Passages such as Psalm 99 remind us of the many places in the Bible that describe people who trembled in the presence of God. And the biblical writers never say that fear isn’t a proper response for people to have in His presence. The reason given in this chapter is the holiness of God.

3       “Let them praise your great and awesome name; Holy is He.”

9       “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for holy is the Lord our God.”

Three times in this brief passage the psalmist mentions the holiness of God. And the people trembled.

But something even more amazing than the holiness of God is tucked away in these verses. One fact about God almost goes unnoticed in the Hebrew poetry. The fact? God, in all His holiness and majesty, listens to us.

6b      “They called upon the Lord and He answered them.”

8       “O Lord our God, You answered them.”

How amazing is God that with all His might and power and authority, He still listens to us, and He answers us? On one hand, when I am out of God’s will there is reason to have a healthy fear of Him, just as when I was a child, I had a healthy fear of my earthly father when I’d disobeyed him. I knew he would discipline me, but like God, my dad’s discipline was remedial. “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.” On the other hand, when I go to God and confess my sin and repent, that is change direction, He hears me and forgives me. Because He is holy, and awesome is His name (verse 3).

98:1    O sing to the Lord a new song,
For He has done wonderful things, . . .

3           . . . All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Our mission team just returned from Brazil. We went to the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro to a community that didn’t have access to dental and medical care. It was also infiltrated with drug lords and crime. Every person who came had an opportunity to see a doctor, dentist, dental hygienist, or an optometrist. I served on the evangelism team who spoke to our guests not about their physical needs, but about their spiritual condition.

One member of our team was a man from Tennessee named Scott. Scott is an amazing servant of Christ. I was so impressed by his compassion for the people of Brazil. Scott sat down with person after person to patiently talk to them about their relationship with God. He specifically asked each person if they wanted to trust in Christ Jesus as their only way of salvation. Scott spoke with three people at a time in one group. When Scott asked the question, “Today, do you want to receive God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.” All three coldly shook their heads, “No.” Scott was disappointed, but He recognized his role. God’s command to him was to tell. The Holy Spirit’s role is to convict the heart. The trio moved on to their respective stations.

Then three more Brazilians took the place of the three who’d just left. Scott explained to them the same message. He patiently walked through the same plan of salvation. He told it as if it was the first time he’d given the speech all week. That particular day was later in the week, so he might have talked to a hundred people by that time. Still, Scott showed genuine enthusiasm as he told the three the best news he’d ever heard, about the greatest gift ever given. Then Scott asked the all-important question, “Would you like to receive God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ?”

Scott looked up to notice big tears streaming down the face of one of the ladies. With an expression of amazement on her face, the woman gave her answer in Portuguese. Scott waited for his interpreter to decipher her answer, but the interpreter sat in silence for a moment. Then she translated the woman’s response for Scott. “She said, ‘Oh, who wouldn’t want to receive such a wonderful gift?’” The interpreter smiled.  Right then and there, all three confessed Jesus Christ as their one and only Lord and Savior.

Since Scott told me that story several days ago, I’ve thought of that same question about every day. “Who would not want to receive such a wonderful gift?” And today when I read Psalm 98 I thought of the question again. “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” We certainly saw that in Brazil. I long to see it more and more here in the United States of America as well. And we will, as God uses us to “make known His salvation” (verse 2) and “reveal His righteousness” (verse 3) in the sight of our nation.

Psalm 97:12 “Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thank to His holy name.”

Many of the psalms express thanksgiving to the Lord for various blessings. Some thank Him for material provisions. Some thank Him for His creation. Some thank Him for victory over enemies or for demonstrations of His kindness and mercy. But the writer of the 97th Psalm takes a different approach. The psalmist has a touch of fear in his writing as he comes to terms with the might and majesty of God. The Lord reigns (verse 1). “Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries around Him. His lightnings lit up the world; the earth saw and trembled. The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (verses 3-5). The author personifies the earth, and in doing so shows that God’s creation instinctively responds to what many human beings fail to see; namely that God is capable of destroying the world and everything in it, but shows extreme patience. God reigns over everything, but for now doesn’t compel His creatures to bow before Him. Unlike human kings, God allows His subjects to disobey and even defy Him. The psalmist, having realized God’s great restraint, offers thanksgiving to the Lord.

The writer also acknowledges the righteousness and the justice of God. His judgments and mandates are always right and true. No one can ever second-guess Him. He can never do any better or be more wise than He already is. The most intelligent person in the world can still learn something, but God cannot. He can’t learn because there’s nothing He doesn’t already know. No wonder the psalmist gives thanks to the holy name of God.

There are many days that come and go when I don’t give a lot of thought to how amazing and majestic God is. I tend to give God human qualities and characteristics, such as love, goodness, kindness, or even indignation and wrath. When I read chapters in the Bible such as Psalm 97, I’m reminded just how incomparable God is to anything or anyone else in this world or in the entire universe. Maybe one day, after my life on earth is over, I’ll understand more about the power and the dominion of God. For now, I’ll have to be satisfied to join the mountains and melt; the heavens, and declare His righteousness; and the lightning, and let my light shine. For now, I’ll join those who are glad and who give thanks to His holy name.

96:4-6  For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him.
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Today I’m writing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I and a team of missionaries are serving the people of this beautiful country. We’re working alongside a local church to provide evangelism training as well as dental, pharmaceutical,  medical, and eye-sight assistance for the people in their community. The major object that identifies the city of Rio is the 90 foot Christ the Redeemer statue. With wide-spread arms, the statue exposes nail-scars in its palms and a huge heart of stone on its chest.

Our team traveled to the top of the mountain by way of a sky cable-car. As I stood beneath the stone figure I experienced mixed feelings. On the one hand I appreciate the artisanship it took to craft the giant masterpiece. I also am deeply devoted to the Savior whom the statue represents.  The view from the base of the statue is breathtaking. The sky was clear and blue. The water rhythmically swept in and out against the shoreline. It seemed as if the statue was holding its arms open wide, as if to say “Come to me Brazil. I will receive everyone who comes to me.” A tiny prayer chapel rests directly under the statue. Plain padded benches welcome burdened pilgrims who travel and ask God to lighten their load. I could only imagine how many tears were shed in that small room every single day—tears for husbands, wives, sons, daughters, moms, dads, and friends. How many people left the chapel with a lighter burden than when they went in? How many exited just as worried as when they’d entered?

On the other hand, I was uncomfortable with the statue. Even though I realize I can’t see inside of others’ hearts, I wonder how many people look to the statue as a source of strength and comfort instead of the Savior it represents. As our tour guide told us the height of the statue was 90 feet I bristled at the irony.  I remembered the golden idol Nebuchadnezzar erected, which is depicted in the book of Daniel, was 90 feet. When I close my eyes I can still see the heart of stone, coldly present on the chest of the stone giant. How different from the heart of compassion so often described in the gospel accounts of the Redeemer made of real flesh and bones.

As we prepared to come down from the mountain the sun began to set. Then I saw an amazing sight. As the fiery red ball dropped behind the mountains, a dark cloud covered the Christ statue, prohibiting onlookers to clearly see the statue and the sunset at the same time. Anyone desiring to catch one more glimpse of the man-made masterpiece would have to wait until God was finished displaying His. I leaned over to my wife Page and said, “It’s as if God is saying, what I can do is better than what man can do. Watch this.”

The psalmist wrote, “For all the gods of the people are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.”  That was the psalm I read this morning. It was as if God had the final word, at least with me. Some images may help me think about Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, but none of them can do Him justice.  “Splendor and majesty are before Him.  Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.”

Psalm 95:1, 2   “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation… Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”

I normally don’t respond well to hype. I’m a skeptic. I’ve seen too many movies that didn’t live up to the hype and too many ball teams that didn’t meet expectations. I’m also part of a generation that’s spoiled and not easily impressed. We’re the generation who watched the first man walk on the moon, lived without fear of polio because we’d been vaccinated, and witnessed a sheep named Dolly cloned from adult cells. So it takes a lot to impress us, even from God.

In addition to my skeptical nature, I’m not an emotional person. My demeanor doesn’t change dramatically from moment to moment. I’m pretty boring. I’ve had my moments when I became extremely excited, discouraged, or angry (I am ecstatic when Kentucky wins a basketball championship; I wept at the births of my children; and regrettably I’ve been ejected from a basketball game for fighting); but for the most part I’m pretty even-keeled.

So when the psalmist writes, “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation… Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms,” (95:1, 2) I feel a little guilty. I don’t shout joyfully to God as a way of life. I don’t shout to Him with psalms. I pray. I worship at church. But when I shout about stuff, it’s usually not about God. So what makes the writer feel this way? What is there about God that makes him shout?

Well, first the Lord is a great God (verse 3). He is the only living God. He is above every other false god I may bow down to. He created the earth and holds the oceans and the mountain tops in the palms of His hands.

Second, We are His people (verse 7). He could have chosen any of His creation to be His friends. Dogs wouldn’t have disappointed Him as we do (Prideful cats would have rebelled, but not man’s best friend). Monkeys would have kept God entertained. Dolphins could have performed tricks for God. But when it came to choosing part of His creation to have a meaningful relationship with and to model the image of God, He chose us. He speaks to us. “Today if you would hear His voice…” (verse 7b). He allows us to come to Him. “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (verse 6).

So even though my nature may not be to be demonstrative about many things, I have every reason to shout joyfully to the rock of my salvation. God has given me life, allows me to live as a part of His creation, has forgiven me of my sin, is preparing for me a home in heaven and eventually on His new earth (His rest, verse 11), and has welcomed me into His huge family.

This chapter describes the longing of the husband to be physically united with his wife. He describes her, using comparisons one would see in the middle east: wine, jewels, wheat, fawns. I’m a little puzzled by his statement that her nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which faces toward Damascus. That must have been some nose. I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

A couple of things strike me about this verbal expression of love. First, the husband isn’t embarrassed or self-conscious about telling his wife that she pleases him. Most people enjoy being told they’re attractive to their mate. This doesn’t change over time, even if we take the other person for granted. Healthy relationships include honest, encouraging communication by both parties. Second, the response by the wife includes her anticipation of the union with her husband. As she speaks of offering herself to her lover, her last statement is, “Which I have saved for you, my beloved” (7:8).

It’s a great thing to be able to give a husband or a wife a body that’s pure. This goes for before and after the wedding ceremony. When two people are joined together physically there is a bond created that is more than a physical one. It involves the emotions and deep things of the heart. When one person violates this exclusive gift, the relationship is changed in numerous ways. Some aspects of the relationship will never recover. All the more reason for the single person to wait to give himself or herself to their future spouse, and for the married person to be devoted only to his or her husband or wife.

This chapter consists of mutual admiration and affection shown between a bride and her groom.

6:1 “Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women?”
6:3a  “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

That’s an interesting way for this woman to view her relationship with the groom. In ancient times it ancient times, a women was considered the property of her husband. But in this chapter she states that they actually belong to one another. In our day, people balk at the idea of one person owning another. In our own nation, we went on record against slavery a long time ago. We’ve passed child labor laws to protect minors. Many people will sue at the drop of a hat if they believe someone has violated their rights. We’ve come a long way since the days of Solomon.

But the marriage relationship is different than any other. According to the Bible, when we pledge ourselves to another human being in a marriage relationship, our bodies don’t belong to us any more. My body, for example doesn’t belong to me, but to my wife.

The apostle Paul wrote, “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does” (1 Cor 7:3-4). The married couples I know who are the happiest and most fulfilled in their marriage understand this principle. Each person is more preoccupied with how he or she can meet the needs of the other person, and not vice versa. One of the first signs a marriage is in trouble is when one or both individuals begin thinking and talking about how their needs aren’t being met my the other person. Couples who start down that road are headed for trouble.

The opposite is true of couples who see their relationship as an example of Christ and His Church. There is a mutual devotion and affection. The husband is willing to sacrifice his own life for his wife. The wife is completely devoted and dedicated to her husband. His gift to her is selfless love. Her gift to him is complete devotion, honor, and respect.

The marriage relationship can’t be minimized to any single principle or formula for success. But my marriage will be healthy as my wife and I live out two principles. First, we both belong to Christ. The Bible says we aren’t our own. We belong to God. He purchased us with the life of His Son (see 1 Cor. 6:20). Second, we belong to one another. “I am my beloved’s and she is mine.”

3:14  “I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.”

When God does something, He does it right. When He speaks on a subject, no one can add anything by saying something themselves. Ironically, throughout history, thousands of volumes of commentaries have been written to help people understand God’s Word better. People have written books on how to interpret the Creation account in Genesis; the preaching of the Old Testament prophets; the apocryphal writings of Daniel; the Sermon on the Mount; the letters of Paul; the book of Revelation, etc. I’ve only scratched the surface. But none of those writings really adds anything accept a little explanation for those of us who live in another time and another culture. I can’t improve on God’s word. The best I can do is to try to remove barriers of understanding on my end.

It’s also impossible to improve on God’s creation. How could anyone make the Grand Canyon more beautiful, the Swiss Alps more majestic, the sky bluer, grass greener, or the mighty Redwoods more durable?

But God’s greatest act in history is His work of salvation and redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. He was perfect in every way—a perfect  plan, a perfect son, perfect timing, perfect sacrifice, perfect resurrection. The Bible says God sent His Son at just the right time to give His life for us. There were some who tried to undo the work of God. They thought when they saw Jesus die on a cross, that was that. How wrong they were? God’s work wasn’t complete yet. It still isn’t. God made the world in perfection, but it isn’t perfect now. One day He will make all things new. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Rev. 21:5).

The application for me is that if I want my labor to really mean something and to not fade away, I must understand what God is doing and join Him.

Father, you could do all of your work without me, but thank you for allowing me to join you. Your work will never be in vain. Your Word will never fade away. Your promises are everlasting and your work is eternal.

2:10    “All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.”

By Solomon’s own admission, he was a consumer. As I read this second chapter I couldn’t help notice how many times he used phrases that included “my” or “myself.”  “My mind,” “my body,” “my works,” “houses for myself,” “vineyards for myself,” “parks for myself,” “water for myself,” “silver and gold for myself,” “male and female singers for myself,” “my wisdom.” As I read about Solomon’s indulgences, two realities come to mind. The first reality I noticed was the absence of friends or family to share his pleasures with. He never says, “for us,” or “for me and others.” How sad. I can imagine Solomon’s face, without expression, on his as he examines all of his gold and silver. Solomon’s story makes me think of Howard Hughes, alone and paranoid for so many years. Unable to trust people because of his fear and suspicion that all they wanted was his money. There were no real challenges for him, nor for Solomon, because they could buy anything they wanted. But nothing quenched their thirst. Solomon writes, “All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them.”

In addition to the absence of loved ones to share his pleasures, I noticed another vivid reality. In the midst of trying to enjoy his possessions he has an aha moment. For some reason a light comes on for the king and he realizes that he doesn’t own the possessions. The possessions own him. He writes, “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity” (2:18).

Solomon gives himself and his wisdom a little too much credit and not enough to God. Even if he did gain all his wealth by his own wisdom, God gave him the wisdom to begin with. Solomon’s reality check is right on target, however. When he’s gone, someone else would determined what happened to all his wealth (like the bumper sticker on the back of the RV that read, “We’re spending our children’s inheritance”).  As a matter of fact, his successor was his son, Rehoboam. Solomon’s fears came true as Rehoboam led the people foolishly. His pride and foolishness eventually resulted in civil war and a divided kingdom.  Solomon’s greatest physical legacy was the great temple in Jerusalem. The Romans completely destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70.

The lessons? Share with others the blessings God gives. Resist the temptation to satisfy the flesh. It’s thirst will never be completely quenched. Hold on to the things of this world loosely. One day I’ll leave them. Treasures make cruel masters. I must never bow down to them.

I hate pessimism and negativism. I try to avoid hanging around negative people. They bring me down. Life’s too short to see the glass as half empty all the time. So I really struggle with the first part of Ecclesiastes. It helps that I know how the book ends, but I still bristle when I read the opening statements: “Vanity of vanities… All is vanity.” The word “vanity” in this context means meaningless or hopeless or futile. Great way to start the day, huh? “A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains forever” (1:4). “All the rivers flow into the sea, yet it is not full” (1:7).

My ironically negative reaction to the book of Ecclesiastes is also abated when I remember that this is God’s word and the writer was under the influence of the Holy Spirit when he wrote those words; therefore, they must have meaning and value to the original readers and to me thousands of years later. Still, I want to preach to this Preacher/Teacher. I want to say, “Snap out of it. God is good. And you have it good. As a matter of fact, your spoiled, Solomon. You were born on third base, and you thought you’d hit a triple. Your life has been easy. You’re problem is, you have too much time on your hands to think and worry. Go out and get a real job and you’ll sleep better at night.”

Then I realize that Solomon is actually right in many ways. All rivers do flow into the sea, and the sea doesn’t fill up. That which has been is that which will be again. All true statements. I guess I just interpret them a little differently. What Solomon sees as futility, I see as signs and expressions of a good God—a God of order—who is consistent, and who never changes or shifts like sand. I like knowing that the ocean is going to be there the next time I travel to the coast. I’m very grateful for the summer breezes that Solomon considers monotonous. They remind me that God is caring for me and that I need not sweat the small stuff.

I will take issue with Solomon on one minor detail however. I disagree with his claim that there is nothing new under the sun. Evidently he thought he’d seen and experienced everything. I respectfully disagree with the King. I’m grateful for the microwave and the air conditioner and coffeemakers. If I had to live without those necessities I’d probably been a little negative, too.

93:4    More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.

My wife and I have an alarm clock in our bedroom that also plays sound effects. I can awaken or go to sleep to a roaring waterfall, a soothing rain, the chirping of birds, crickets on a summer night, rolling thunder, the solitude of a rain forest, or my personal favorite, the rhythmic pounding of waves against the shore. I like the waves for several reasons. The hypnotic cadence is so unique. Nothing compares to the steady, predictable tempo—splashhh, wait, splashhh, wait, splashhh wait. I can close my eyes right now and imagine the white foam pounding the rocks, such as I saw recently in Mexico. Waves are like the pulse of the ocean, steadily pumping life out and in; back and forth.

The sound of the waves also reminds me of my own mortality. The waves have been coming in and going out for thousands of years, just as they are now. They were here before me, and they’ll be doing their job long after I’m gone. But for now they and I share a place in God’s creation. When my pulse stops, theirs won’t miss a beat.

But as beautiful as the waves are, there’s a very dangerous element to them as well. Their power should be respected.  A couple of years ago I was body-surfing in Florida. The waves were really rolling that day. My family and I were having lots of fun. Between waves I looked toward the beach with my back to the ocean. The water was only about waist-high. Then a wave broke just right across my back and shoulders. It plunged  me under the water and drove me to the sandy bottom. What happened next scared me. I’d never experienced it before. I became caught in the wave and it churned my body on the bottom like a washing machine would a load of clothes. For a few seconds I couldn’t distinguish between up and down. I was completely disoriented. So I stopped fighting and struggling, and just relaxed. The wave released me and I swam to the shore.

I don’t know whether the writer of Psalm 93 ever had a similar experience, but he considered the Lord on high to have some of the same characteristics as the ocean. Could it be that since God made the ocean, He gave it some of the qualities He possesses so that we would know Him better? In some ways God is as predictable as the ocean. He’s always present, always faithful, and always does right: “Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore” (verse 5). He’s timeless, existing before me and after I’m gone: “Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting” (verse 2).

But as beautiful and majestic and comforting as God is, His power should not be taken lightly: “The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength” (verse 1). He is to be respected and awed. His power is greater than the ocean’s. He holds the oceans in the palms of His strong hands. When I fight and struggle against Him, I can place myself in grave danger. My best response is to be still and know that He is God.

As much as I enjoy the artificial sound of the ocean on our alarm clock, it pales in comparison to the real thing. And even though the waves of the ocean reflect the awesome nature of God, they can’t really hold a candle to their Creator.

92:1    It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to your name, O Most High.

Sometimes the understatements in the Bible are funny to me; such as this one: It is good to give thanks unto the Lord. Good? It’s just good to give thanks? Is that the best the author could do? He was writing this chapter under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, and the best that he could do was “good”? He also wrote, “To declare your lovingkindness by morning and your faithfulness by night” (verse 2), so why not write, “Giving thanks to the Lord is continual?” Why not say giving thanks is wise, or right, or godly, or holy, etc., etc.

Maybe the psalmist used the word good because good covers so many other adjectives. When God created the world, He looked over His creation and gave His assessment: it was good; another psalm instructs us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8); David desired for the goodness of God to follow him all the days of his life (Psalm 23); the person who finds a good wife finds something that is good (Prov. 18:22); Jesus is the good Shepherd (John 10:11); and example after example in Scripture include the use of good to describe things that are almost beyond description.

I love to bless my children. To see them enjoy something I provide is part of the reward of being a father. But when they express thanks for the gift, my feelings of affection for them increase to another level. Their sincere expressions of gratitude make me feel warm, proud of them, and thankful to God for allowing me to be their dad. Their genuine thanks is good to me. It’s good.

God’s feelings aren’t the same as human emotions, but we’re made in His image; and somehow He experiences some of the same emotions that we do. When I give thanks to Him, and sing praises to Him, morning and evening, He has a word for that. He says it’s good.

What great promises for the person who trusts in the Lord:

91:1    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

91:15-16    He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see my salvation.

The first promise from God is to allow me to live in His presence 24/7; not just when I’m at church; not just when I’m in concentrated prayer or reading Scripture, but always. When I was growing up in Louisville, Ky., my family had a huge oak tree in the front yard. It was probably only average size, but back then, to a small child like me, it might as well have been a California Redwood; you know, the trees that road crews have to dig tunnels through because of their size. If I stood anywhere in our front yard I was in the shadow of that oak tree. It’s presence was felt all over the property. It’s shade even helped cool our house in the summer. Guests to our home commented to my parents on how massive the tree was. When I close my eyes and envision our old home, I don’t see the house. My memory casts the image of the tree on the video screen in my head.

God promises that kind of presence and more to the one who trusts in Him and dwells in the shelter of the Most High. When I wake up, God’s shadow is over me. When I go to bed, His enormous branches offer protection and comfort. His roots go so deep He’s not affected by tornados. His leaves provide life-giving oxygen to my lungs. His fruit provides nourishment for my soul.

That old oak tree from my childhood was already a mature tree before I came into the world, and it will probably still be there when I’m gone. So will God. And He even has the end of my life on Earth covered. He promises me that if I trust Him He will give me a long and satisfying life, and I will see His salvation. The only reason I’ll outlive the oak tree in the long run is that God has promised me eternal life. That’s one thing not even the towering oak can’t boast about.

90:10, 12   “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away… So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.”

This Psalm was written centuries ago, but the psalmist is dead on as he identifiies the average lifespan. Some say the average human lifespan has crept up in the past few years, but when we hear of someone dying, and the person is in his or her eighties, it’s easier to accept than if the person was only fifty or sixty years old. The older I grow, the younger eighty looks, but I still consider anything beyond eighty as almost borrowed time. I’m sure the closer I get to that mark, the less I’ll feel that way. But that’s only part of the point the psalmist is making.

The writer of Psalm 90 is comparing the brevity of our lives to the eternal nature of God. Even if I were to reach 80, 90, 100 years of age, compared to eternity my life is only a vapor, a wisp of smoke in the air—here one moment and gone the next. That reality reminds me of a poem I heard. I don’t remember the whole thing, but basically it leads the reader to picture a tombstone with the dates of birth and death engraved on the headstone. Our lives are represented by the dash between the dates. Then the writer explains the impact of our lives is determined by what we do with the dash.

The writer of psalm 90 desires for God to be his full satisfaction for as long as he lives. And at the end of his life, he wants God to affirm the work he does in his dash. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands” (90:17).

89:1 I will sing of the lovingkindess of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth.”

See, I told you (please see previous entry).

Psalm 88 is one of the darkest entries in the Bible. The Psalmist is at a depressed, lonely place. He all but believes God has completely abandoned him. In contrast, the writer of Psalm 89 rests and is confident of God’s faithfulness. Did he just have a better life than the writer of the preceding Psalm? Did he have more friends, more wealth, better health? Did God love him more that the author of Psalm 88? Psalm 88 reaches the depths of depression. Psalm 89 rests in the rafters of heaven.

89:14-5 righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; lovingkingdness and truth go before you. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of your countenance.

If I were to try to identify with one of psalmists, I would side with the latter; not because I haven’t had some of the same feelings as the former writer. I’ve felt alone. I’ve felt as if God wasn’t listening to my prayers. But I think the difference is that I’ve never stayed in that place. The reason I struggle with reading Psalm 88 is that the writer seems to stay in Sheol, and doesn’t seem to desire to get out. In the South, when someone dwells in one place and almost seems to not want out we say he “Wallowing in it” (or if you’re from Kentucky, as I am, “Wallering in it”).

In some ways my heart goes out to the Psalmist, but there’s a part of me that says, “Hey, man. Everybody has problems. Get over yourself. Snap out of it.” That’s easy for me to say, I suppose. So what do I make of all this? Well, I guess the real lesson for me is that everybody’s place before God is between them and the Almighty. The human spirit is a complex thing. Some days we’re up and some days we’re down. Our own attitudes are largely a matter of choice. With the exception of some mental disorders and chemical imbalances, people do actually have a say in whether they have peace or inner turmoil, joy or heaviness of heart.

89:6 For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the might is like the Lord?”

To say the writer of this psalm was having a bad day would be a huge understatement. He feels as if his friends have abandoned him (“You have removed my acquaintances far from me,” verse 8); as if his soul has been rejected by God (verse 14); and as if his soul is living in a pit (verse 6). Furthermore, he blames God for his awful state and believes God does not hear him when he prays for help. Please read the next entry to discover why I’m grateful God has given us all of Scripture and not just bits and pieces.

87:6    “The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, ‘This one was born there.’”

The people of Israel, or Zion as it’s called in this psalm, considering citizenship in their nation a great privilege. “Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God” (87:3). And in this psalm, God reminds His people that their citizenship was not arbitrary or by accident.

87:5    “But of Zion it shall be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her’; and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

Evidently God wanted to remind the people of Israel that they weren’t born citizens of Zion by accident. He had a purpose for every single citizen of Israel. This is a great reminder of the intentional providence and will of God, not only for the people of Zion, but for me as well. I love being a citizen of the United States of America. I’m an American by no work or effort or skill of my own. I didn’t make sacrifices to be a member of this nation as many of my countrymen did and still do.  I was born a citizen of the USA because my parents happened to be Americans—plain and simple. I had nothing to do with it. It was solely the choice of God. The same is true of everyone. No one chooses where he or she is be born.

Along with the amazing liberty and freedom I have in this nation, God expects me to be a good steward of the gift He gave me. So I must ask myself some questions: “Do I appreciate and thank Him for my citizenship, or do I take it for granted?”; “Am I generous to people who are under-resourced in other parts of the world?”; “How much do I waste or squander that could be shared with others?”; “Do I take advantage of my freedom to go to other nations to help spread God’s love and gospel?”; “Do I pray for national and local leaders who are making decisions that will set the course for our nation’s future?”; “Do I pray for and support the people serving in the Armed Forces?”; “Do I look care for and serve their family members?”; “Do I exercise my privilege and vote during elections or just complain when I don’t like the way things are going?”.

Part of my response to God’s sovereign act of making certain I was born within the borders of the U.S. is to ask myself these and other questions. And how I answer the questions reveals a ton about whether I’m a responsible, faithful steward of God’s gift.

On a final note, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I’m actually a citizen of Zion; not an earthly, temporal Zion, but a heavenly and an eternal kingdom. I remember as a kid singing the song, “We’re marching to Zion; beautiful, beautiful Zion. We’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.” The Israelites sang songs as they ascended the hill of Zion, and it’s a magnificent sight to see. But it’s nothing compared to the beauty of the heavenly Zion. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

I love passages of Scripture that teach me about prayer. I’m still such an infant when it comes to that critical spiritual discipline. I used to think of prayer as talking to God. I now understand that’s not prayer. That’s a discourse by me to God. Usually those one-sided discourses include a laundry list of items I want from God or tasks I want Him to do. Now I understand prayer is my on-going communication, fellowship, and intimacy with God. Prayer should consist of listening, talking, meditating, and basking in the presence of God. In light of that definition, Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17) makes perfect sense.

86:7  “In the day of trouble I shall call upon you, for you will answer me.”
86:12  “I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify your name forever.”
86:11  “Teach me your way, O Lord; I will walk in your truth.”

In the above three verses, and several more in Psalm 86, David includes some of the elements of true, effective, ongoing prayer. He speaks to God (I shall call upon you); he anticipates God listening to  him (Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and give heed to the voice of my supplications!); he expects God to speak back (for you will answer me); he listens for God’s instructions (teach me your way, O Lord); and perhaps most importantly, David obeys God when the Lord speaks (I will walk in your truth).

From now on would you join me and include every component of prayer that honors God? Let’s listen more than we talk; thank Him more than we ask for more; expect to hear from Him, as we are still and quiet; and commit to obey Him before He tells us what He requires us to do. My walk with Christ will go no farther nor deeper than my commitment to the practice of prayer.

85:1    You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
85:9    Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him.

The Psalmist is referring to God’s dealing with the nation of Israel; but what’s true of a nation is true of individuals. God promised the Israelites that if they turned to Him and repented of their sin (especially the sin of disbelief) He would receive them with open arms. He promised to show favor to them, restore their fortune, and give them peace. “Righteousness and peace kiss each other” (85:10). In other words, righteous living might not change their circumstances right away, but being right with God gives an inner peace that nothing and no one can take away. I’ve sure seen that demonstrated in my life. Whenever I’ve sinned against God, the more time passed without my honest confession, the farther away God seemed. But when I’ve confessed my sin to God, and others if I wronged them, peace began to return to my heart almost immediately. That’s especially evident when my wife, children, or close friends are involved.

A dramatic example of an absence of peace and it’s return was demonstrated in the life of King David. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and attempted to cover up his sin by sending her husband Urriah to his death. Some time later, and actually only after a confrontation from a friend and prophet named Nathan, the guilt was too much for the king to bear. He poured out his heart to God and begged forgiveness. He described his feelings when he covered up his sins as his “bones being crushed” (Psalm 51:8).  He asked God to create in him a pure heart and cleanse him from his sin. As God restored the joy of David’s salvation to him, the result was that David offered “righteous sacrifices” to God (Psalm 51:19).

I don’t have to feel anguish to the dept of David’s to feel as if I’m separated from God. Separation from Him can begin with just a little white lie, or a morsel of gossip, or an envious desire, or a resentful attitude. So, I must always be on my guard. And when I fall, God’s desire is not to withhold peace from me. He wants to restore me. So I must humble myself before Him. Then I can identify with the writer of Psalm 85: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (verse 6).

76:11   “Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.”
I wonder how many promises are made to God every day. “Lord, if you let me win the lottery, I’ll give 10% to the church.” If they’re not giving 10% before a windfall, they won’t after.
“God, if you’ll let me get this job, I’ll have my family in church every Sunday.” If they’re not faithful in worship before employment, they won’t be after.
“Lord, if you’ll heal my child (or mom, dad, husband, wife, friend), I’ll serve you for the rest of my life. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.” If they aren’t obedient before a miracle, chances are they won’t be after.
Those are general statements. There are some rare exceptions.
I’ve made my share of unfulfilled promises. I promised God I wouldn’t drink alcohol, but broke that promise while I was a college student. I’ve also made promises concerning my dedication to time in prayer, reading the Bible and witnessing. At one point or another, I’ve broken most of them. And if I’ve ever not lived up to something I’ve promised Him, that means I haven’t completely kept the vow. This being said, I could react by giving up. I could give up and not make any vows to the Lord at all. That way, I’d never  break one. I wouldn’t have to live with the guilt. But I will say this. In my attempts to keep my vows to the Lord, my faith and maturity have grown more than had I never made those promises.

Several years ago, I challenged the teenagers in a church where I served to take the True Love Waits vow. They actually signed a pledge card, that they kept in their possession, that promised God they would wait until they were married to have sex. I took heat from some parents who thought I was setting up teenagers for failure and guilt if they didn’t keep their promises. I couldn’t believe how low they set the bar for their students. The teenagers embraced the True Love Waits pledge. I don’t know how many of them kept the promise, but if I were a betting man, I’d bet some did because they made a vow to the Lord.

Some may say it’s better not to make any vow to the Lord at all, than to make a vow and break it. In fact, the Bible says, “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.” (Duet. 23:21-23).

So I should be very, very careful before I shoot off my mouth and make a promise to the Lord I won’t keep. My mom used to say, “Don’t let your mouth overload your rear-end” (that’s the rated G version, anyway). But there’s something even better than not making a vow because I don’t want to break it, and that’s making a vow and keeping it. And when I fall, stumble, or just blatantly break the vow, I must keep short accounts with God and go to Him in submission; confess my failure and/or sin; thank Him for the cross and promise of forgiveness; repent; and move on. I thank God for 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

75:6-7  “For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.”

“I’m not where I am by accident. I’ve worked hard for what I have. I busted my tail to live the lifestyle I live.” How many times have I heard people make statements similar to those? How many statements such as those have I made? Plenty. I appreciate a good work ethic in people. One of the hardest working men I’ve ever known is my father. From the time he had his first paper route until he retired almost two years ago at the age of 68, he worked hard. As far as I know, he never asked for anything he wasn’t willing to work for. He led my brothers and me by his example. Plenty of people do the same every day, but the truth of this Scripture is that the good things that happen to us are not arbitrary, and not even solely a result of our hard work. Somewhere in the process, the hand of God is involved.

The psalmist reports accurately that exaltation (success, praise, applause, approval of achievements) doesn’t just come out of the blue (not from the east nor the west). Any notoriety I receive doesn’t blow in from the desert as if by chance. When good things come my way, it’s because the hand of God has been at work in my life. Many people work hard, but are never recognized for it. Some people give their blood, sweat and tears to efforts every day and never see earthly rewards. If I base my sense of worth on how many people recognize my work, or how many know my name, or even whether I believe I’m well-compensated for what I do, I’ve left out the major factor in how my exaltation is determined. “God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another” (75:7). I’m also wise to remember that God does bless my effort for Him, either now or in eternity. My service for Him is never in vain. So my trust in Him is not an excuse to be lazy or to not try. But in the end He determines what the reward will be.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

71:12-14    “For [the king] will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. He will rescue their life from oppression and violence, and their blood will be precious in his sight.”

In this psalm, Solomon wrote about what the reign of a righteous king should be. The righteous king will use his power to serve his people, not lord it over them. In Solomon’s day, kings had absolute power as far as human beings were concerned. They could seize property and possessions at will. They weren’t obligated to justify their actions to anyone in the kingdom. The king could declare war on another nation and send the men and boys of the kingdom to die. But the sword of power and influence the king wielded had two edges. He could use his power for good or for evil. Solomon’s prayer is that he would use it for good. “Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king’s son” (72:1).

I have a hard time identifying with an ancient king, but this is a psalm on servant leadership, whatever the role. A person in leadership has choices regarding how he or she will lead others. For example, I can lead by position, or I can lead by a relationship based on trust, love, loyalty, and service. One of the best contemporary examples I know of is Christian businessman Truett Cathy. Truett is founder of Chic-fil-a (“Eat more chicken”). He makes no apology for founding his company on principles and core values he learned from Scripture, especially from the life of Christ. Truett believed he could base his company on principles of servant leadership. He wanted to earn the loyalty of his employees (and customers for that matter) by serving them. He’s passed these values down throughout his company. I once attended a conference and heard Truett’s son Dan speak on the principles of servant leadership. Dan is the current president of the company. During Dan’s talk, he asked an employee of Chic-fil-a to join him on stage. Dan proceeded to get on his knees and shine the man’s shoes. As he performed the task he talked to the audience about that being a modern-day way of washing someone’s feet, and talked about how Jesus set an example of servant leadership to his twelve disciples by washing their feet (usually the task of the least important servant in the household).

I’ve observed leaders from many walks of life, from the President of the United States, to managers of grocery stores, and I’ve concluded that servant leadership is the best and most effective model there is, not to mention the most Christ-like.

The first verse of this proverb reads, “The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him.” The old saying is still true, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” King Lemuel’s mother knew the profound influence she had on his life, and because these words have been recorded in Scripture, her influence has been handed down to every generation since. Even the statements in Proverbs 31 are true for every generation, the family is much more complicated and complex today than when the proverb was written. Now it’s not unusual for both parents to work outside the home. Today many children are raised by single parents. The mom or dad often has to be both for their children. Blended families also present unique challenges and struggles. While the precepts of Proverbs 31 are just as true as they ever were, they describe traits of both godly women and men. Especially applicable to both is verse 27: “She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

In ancient days, the primary role of women was to manage the household while the men governed affairs outside the home. Today, although different cultures have their own unique ways of divvying out responsibilities, in American culture moms and dads are both more involved in managing their households than ever before. This is possibly due to the number of moms who work outside the home. Hopefully it’s true, at least in part, because men desire to share in home responsibilities rather than put all household duties on the ladies. More than ever, running a household is a two person job. Although roles and expectations vary from house to house and person to person, some generalities still exist. On the whole, woman are better nurturers, and men bring other traits to the table. But it’s critical that they both “look well into the ways of the household.” And when neither eats the bread of idleness, there’s a special synergy and harmony in the home. People use their God-given gifts to complement one another. When things are really clicking, husband and wife, mom and dad, seem to almost be in a competition to see who can outserve the other. In that kind of environment, both will rise up and call the other one blessed.

30:8-9  “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

I don’t have a problem praying the first part of this prayer: “Don’t give me poverty.” That’s an easy one. For me to pray that prayer can be compared to praying the part of Jesus’ model prayer that says, “Lead us not into temptation,” or “forgive us our trespasses.” It’s a no-brainer. It’s the second part of the statements that are much tougher. “As we forgive those who trespass against us.” Similarly in this proverb, after the request to keep poverty from him, the writer prays, “Don’t give me riches either.” That’s the part I struggle with. Why not? It’s not as if God will have to do without if he pours riches out upon me. The writer gives his own rationale for his requests. “I don’t want poverty, because I don’t want to be tempted to steal.  I don’t want riches, because I don’t want to be tempted not to rely on God.”

As bad as I hate to admit it, I understand his concern. I don’t know what it’s like to be really hungry; hungry enough to steal to feed myself or my family. In the movie, Cinderella Man, there’s a touching scene where the main character, boxer James Braddock, played by Russell Crowe, chastises his son for stealing some meat from the Butcher’s Shop. During the Depression Braddock and his family fell on hard times. Jobs and money were scarce. Braddock squats down to gaze into his son’s eyes and says, “We don’t steal, no matter what.” The scene is intended to show the character of Braddock even in the hardest of times. The writer of the proverb asks God to help him avoid even the temptation to steal by providing what he needs.

In my opinion, his second request is most needed in the culture I live in. When times are good and prosperous, my default is not to turn to God in desperation, but to trust in my ability to provide. I would never audibly say, “Who is the Lord?”, but my fear is that I say it with my actions, attitudes, or feelings of self-sufficiency. On a day-to-day basis, do I seek God for everything I need. Do I maintain a spirit of dependence upon on Him? I mentioned the Lord’s Model Prayer earlier. Jesus prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Daily. Not riches to stockpile for the days to come. Daily provisions to take care of today’s needs. It was enough for Jesus. I guess it should be enough for me, too.

29:18   “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”

My understanding of this verse is based on a different reading than the one I grew up with. Traditionally I’ve heard this verse read, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” The application was usually that people in a country, an organization, or a church need leadership and direction or they will perish for lack of both. I’ve seen plenty examples in my life of directionless people due to poor leadership. But a closer look at what the verse says leads to a different application. The word for vision is actually “revelation;” specifically divine revelation to human beings. This is apparent in the last part of the verse. In contrast to those who know no restraint, people are actually happy when they’ve been given clear parameters, ideally by God Himself.

When there is no divine revelation (in other words, no law), there is chaos—no restraint. When people live in chaos, they’re anxious and afraid. They’re controlled by paranoia, not peace and wisdom. They’re more concerned with survival than following God’s will for their lives. I read Lord of the Flies in school. I didn’t like the book. I didn’t want to believe that a group of normal boys could resort to such cruelty and violence in the absence of law, accountability, and authority. But now, thirty-five years and a lot of experience later, the outcome of Lord of the Flies seems a lot more plausible to me. When people don’t have the law and don’t have accountability, their world can be a very dangerous place to live.

For example, I can choose to ignore the law of gravity. If I jump out of an airplane with no parachute, temporarily it will seem as if I’m experiencing freedom, but I’ll realize very soon I’m trapped by a force pulling me to the earth. I can ignore the force, but the outcome with be a huge thud as my body hits the earth. Casting off restrain would cost me my life. But if I choose to live within the law of gravity, I can use the law to my advantage. If I use a parachute and jump out of the plane, I’ve respected the law. Then I can experience the freedom of flying. The parachute, along with gravity will take me safely to the earth.

Fortunately we have God’s revelation. He’s revealed Himself through a book (the Bible) and through a person (His Son, Jesus Christ). God’s word in print and in the flesh reveal His character and mine. He’s been very clear in setting parameters for my behavior. When I follow His law and live within His parameters as a disciple of Christ, I live a life of incredible freedom. I’m free to ignore His revelation to me and to cast off the restraints, but the truth is the truth, even if I choose to ignore it. And the results of ignoring it can be deadly.