From Heaven to Helpless Part 4: Loving God

Psalm 91: 14-16 Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he knows and understands my name. He has a personal knowledge of my mercy, love and kindness; he trusts and relies on me, knowing I will never forsake Him. No never!

He will call on me and I will answer him.

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him;

with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Amplified)

The first commandment is "love your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." If we get that one right I believe; we get the rest right.

God said “Because he as set his love upon me . . . . First I set my trust in him. Then I make him my permanent dwelling. Then I set my love on him like I'd tune in a channel or radio station and forget the rest exist at all. It is a conscious act of choosing to love God progressively more through time because we have forsaken all other loves.

A parent bird finds its young. The baby yells. The parent finds it and leads it to a place where it can be safe. I don't think it is so much that I must find God's shelter as that I must call and learn to love him. I have trouble with these two tasks.

First, I am so easily drawn aside to other loves. I want. And sometimes the wants destroy trust and affection for the Father. But it seems as I consciously choose him, it happens more quickly, though not with less human struggle. Perhaps one day the struggle will cease, but I doubt that. I think I recognize more quickly how much I do want the love of the relationship to stay strong and active. I don't think there is anything wrong with a Child of God having earthly possessions and I know all the cliches. But honestly, blessings become spiritual burdens sometimes, while Jesus reminds us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. I start out thanking God for the stuff, people, job, and end up so busy I barely say “Hi!” in passing and my love starts pulling away. He will travel with me through the day of course, but we need dedicated one on one time to keep the love strong.

Sometimes it is pride in what I have or pride because of what I don't have that causes me to turn my gaze away and wander off. But I'm learning to see the signs. I've prayed for God to scream at me when I start pulling away. The memory of the close intimate time with my God draws me back to the center of his shadow. I just have to tune it in and set my love on him.

Second, I call to many things when I am in distress. I call up my own past, I call out to other people's sympathy and direction. I call my own will. And when I am exhausted, I call the father. This is not an effective way to live, but I have come up that way and renewing the mind is not a one time effort.

Another part of this is knowing and understanding God's name. He is 'I am that I am.' Anything that could possibly mean is wrapped up in God. He is beyond description or definition and yet he wants us to know him. He wants us to understand what his name implies and promises. How could we not trust or love him if we recognize all he is and brings to us? He promises to be there always through all things. He promises deliverance and honor. He promises satisfying longevity and then ultimate salvation. Frequently very elderly people don't have a very satisfying life. They lose mobility and strength. They lose friendships and value within the community and family. They lose purpose and ownership. I want to be that old person who gets around, who tries to sing, who smiles and laughs, who wakes up glad to be living each day. I believe this is a promise to those who set their love on the Father.

From Helpless to Heaven- Part 3 Living and Moving with God's Shadow

Psalm 91: 7-13 Then a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be as you witness the reward of the wicked, inaccessible in the secret place of the most high. Because you made the Lord your dwelling and refuge, there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. For he will give his angels special charge over you, to accompany, defend and preserve you in all your ways of obedience and service. They shall bear you up on their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone; you shall tread upon the lion and adder and the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under foot.

The first 6 verses center on the believer's trust in God. I believe that trust-confident reliance on the nature, promises and attributes of God is how man attains relationship with God. Self efforts at righteousness fall desperately short of the requirement. The promises based on trust alone are amazing. I've seen the results of unabashed trust in my own life. I've also seen the results of pulling out and trusting my own judgment, desires and strength.

Recently I heard a sermon on the character of God: he is just -rigidly righteous- in all he does. He is love -lavishly affectionate and gracious to all he has created. Satan's tactic is to pit God's righteousness against his love and make him choose one above the other knowing that either choice would reduce him from being God.

But God devised a way in which justice can be satisfied by faith and he can justly show love to fallen man. Through his son's obedience and sacrifice, the righteous debt is paid for all who believe. Faith is counted for righteousness. Jesus is spoken of as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth.

God's love provided for man's fall before he created man. The sacrifice was made, though it would play out in human hours and years. It was a finished act and all it required of man was faith.

Thus dwelling in shelter of the most high God is begun with an act of faith. But mankind is easily distracted and drawn out from under the shadow of God's wings where he comes under attack, in spite of his faith.

The next step in protective interference by God is to choose to live there permanently. Ideally, faith would make this an easy choice. Yet for most of us, it is a process of choosing, wandering out, remembering and then choosing again to live in the shadow and therefore the protection of the father. Yes, we walk in this world, but we have the testimony of the protection, power and provision of the Father and we choose to abide under his shadow. We don't just go there for protection from the storm, we take up residence. If I choose to live in trust and acknowledge him always, the wings spread over every area of my life. They move as I move in trust.

There is a boldness to the protection of the father.

The reference is “secret place” in some translations. God is our hideout. We are in a place unknown to the enemy. Sometimes he is a bunker, the enemy knows where we are, but his shadow is impenetrable. In either case we rest in trust. We are safe from the seen and the unseen. We are safe from traps, snares, pestilence: fatal epidemic disease. But also his faithfulness will be shield and rampart: the defensive wall of a castle or city with a broad walkway and stone parapets from which we can see the enemy, but he cannot reach us.

Because of our humanity, it seems impossible to trust that disease and danger are restrained, that the arrows- fiery darts of the wicked, the plots and slander of wicked people, fall on the shield of faith: Ephesians 6. Whatever stalks in the darkness: evil surprises, attacks from our enemy, are fended off. We can take on the lion or the serpent whether defensively as we walk or offensively as we stomp him in the ground.

Our human dwelling is referred to as a tent: vulnerable, transient, destructible. Yet when we move in under the shadow of his wings, the evil cannot reach our vulnerability. We are a spectator to the consequences that fall on wicked people because we have made God our dwelling place and refuge. We won't even trip and stumble on rocks or stub our toes.

There is a restraint to the protection of the father.

We must stay in his shadow. First is the matter of patience with what appears to be going on. 'Fret not.” appears time after time in scripture. We work ourselves up over life and then start taking things into our own hands. Sometimes knowing he is God is just a matter of staying still. We don't have to answer Satan's attack. Jesus did that for us. We must trust confidently in his goodness and not doubt his protection even when things get scary.

He must have the limelight. We must shine through him but not in his place. I cannot assume the glory and live in his shadow. And yet what a glorious place to live in these promises.

Confidence in God, his power and his love, are part of the limitations and conditions. We can reside in and concentrate on the covering and protection of being "in Christ" at God's side. When we move away, get out from under his shadow and begin to do it our way, we take ourselves out of the amazing protection of Psalm 91.

We start the relationship through faith. We continue it by moving in to stay. My belief is that the relationship is forever. Eternal. Can't touch this. Victory is through staying close under his wings. Am I saying nothing bad will ever be your experience? Maybe. For I learn that definitions change in God's presence and it's okay. Finding the eternal view is part of residing under his shadow.

Helpless to Heaven Part 2 - Trust in God's Shadow

Relationships on earth are, I believe, a picture of our relationship to God. In comparison many of the problems we carry in relationship to other people are born in our relationship to God. I've never seen Psalm 91 as a relationship psalm before this time. I believe there are 3 distinct steps in the relationship we have to the Father and the first is trust. A list of definitions and related material is available in Helpless to Heaven Part 1.

In the beginning of my study of Psalm 91 I wrote: I must decide if I will believe that this speaks directly to me. I understand that it speaks prophecy of Jesus, but “as he is so are we in this world.” And “what you see of me you shall do also.” This brings hope that this scripture can be accessed by the believer.

That sounds good, right? There is no other passage so totally stuffed full of amazing promises and I'm a believer, right? So I asked my Father to help me see, understand, and appropriate what was truly mine for my benefit and his kingdom's. It's a good attitude to start with, but maybe that was more in theory than actuality. Yet God hears and he was willing to answer that prayer even if I didn't understand what I prayed.

Verse 1 and 2: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

I'm well acquainted with shelters. I've run to small empty cabins placed beside a trail for that reason. I've met and ministered to and with homeless people who live in refrigerator and mattress boxes. I've gotten animals from the Humane Society's shelter. Fort Chaffee has served as a shelter to refugees and storm victims over the years. But shelter also means to cover, protect, keep from harm and extreme conditions.

Fortresses are abundant in history and cultures throughout the world. When we were in France we visited churches that housed armies and protected local populations during WW2. Most of them became bomb targets for that fact. Many had the stained glass obliterated though the thick walls withstood the blasts. These were structures you could trust.

I live in a fort built at the edge of the land where the government exiled many native cultures well over a century ago. It was also a place of definition during the civil war. It then became a bastion of legal order when the Oklahoma territory became the refuge of lawless thieves and murderers. It is today a sanctuary for the protection of both mammals and birds. And it maintains a large number of storm and disaster shelters for it's inhabitants.

The shelter in these verses is operated by the Most High God. One thing in my word studies that was of interest was the different degrees of the word 'dwell'. It can involve anything from a short term stay to a permanent arrangement. But when you dwell in God's shelter, you can rest in his ability to keep you safe from attack or circumstance. When you are there, you are under his shadow. He is the covering and he is the limelight. Sometimes I think one reason we venture out from under his shelter is because we cannot shine there and we want to 'shine.' Yet he is to be the visible one in the relationship.

The promises are amazing for those who will remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord "he is my refuge and fortress, my God, on him I lean and in him I confidently trust.

"For then he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

Then he will cover you with his pinions and under his wings you shall trust and find refuge;

his truth and his faithfulness are a shield and buckler.

Then you will not be afraid of the terror of the night,

nor of the arrow that flies by day,

nor of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

Dare we believe? But do we dare not believe in this terror ridden world? Trust -confidence in his care, power and provision- is the key to the first part of this relationship. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Without faith, we do not dwell in his protection. He is my refuge and my fortress. And yet I will venture out to do my own protecting, my own providing in my own pitiful strength.

From Helpless to Heaven - Part 1

I've been in and out of Psalm 91 for some time now. It has been an amazing trek. I spent time with a lot of references: word studies, scripture comparison, reliable preachers and writers. I have been astounded. I will share with you some of what I have found and then give you my conclusion of the Psalm -up to the date I revise it finally to publish. This will take a few entries I'm sure. There are a few concepts and definitions that must be in place for me to blog without too much clutter.  I decided to set these forth in a blog of their own so that if you or I want to, we can access them as we wish.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High”

Shelter defined: something that covers or affords protection- a storm shelter, a bomb shelter; an establishment providing food and shelter as to the homeless based on lack, or those displaced by disaster: earthquate, hurricane, war; an establishment that houses and feeds stray or unwanted animals; a position or the state of being covered and protected- took shelter.

I see so many applications to the reasons we go to God. I believe all are spiritual though some are physical as well. God has a shelter available for us to go to and stay through to time of need. Sadly that's as far as many of us will take it.

Definition of dwell: to remain for a time; to live as a resident; to exist, rest in a spot; to keep the attention directed on something; to speak or write incessantly about something.

Living impenetrable, resting in trust. The secret place. Hideout? Hidden, unknown; Bunker? Known but impenetrable.

pestilence (fatal epidemic disease);

shield (a broad piece of metal or other suitable material, held by straps or a handle attached on one side, used as a protection against blows or missiles) rampart (the defensive wall of a castle or city with a broad walkway and stone parapets.)

God's protection is spoken of as a rampart: impenetrable thick barrier to harm. Our protection is a tent: vulnerable, transient and temporary.

tread: to walk specifically, tread seems to be coincidental to our journey or path.

trample: to crush by walking or stomping, trample appears to be an intentional destruction.

Night and day are used effectively. It would appear that night refers mostly to times and things that are hidden or happen without knowledge. Day seems to refer to things that are seen and open but too precise or powerful to stop. Night may also refer to times when we should be resting and regaining strength and health, while day may be a reference to times of activity, alertness and accomplishment.

Having set these in place, I will write about what I took personally from this study in Psalm 91. I know that this is one of the most read, most used and most preached on Psalms. I take that into consideration when I say I will write. It's not that I think I am better, more attuned, or more spiritual than others. But if scripture is not personal, if it does not speak to personal belief and behavior, then it might as well be a closed ornament book. I will write and if you read, then you will use what you can and discard what you cannot. That's how it should be. I hope you also read the psalm for yourself.

2 Samuel 11

I began my study of 2 Samuel 11 on April 3rd. I was able to close the chapter -I think- this morning. I dreaded it as soon as I read the first sentence. I prayed at various times for understanding to see Christ and the doctrine, correction and instruction. But truthfully, I could never get past the first sentence.
During the past two months, God has had me in many other chapters in the Bible. He has given me great truths with high impact on my theology and hopefully on my life patterns through my study and through inspiring sermons. But each time I came to 2 Samuel 11, I was at a stand still.
Yet this weekend, God showed me that the prayer I prayed in the beginning was heard. Changes in my thinking had to be made for me to understand this passage and see Christ. In order to see cohesive doctrine -how God relates to man- I needed more input.
I don't know if there is a chapter that has had more preaching than this. The failure of a good man; the shame of sin; the consequences of human effort without God; the breaking of law; the betrayal of friendship; the dissatisfaction of human success; the neglect of duty have all been preached repeatedly and yet I've never felt the core of this chapter was touched.
All weekend I've known I was coming closer and this morning, God brought the pieces together so I could see the picture of his justice and mercy. How can we have the promise and the failure in the same place? How can righteousness and peace kiss each other in 2 Samuel 11? Only by God's amazing character and the power of grace. He was not surprised or set back by David's sin. He was not changed by David's sin. His plan for David didn't become an alternate plan because of David's sin.
God wins -always. He is the great I AM. He does not abandon his mercy for justice. He does not relinquish justice for mercy. Satan loses every time he uses those God loves to try to force God's hand and reduce him from being God. Sometimes it takes months in human terms, or days or years. But God is timeless. He is righteous in all his ways. He is tender to all he created and his love never fails.
I may or may not blog from 2 Samuel 11. Right now I am working on Psalm 91.