Psalm 76 - God's Got Game

Guest Post: Tray Pruet

"You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains, rich with game." - Psalm 76:4

Well I actually added that last comma….sorry God, but he does have game….and it’s rich.

I was just amazed yesterday, and I was searching for words to describe God….but realized that any word used, falls short. Not that ‘resplendent with light’ came to mind….but I realized that all these descriptions, are merely words trying to capture the glory of the Creator. All the Psalms, 150 in all…..with all the words contained, still fall short. Yet we live as though we are serving a finite God. We give Him a Sunday or two every now and then to hold him at bay.

I read yesterday that in recent years, via the Hubble telescope that it is (conservatively) estimated that there are 350,000,000,000 galaxies….conservatively estimated! Why? Why did our Creator create things that no one in history knew about until recently. Maybe he is wanting us NOW to know….even with your fancy computers and telescopes....you cannot fathom the depth of me. You could spend your whole life trying to describe me…and still fall miserably short, not even scratch the surface.

God forgive me for not giving you my all, and forgive me for thinking you are smaller than you are.

Psalm 73 – Order Now

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

It’s interesting to look at life and see how often we reflect on what we lack. We obsess on what is absent from our lives and imagine that all of our problems and anxieties would be resolved if that one element was changed. For the cancer patient it is the desire to be healthy again, for the unemployed it is a job, for the poor it is wealth, for the single it is marriage, for the childless it is to have a child, for the overweight it is to be thin, for the jailed it is freedom.

Some of these are huge barriers and issues. They are factors that if resolved would truly change the trajectory of a person’s life. But, others are just things we like to blame any unhappiness in our life on. It’s easier to point at an external factor as the cause for our poor attitude, than to take responsibility for our actions and behavior. When these feelings take root, envy is not far behind:

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles’ their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. (Psalm 73:3-5)

Through infomercials, magazine articles, and other media we are led to believe that this sentiment is true. Celebrities, executives, and trust fund kids don’t have any of the burdens that plague man. We are told if we just had more money, looked better in a bathing suit, or had a nicer car, our troubles would melt away. But, it is all just a fantasy. True peace comes from the King. His offer isn’t good for the “first 100 callers”, it is good for an eternity, and the benefits start today. Order now, callers are standing by.

Psalm 70 – EmUrgency

Guest Post: Tray Pruet

"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; 
O LORD, do not delay.

Was David literally poor or needy?" - Psalm 70:5

I’m thinking this posture of David is one that we all need to take. David could have said….Lord I got this world on a string….I am it’s king…what do you have to offer me, or better yet….what can I do for you today if I have time? Though that was never David’s heart….is it ours? We would never say that…. But I wonder if sometimes in our hearts that isn’t exactly what we give or say. And I love that David seeks God’s urgency. I’ve done this so many times….but my prayers aren’t always answered in the manner or timing that I would have preferred.

As a parent, its one thing to be sitting in the living room watching the TV or talking to our wives….and one of the kids says…mom/dad can I get some help with this homework. We might say….give us a minute, or wait until the commercial. But one of our kids is hurt, or in trouble, or scared…..we drop everything to get there “without delay”. David seeks God’s urgency….because he is in need.

As a Sovereign God, when we seek God urgently…and he responds to us, in his timing…..I wonder what that says? Maybe he is teaching us to wait on Him, maybe he is telling us He’s got this, maybe He is teaching us patience.

Psalm 69 – Not Inoculated

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

Growing in faith is an example of something where we want the result, a stronger faith, without having to go through what it takes to get there. When it comes to faith, I wish the growth process were like an inoculation: you get one shot of faith and it protects you for life. Kind of like a measles shot. That way, we could suffer through the stretching, waiting and anxiety one time and be set from then on. Rather, as we grow in Christ we learn that faith is a muscle, not an antibody. The closer we get to Christ, the more our faith muscles are worked. Even David was continually stretched:

I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail looking for my God. (Psalm 69:3-4)

Throughout his life, David found himself in situations that continued to develop his faith in God’s deliverance. From his start with Goliath to being pursued by his own son, he found the trials he faced continually increased in complexity and required him to turn more and more over to God. While it’s frustrating at times to think that our walk will never get easier, that God will continue to push and stretch us to help us grow, I find comfort in knowing that He does it out of love for us and because He knows that the discipline and strength that we develop during these times brings Him even more glory.

Psalm 65 - Praised

Just a few thoughts from Matthew Henry today on Psalm 65:

6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,

7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.

8 Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it. [a]

10 You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.

11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.

12 The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.

13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.

"All the praise the Lord receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through him. Praise is silent unto thee, as wanting words to express the great goodness of God. He reveals himself upon a mercy-seat, ready to hear and answer the prayers of all who come unto him by faith in Jesus Christ. Our sins prevail against us; we cannot pretend to balance them with any righteousness of our own: yet, as for our transgressions, of thine own free mercy, and for the sake of a righteousness of thine own providing, we shall not come into condemnation for them. Observe what it is to come into communion with God in order to blessedness. It is to converse with him as one we love and value; it is to apply ourselves closely to religion as to the business of our dwelling-place. Observe how we come into communion with God; only by God's free choice. There is abundance of goodness in God's house, and what is satisfying to the soul; there is enough for all, enough for each: it is always ready; and all without money and without price. By faith and prayer we may keep up communion with God, and bring in comfort from him, wherever we are. But it is only through that blessed One, who approaches the Father as our Advocate and Surety, that sinners may expect or can find this happiness." - Matthew Henry

Psalm 62 - Muscles

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Do not trust in extortion, or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Psalm 62:5,6,10)

What are we willing to do to find rest? Where do we go when we need rest? Whether it is physical, mental, or spiritual, there comes a time when we need to either catch our breath or unplug our muscles, brain, or spirit from the grind.

It’s well known and documented that muscles actually grow during recovery and rest. The stress of exertion and exercise actually breaks down the fibers and that during the healing process they grow stronger. I think the same holds true with our brains. As we work, think, and imagine, we create new connections in our mind that, as we learn new things and activities, they grow stronger and better connected. However, as in school, you can’t turn on learning 100% of the time. At some point you need to shift to application and reflection. When we take this time to apply something we’ve learned and reflect on why it worked out the way it did, we actually grow stronger.

What about our spirit? I think it is governed the same way and God directs our paths so that when we follow Him we have adequate time and opportunity for spiritual development, application, and rest. That rest is to be found in Him and is the time when our spirit recovers and is strengthened. If we are constantly pushing, trying to find new opportunities to serve, study, worship, and give more, we risk burn out and fatigue from not listening to the Spirit reminding us that we are to “Come to me, you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Serving, studying, worshiping, and giving are all important, but we can’t fall into the trap of societies motto that “more is better.” Our Spirit is a muscle and we must learn to listen to it, just as we listen to our body after a workout, and keep a balance between overtraining and letting it atrophy.

Psalm 61 – Day by Day

Guest Post: Tray Pruet

"Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him." - Psalm 61:6-7

I was talking to my daughter the other day and she revealed to me that she wanted to live to the oldest woman ever. My thought was…I sure wouldn’t want to live to be that old. I’m not really sure of her motivation….but I would bet that it revolved around the idea of just NOT DYING.

David here isn’t selfishly asking God to increase the number of day his life for his own glory….but so that he could serve Him, to fulfill his vows before God.

One thing that I love about this passage is the correlation between David’s words in verse 8; “Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.” And the passage in Luke 9:23-25 when Jesus is talking to his disciples “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

It is truly a daily journey, one with choices…and like David, we can choose to honor God or choose not to. Another great verse, Joshua 24:15 say that you must, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”

Eccl. 7 - Too Much

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

"Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself? The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." - Eccl 7:16, 18)

Can we be “too good” or “too wise”. Solomon clearly thinks so. How do we know when we’ve crossed the line? I think it’s when we believe we have “arrived” at goodness or wisdom. The day we wake up and think, “I am a really good person because I do x and don’t do y”, is the day we have started to become overrighteous, and probably self-righteous. That’s when it begins to rub off on others as the unattractive, holier-than-thou behavior that people cite as a primary reason they don’t go to church or are turned off by Christianity. The same attributes hold true for wisdom – who can tolerate the academic who sits in his office or at parties and carries on and on about how if people or the world would just do things the way he would prescribe, everything would be fine.

The common thread on both of these, and where self-destruction comes in, is that when we reach this point in our goodness, wisdom, or other characteristics, it becomes about us, and not about God. Our mind begins to attribute the blessings in our life as being earned through our rightousness or our wisdom. We begin to lose sight of mercy and grace and slide into a theology of works or Gnosticism. Better the man who recognizes and remains humble because he remains aware of his sin and ignorance, than the fool who naively thinks he’s got it figured out. Recognition of our shortcomings keeps us clinging to and focused on God.

Eccl. 5 – Promises

Guest Post: Alex Shootman

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." Eccl. 5

Why do we promise stuff to God anyway? Sitting in church, saying, “God – if you just do XYZ then I will really behave this time”. We cannot imagine that it makes God feel better when we promise Him something. First of all, He already knows if we are going to keep our promise and second; He does not need our promise. All of these broken promises we have made to God because we didn't have enough sense to just listen and keep our mouth shut when we came into the house of God. So we promise instead of listen. And then we break our promises. We make promises because it makes us feel better. We get sort of satisfied, “I promised God I'm going to give Him everything, you know. Whew, took care of that today!” And then we feel relieved of guilt of amassing things, because after all, it all belongs to God.

But in the end, when we break our promise we feel worse than not making one. And when we keep a promise, it is merely self-discipline, because we cannot earn grace anyway.

“We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot” Abraham Lincoln

Eccl. 4 – Influences

Guest Post: Tray Pruet

"Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning." - Ecclesiastes 4:13

Being poor creates need. Being wise and poor lets you see where you can sustain yourself…get your needs met.

I know this, I don’t want to become the old foolish king. I think about President Obama, and his Cabinet. The President can’t be completely knowledgeable in ALL areas, so he ask those people who are known for their expertise in certain areas to fill in the gaps. The president may have a working knowledge of Finance….but he has a Secretary of Finance (it may be called something else) there to instruct the President in areas of finance. A foolish President would go against (not listen to) the advice of the ‘expert’ in a certain area….much like the foolish king.

God, surround me with your men…and allow them to feel the need to speak into me, when you direct. God allow me to receive your words…..don’t allow my heart to harden. Do what it takes, Lover of my Soul.

I would still like to be more associated with the wise youth. I still enjoy the wonderment of new things. I believe this is why Christ tell us we must be like a child….a child believes 100%....whatever a parent tells them. A child believes a parent can catch them if they fall….100%. Children don’t hold anything back. To a child…a parent has super-human strength. That is the kind of faith Christ wants us to have….not a blind faith, but one rooted in trust and love.

Eccl. 3 - Unquenchable Thirst

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

"He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Eccl. 3:11

What an incredible gift, or curse, God has placed in our hearts. The concept of eternity. For the believer, it is the ultimate carrot to keep us pursuing God, to strive to find and develop a deeper relationship with Him. To have the security and blessing that despite the troubles we face in our lifetimes, there is the promise of an eternity with Him. However, for the non-believer, there is the curse of an unquenched thirst; the unwillingness to have the faith to believe, but being unable to shake the instinct that there must be something else, something eternal.

I think God put eternity in our hearts as the driver to seek Him. Like a hunger pang drives us to the pantry, the pang of eternity drives us to question and seek God. I thank Him for letting me discover and get to know Him, and for continuing to fill me with hunger pangs to get to know Him more deeply. The thirst is never quenched.

Psalm 60 - Skill v.s. Will

"Save us and help us with your right hand that those you love may be delivered." - Psalm 60:5

This verse reminds me of the conversation between Moses and God in Numbers. The Israelites are complaining because they only have manna and no meat and God tells Moses that He will provide meat for a month. “But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?".

The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."

If God wants it to happen, do we really think it can happen? Is His arm too short? Our mindset must be He can do it; the question is “Will He do it?”

Psalm 58 - Ultimate Victory

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” (Psalm 58:10-11)

Friday was Good Friday, the day we remember a time evil thought it had truly triumphed, when the prince of darkness thought he had succeeded by nailing the son of God on a cross, it is comforting to know that Easter provided a way for the ultimate happy ending. For every moment where it seems the evil and oppressive have won, there is a resurrection and judgment day ahead. God is victorious. Not just “will be” victorious, he “is” victorious. The cross wasn’t a setback, it was victory, although it wouldn’t be recognized as such for 3 days.

God, thank you for your victory and your promise to reward the righteous. Thank you for the sacrifice of your son on our behalf, that we would be able to ultimately celebrate victory with you for eternity.

Psalm 53 - Denial

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane (I love the quote at the end)

The fool says in his heart, “There is not God.” (Psalm 53:1)

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom 1:20)

Atheism is living in denial of God. Denial can happen around a number of events in our lives from disease to death to personal flaws. In most cases, we choose denial because it is easier than dealing and living with the alternative. The same holds true for atheists. It’s easier for them to live their lives without the tension caused by knowing there is a creator and judge. It’s easier to live without feeling we are ultimately accountable for our behavior and decisions. It’s easier to believe we’re here by an evolutionary accident than because we are loved. It’s easier to live without responsibility than to have to answer to God.

In this Easter season we can’t come to the cross without considering all of these things. When we think of our accountability before God it is overwhelming and, ultimately depressing. How can we stand before a holy God with the sin in our lives? How can we face Him with the unmet needs in this world? We can’t. Not without Jesus. Without Jesus the prospect of considering and facing God would rationally lead to denial. How can someone live a productive life knowing their destruction awaits at the end of their life? Thank God for Jesus.

He is our path out of denial.

Palm 51 - Do Anything

Since this is the online version of my personal study and journal, I usually don't publish "guest posts" two days in a row. But I just thought this was so good that I wanted to share it. It's from Tray Pruet, Associate Pastor at Austin New Church:

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." - Psalm 51:12-13

I think this is an awesome perspective. David has just, in his own words, ‘sinned ONLY against God’ by committing adultery with Bathsheba. Nathan has confronted him about his sin. But what about Bathsheba, what about the murder of Uriah the Hittite? Yes there were personal offenses….sins even……but David recognizes that ultimately….the offenses…even the LUST and the LYING were infinite offenses against an infinite God.

And here David comes in verse 12 and 13….and says, (paraphrased) God…do what you need to do (Hebrew) tear me down to build me up. Physically break me, restore my joy of salvation you gave me.

A friend of mine in construction from Corpus once told me,

"In the renovations of older homes…you can never have enough money in job to cover the cost of what you can’t see. What lies behind the walls or under the floor is always a risk. The walls are a veil to the mess that lies beneath."

In this weekends Serve Austin Sunday project (at Soli Deo Gloria), we got to experience some of that first hand. We were to replace the subfloor of the bathrooms (because they were old and squishy), replace the tile, and reset the fixtures. Easy enough, until you cut into the subfloor and find moisture. Not only has their been a water leak, but the sewage line, that is all gravity fed….is running uphill (not a good thing). It may have even been originally built this way. So several things now have to be TORN APART to be made right.

That is what David is saying here…. God, I know I was born this way…. "Surely I was sinful at birth, 
sinful from the time my mother conceived me…" (vs.5) So no matter the mess, no matter the cost, no matter the pain, tear me down, to restore me…..so then I can help restore others. In the Hebrew…the word ‘restore’ in verse 12…is exactly the same as "turn back to you" in verse 13.

At Austin New Church, this is what I hope to see happen time and again. To see people come to faith, or return to faith, so that they in turn can point others to the joy of Salvation in Christ alone.

Psalm 50 - Promise & Obey

Just a short post today coming from a friend on Psalm 50:

"What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you." -Psalm 50:16-17

God has made many promises to us throughout scripture. From promises of eternal life through the belief in His son (John 3:16), to others about health, blessing, wisdom and peace.

After reading this today I’m reminded of the promise “fads” that sweep over the church from time to time. “The Prayer of Jabez” is one that I think fits this well. There were thousands of people who believed that by reciting the simple prayer (it is a good one, by the way) they could bind God to His promise to “bless them greatly”. I wonder if Bruce Wilkinson had included this verse from Psalm 50 as a postscript, what people would have thought. The people who want the promise without the obedience or the blessing without the faith.

God, as you renew your people and your church, fill us with the desire to love your instruction and your Word. Glorify yourself through our obedience and lead us in your everlasting way. Amen

Psalm 47 – Reveille

Guest Post: Mike Kilbane

"The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God." -Psalm 47:9

Reveille is the bugle call that starts the day at military installations around the world. The flag is raised, a cannon is fired, and the troops assemble for roll call. The status, “All present or accounted for” is the expected response provided to the commander. I thought of this after reading this psalm this morning and the image of the nobles, kings, and presidents of all nations in formation, being presented to Christ the King.

Given the things going on today in nations across the world: the corruption, graft, oppression, hypocrisy – what would they report to their commander about the health and morale of their command? What if the leaders of the churches around the world were assembled on a similar field? What would they report?

Some day we’ll all be assembled on a parade ground in Heaven. We’ll all be called to do a “pass and review” for the King. For some it will be a time of glory and celebration. For others, a time of agony and unspeakable regret. The papers make it seem that the world is spinning out of control. It is spinning. It is crazy. But, it is not out of control.