IT'S SUNDAY - LET'S WORSHIP!

I recently wrote indicating that the book of psalms is not to be treated in the same way other scripture is [this is true of all the books of wisdom].  The psalms are creative – often emotional.  They are artistic! 

Yet they are extremely valuable for what they can teach us through these means! 

I just read #150 – the last of the psalms. It’s short, so here it is from The Voice Bible, with commentary at the beginning and end.

If Psalm 150 is any indication, then the worship of the one True God ought to be full of life and energy. Consider what it must have looked and sounded like in those days: voices lifted, shouting for joy, trumpets blaring, stringed instruments playing, people dancing, pipes humming, tambourines keeping rhythm, cymbals crashing. There are times when worship ought to break out in joy. Is it possible that our worship is too quiet, too reserved, too structured?

 

¹ Praise the Eternal!
Praise the True God inside His temple.
    Praise Him beneath massive skies, under moonlit stars and rising sun.
² Praise Him for His powerful acts, redeeming His people.
    Praise Him for His greatness that surpasses our time and understanding.

^3-4 Praise Him with the blast of trumpets high into the heavens,
    and praise Him with harps and lyres
    and the rhythm of the tambourines skillfully played by those who love and fear the Eternal.
Praise Him with singing and dancing;
    praise Him with flutes and strings of all kinds!
⁵ Praise Him with crashing cymbals,
    loud clashing cymbals!
⁶ No one should be left out;
    Let every man and every beast—
    every creature that has the breath of the Lord—praise the Eternal!
Praise the Eternal!

 

This doxology...closes the entire Book of Psalms. Up until now, the songs in this book have reminded us of all the reasons we should praise God. Some songs have even commanded us to praise Him. But this closing remark takes the command to praise one step further: everything alive—humans, animals, and heaven’s creatures—must praise Him. Praise is what God created us to do; it is one of our highest purposes in life. So it is no wonder that the longest book of the Bible is purely devoted to helping us do just that.

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As a pastor who – for forty-two years – planned and [to some extent] led worship, I had an internal desire that worship should NEVER be boring!  Our God is the source of all creativity; nothing about God is boring!  I led one church for thirteen years with the help of a young woman who served as our youth pastor.  We had a motif that we followed that continually reminded us to plan creatively.  It was Psalm 122:1.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Worship should be engaging, creative, joyful and fun!  It should appeal to our senses – all of them!  At Easter, I often permeated the air with the scent of myrrh! 

Planning transgenerational worship is challenging!  Trying to reach and engage children, youth and adults – all at the same time – takes the planning of many minds and the preparation of a team! 

I regret the boring and lengthy sermons I sometimes delivered.  Someone recently reminded me that a note was placed on the bulletin board calling me NEVEREND HAIRE!  Shame on me!  It’s evidence that I didn’t always hit the mark! 

My failures aside – we should anticipate worship!  It should be something that we look forward to!  It should be exciting and moving and instructive and fascinating – even mysterious! 

Perhaps if it was – more churches would be growing!  The Word would get out and seekers would investigate! 

DEEP, DEEPLY DOWN

The bulk of the book of Job is the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends.

Eliphaz – from Teman – is the first to speak.  He seems to think that Job’s suffering is due to unintended sins.  He encourages Job to accept God’s correction.

When Job responds to him, we find that Eliphaz’s words have not comforted Job – but upset him. 

As Job speaks, we can hear his pain! 

“Would that my anguish were weighed, laid on a scale together with the disaster I’ve suffered!  For there is not enough sand in the seas to outweigh it!  It’s no wonder my untamed words are but incoherent stammering.” [6:2-3  all quotes from The Voice Bible]

In 6:8-10 Job seems to wish that God would bring his life to an end.  It is not a suicidal wish; he knows that only God has the right to begin and end life! 

In vs.11-13, he wonders how he will be able to “persist in this life”?

In his despair he seems agitated with the lack of understanding exhibited by his friends.  However, he continues to value their friendship – they are, after all, with him in his pain!  He cries out to them: “In all seriousness, teach me, and I will be silent.  Where have I erred? Help me understand.” [v.24]

In chapter 7 Job describes his despair:

“When I lie down at the end of the day, I wonder, ‘How soon till morning so I can arise?’ But the night stretches on, and I toss and turn until sunrise.” [v.4]

In the depths of his pain he cries out to God:

“I hate my life.  I have no desire to keep on living.  Leave me alone, God, for I have only a short time left.” [v.16]

Questioning himself and his integrity, he cries out:

“I have sinned.  What have I done to You,…Why have You targeted me…?...So I’ve sinned inadvertently, can’t You pardon me? Are my crimes such You can’t forgive my sins?”  [v.20-21]

Job is deep in the pit.  He is questioning everything.  He is full of self doubt.  He needs answers and cries out to his friends!

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Some of us have been here with Job!  We’ve felt the deep pain and the isolation that grief and sorrow brings.  We wonder where God is.  We don’t understand why the bottom seems to have fallen out.  We feel alone.  We can’t endure the long days of suffering. We wish we could just die and end it all.  We query about why things have gone so badly. 

But, like Job, we must respect God’s sole right to begin and end life!  We must turn to friends – even if their attempts to comfort and advise seem weak and ineffective.  We must continue to trust God and believe that – in His time – He will bring us out! 

The Psalmist’s words must be tattooed on our mind:

“The deepest pains may linger through the night, but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning.” [Psalm 30:5].

If you’re in this season of despair and desire the companionship of one who has travelled this road – private message me to gain a prayer partner.  I promise to maintain your confidence and privacy! 

GOD'S STAFF MEETINGS

There are some strong similarities between Job 1 and Job 2. 

Apparently, God had periodic staff meetings (1:6, 2:1) in which He heard reports and gave assignments.  In both of these instances, Satan appears at these meetings. 

In the first, God asks him what he has been doing.  Satan reports that he’s been roaming the earth, observing its inhabitants.

God asks if he has checked out Job and then declares him to be “unlike any other person on the whole earth” because of his character and integrity.

It is immediately clear that Satan knows of Job, for he complains that God has put a hedge of protection around him!  We can assume from this that Satan has tried to tempt Job, but was unsuccessful in doing so!  Satan suggests that if this protection was removed, Job would not be so pious.

God then assures Satan that this protection will be removed and that all of Job’s possessions are subject to Satan’s wishes.  However, Satan is not to lay a hand on Job!

Immediately Satan goes to work!  In one day, his flocks and herds are all destroyed or stolen.  Then, in a surprising and devastating move, his seven sons and three daughters are all killed in a tornado! 

Job is devastated, but “tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground.  Face down, Job sprawled in the dirt to worship…In all of this Job neither sinned nor did he make foolish charges against God.”  [vs.21,22 The Voice]. 

At the beginning of chapter two, God is holding another staff meeting and again Satan appears.  Again, God asks what he has been doing.

Again, Satan explains that he has been roaming the earth and observing its inhabitants.

Ironically, God asks if he’s looked into His faithful servant, Job? 

This time, Satan complains that because God has protected him by preserving his health, he remains true to God. 

So, God grants Satan the opportunity to attack Job’s health – however, he cannot take his life!

Immediately, Job breaks out in sores from head to foot!  He is in agony and scrapes his sores with broken pottery as he sits in the ashes outside of town.  Even his wife suggests that he curse God and die! 

But Job’s response is PRICELESS! 

“Are we to accept the good that comes from God, but not accept the bad?” [2:10 The Voice]. 

It’s at this point that three of Job’s friends [who happen to be from different regions] come to sit with him in

mourning and silence for seven days!

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OBSERVATIONS:

1.    God’s protection is real!  We should pray for it for ourselves and those we love!

2.    Satan’s aggression is real!  He prowls the earth looking for faithful ones to attack!

3.    The faithful stick together encouraging and counseling one another!

4.    If you read the rest of the book, you will see that faithfulness is always rewarded!

GOD NUDGES

Do you ever get God-nudges? 

·         “Speak to that person.”

·         “Stop and help that family.”

·         “Buy that lady’s groceries.”

·         “Call ‘so-and-so’ and see how they’re doing.”

·         “Don’t sit where you always sit.  Today I want you to sit with ‘so-and-so’.”

·         “You’ve got a little money left this month.  It’s not a big amount, but why not give it to ‘so-and-so’?”

·         “Before you get into your day, why not scribble a note to ‘so-and-so’; remember their prayer request on Sunday?”

They’re easy to ignore.  You can always use the excuse that you’re too busy.  You’ve learned from experience that nothing happens if you ignore these God-winks.

EXACTLY!

Nothing happens! 

But what might have happened?

Whose life might have been impacted?

How might your intervention have changed someone’s life?

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I just finished reading the Old Testament book of Jonah [it’s only four short chapters].

Here’s a synopsis:

·         God tells Jonah to go and preach to the people of Ninevah.

·         Jonah boards a ship and goes in the opposite direction.

·         God raises up a massive storm that threatens the ship.

·         When confronted by the crew, Jonah admits that he is the cause because he disobeyed the Eternal One.  He tells them that if they throw him overboard, they’ll all be saved.

·         They delay doing so, but eventually heave him over the side.

·         Immediately, the storm ends and the sailors make sacrifices to the Eternal One!  [Interesting that God uses Job’s rebellion to convert a bunch of sailors!]

·         Jonah goes to Ninevah and tells them to repent or God will destroy their city..

·         The whole city begins to fast and pray – including the king.

·         Job gets angry with God [It’s important to know that the Ninevites were enemies of Israel and had a brutal reputation.]

·         Job camps where he can watch God destroy the city.  When it doesn’t happen – he sulks and God reprimands him.

THE POINT:

God knew that the Ninevites were ripe to turn from their evil ways and follow Him.  He clearly chose Job to be the one to go and preach to them.  Job tried his best to take a pass on this mission!

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When God whispers to us, we almost always fail to realize that God knows things that we don’t know!  He has been working in a person’s life and may want to use us to move them along in their surrender to His way.

But, all-too-often, we are too busy, or distracted, or uncaring, and we simply ignore God’s call.  How sad!  I wonder what we missed?  How many continue to wrestle or struggle because we failed to be obedient? 

How easy it is to shake off these God-appeals!  We never stop to think that God may be moving that person (or group) toward repentance and simply wants to use us to participate in His persuasion!  The very action God asks us to take may be the very thing they need at this instant in time to bring them into a dynamic, resolving, transformative relationship with the King of the Universe! 

But no.  We took a pass because we were too busy.  How sad!

RESOLVE TODAY – RIGHT NOW – THAT NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RESPONDING WITH FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO THOSE GOD-NUDGES!!!!!!

And when you do, and God accomplishes something through you, I’d LOVE to hear about it!  😉

LETTERS TO THE CHURCH

I just read the second chapter of Revelation.  I read it slowly and aloud – as I often do.  I stopped several times for personal reflection and prayer.

If you don’t know, in Revelation 2&3 the Apostle John is instructed by the living, resurrected Lord, to write letters to seven churches in Asia Minor and to be sure that these letters are delivered to the saints who inhabit these churches.  The letters contain affirmations and condemnations. 

They are detailed and personalized; clearly designed messages intended to affirm and/or purify the seven churches. 

Chapter two includes letters to:

·         Ephesus

·         Smyrna

·         Pergamum

·         Thyatira

Chapter three includes letters to:

·         Sardis

·         Philadelphia

·         Laodicea

Although we don’t know exactly when this letter was written, it is probable that it was written around 95 A.D.  This date is significantly later than all other New Testament writings!  It places the writing of these letters approximately sixty years AFTER the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus! 

Imagine the response of these churches when they received these letters from John and found them to be messages directly from the resurrected Lord!  Consider their pride when Jesus affirmed them for their faithfulness.  Ponder their surprise when they realize that the resurrected Lord is watching their church and knows of their transgressions!  What must it have been like for each of these seven churches when they heard these letters read out in public worship! 

The realization that their Lord was distant and living in another realm – yet was still attentive and concerned about their measure of faithfulness to Him and His mission – must have been impacting! 

Now, think about it.

The only difference between 95 A.D. and 2024 A.D. is 1,929 years!    

Jesus is still attentive to His followers and their churches!  He still watches and observes from His position at the right hand of God the Father Almighty!  He’s actively – through His Holy Spirit – guiding and guarding His Church!  He will never cease to care! 

If I might be so bold, I don’t think He cares about our denominational structures or allegiances – actually, I think these break His heart because we’ve become so fractured.  I don’t believe He cares about the quality or size of our structures.  In my way of thinking, I believe He’d be far more pleased if we built churches for those in impoverished environments so that they can continue to carry the gospel to the lost!  I doubt that He’s much interested in the questions we ask for membership or ordination.  I find it hard to believe that He’s concerned about our order of worship. 

If we thoughtfully examine our processes and functions, we might realize that much of what we dedicate our time and effort to is frivolous and a mere distraction from the things that really matter to our Lord. 

Perhaps a time of reflection on the messages in these letters might refocus us on the things that really matter to our risen Lord and Savior.  Here’s a sample of what we might learn:

·         Jesus sees the good things we do from our loving and genuine hearts.  [vs.2,9]

·         Jesus is aware of times that we persevere and refuse to give up on our faith!  [v.3]

·         Our Lord knows when we drift from our first love, and He wants us to change our ways!  [v.4]

·         Jesus reminds us that when we suffer, He sees.  He reveals that some believers will, indeed, suffer greatly; but He encourages us to remain faithful so that we will earn a great reward!  [v.10]

·         He is aware when we suffer under unrighteous and unjust leaders!  Jesus is pleased when we remain faithful and refuse to deny Him!  [v.13]

·         He confronts us when we slip into false teaching or sexual immorality.  He counsels us to change our ways and return to Him!  [vs.14,16]

·         The Lord of the Church is aware of our love, deeds, faithfulness, service and endurance!  [v.19]

·         Christ is not pleased when we tolerate leaders and posers who are immoral and lead others astray.  [v.20]

·         Jesus declares that He will deal with these unrighteous ones and will, thereby, protect His Church!  [vs.22-23]

·         He reminds us that “I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart, and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts.”  [v.23]

He closes His letter to Pergamum with this challenge!

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.”

JOB'S EXAMPLE

I’m reading in THE VOICE BIBLE for 2024. 

I get bored easily, so I typically read in five biblical zones to keep my interest high.  If you’re interested, here is my breakdown:

Genesis through Ruth                    236 chapters

I Samuel through Esther                200 chapters

Job through Song of Songs           243 chapters

Isaiah through Malachi                   250 chapters

New Testament                               260 chapters

In the past, I have gradually and systematically read through the Bible reading several chapters a day – using bookmarks to keep me organized.

However, this year I’m exercising even more flexibility by using a chart that I introduced in yesterday’s blog article titled: BIBLE READING TIPS.

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I read the first chapter of Job this morning.  What a remarkable chapter! 

It begins by describing a righteous man who probably lived in the vicinity and time-frame  of Abraham [sixth century B.C.]  He’s prosperous and is wholeheartedly dedicated to living a life that is pleasing to God! 

I’ll share several things from this chapter that I find to be totally astounding.

FIRST

Job illustrates true devotion to his children by continuing to pray for them even in their adulthood. 

His adult children always got together to celebrate special occasions. 

When these days of feasting were through, Job would call all of his family to his own house and purify them, rising up early in the morning to offer burnt sacrifices for each one.

JOB: God, forgive my children for any secret sins or grudges they have against You deep in their hearts. [v.5 VOICE]

This illustrates that our responsibility for our children does not end when they become adults and establish autonomy. 

Job continues to bear concern for the spiritual purity of his children.  He regularly calls them together and intercedes with God Almighty on their behalf!   

His concern is not shallow.  Job knows human nature and our vulnerability toward sin and rebellion.  He can’t bear to see his children drift from the divine purposes of God.  He invests his time, passion and resources to do everything within his power to see that they maintain a close, intimate, pure relationship to God! 

Surely I don’t need to unpack the message Job presents to us.  If God has blessed us with children, we are perpetually to care for them spiritually and to do everything within our ability to see that they walk in sincerity before the Lord!

SECOND

Suddenly, the scene changes to the courts of heaven.

Now one day, it came time for the sons of God, God’s heavenly messengers, to present themselves to the Eternal One to give reports and receive instructions.  The Accuser [Satan] was with them there. [v.6 VOICE]

God and the Accuser enter into a discourse that begins with God asking him where he has been.  His response: “Oh, roaming here and there, running about the earth and observing its inhabitants.” [v.7 VOICE]

God’s immediate response is to ask Satan if he has looked into the life of Job. 

He is unlike any other person on the whole earth – a very good man – his character is spotless, his integrity unquestioned. In fact, he so believes in Me that he seeks, in all things, to honor Me and deliberately avoids evil in all of his affairs. [v.8 VOICE]

Satan’s response clearly indicates that he has indeed examined Job’s life.  He claims that God has put a hedge of protection around Job [It is implied that this protection has prevented Satan from distracting and entrapping Job.]

God’s response shocks us!

ETERNAL ONE: I delegate this task to you [Satan].  His possessions are now in your hand.  One thing, though, you are not to lay a finger on the man himself.  Job must not be touched. [v.12 VOICE]

Soon after this encounter, tremendous disaster falls on Job, clearly as a result of Satan’s intervention:

·         His herds of donkeys and oxen are stolen by Sabeans, and all of his servants are killed except one who escapes to report to Job.

·         At the same time, lightning strikes his 7,000 sheep and his shepherds.  Only one survives to report the catastrophe to Job.

·         Chaldeans attacked another group of Job’s servants and stole 3,000 camels while killing all of his servants but one – who escaped to report to Job.

·         Finally, a fourth messenger arrives to tell Job that his children had all been killed by a tornado while they were feasting together.  Only one servant survived to report the tragedy to Job.

The point to be observed here is obvious:  God had such confidence in Job’s faithfulness that He pointed Job out to Satan, thereby, putting all of Job’s possessions – including his children - under Satan’s influence! 

How many of us are living this kind of exemplary spiritual life?

THIRD

Job’s initial response is exactly what we would expect, however, then he cries out of his pain words that we are incapable of understanding.

HIS RESPONSE

·         He tore his robe

·         Shaved his head

·         Fell to the ground

·         “Face down, Job sprawled in the dirt to worship.” [v.20 VOICE]

HIS WORDS

JOB: I was naked, with nothing, when I came from my mother’s womb; and naked, with nothing, I will return to the earth.

The Eternal has given, and He has taken away.  May the name of the Eternal One be blessed. [v.21 VOICE]

The chapter ends with a narrator’s observation:

In all of this Job neither sinned nor did he make foolish charges against God. [v.22 VOICE]

And we’re all left asking ourselves the same question:  Would I respond with such faith if Satan was to attack me and cause similar destruction and pain in my life?

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I have some work to do now.  I need to talk with God and get my priorities straightened out.  I need to – once again – review my life and renew commitments.  

Perhaps you need a self-appointment for similar purposes?

BIBLE READING TIPS

So many people have good intentions when it comes to reading the Bible, but it can be an overwhelming task – 1,189 chapters!!!!

The Old Testament is the longer of two sections – the New Testament being the other.  Certain areas of the Old Testament are repetitive and contain historical information regarding the nation of Israel.

There are all kinds of plans available for reading the Bible in a year or two.  This is a daunting task that will require you to read over three chapters per day [for a year]. That can be kind of time consuming for a slow reader!

There’s nothing magical about reading the Bible through in a year!  Vacations, holidays, trips and stressful periods often interrupt our reading plan.

Here’s a tool that might help you.  It can be downloaded at:

https://visualunit.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bible_reading_chart.png

 

It allows you to read in complete freedom wherever you like on any given day and then simply ‘x’ off the chapter(s) you read.  You can jump around as much as you like!  You can read in multiple sections at the same time!  It allows you to easily keep track of your progress.

SOME TIPS:

1.    Secure a Bible that will hold your interest.  My favorites are:

·         The Message by Eugene Peterson – language of the 1990’s.

·         The New Living Translation was originally done by Kenneth Taylor in the 1960’s so   that his children could better understand the Bible.  Eventually, it was refined by   teams of scholars and is an enjoyable rendering of the scriptures for us today.

·         The VOICE Bible is a very creative version of the Bible produced by Thomas   Nelson Inc. and released in 2012.  Many writers, musicians, artists and language   scholars collaborated on this project.

·         The New International Version was an attempt to create a commonly accepted,   evangelical Bible at a time when so many translations were flooding the market.   First available in 1978, it has undergone numerous revisions.

Using a study Bible is a great idea!  These incorporate notations and explanations to help with understanding the passage.  This will slow your reading progress, but expand your understanding. 

 2.  Set a regular time and place to do your reading and try to be faithful at this newly desired discipline.

 3.    Make notations as you find things that strike/impact you.

·         One option – if you don’t mind, is to simply make marginal notes/symbols in your Bible.

·         Few will do this, but having a partner to talk with throughout the process can be enriching!  Use the technology of the day to compare notes, hold one another accountable, share discoveries and ask questions. 

     4.    Many pastors may be willing to be a resource to you when you have questions or need            explanations. 

            As an alternative, there are usually astute people in the church who have spent their lives        exploring scripture.  These people often are used as Sunday School teachers!  Tap into            their wisdom as well!

       5.  Exercise GRACE!!!!  Don’t quit because you missed a week of reading!  Jump back in!    You have not failed!  God is not disappointed in you!

  6.   When you’re ready to do so, add prayer to your reading time – even in its simplest forms.    Just a simple prayer like: “Lord, as I read today, show me truth that will help me to live pleasing to You! Amen.”

       Also, if people come to your mind while you’re reading, jot down their name and believe  that God brought them to your mind intentionally!  Pray for them!

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Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Bless those who may embark on the challenge of getting more familiar with Your Word!  Guide them! Teach them! Use them! Grow them! FOR YOUR GLORY!  AMEN!