Transcendent Praise

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Do you sometimes feel that you don’t really belong in this world, or that there seems to be a certain discord and discomfort in your spirit and a longing to be in the actual presence of God? That is a good thing. You are not alone. Abraham felt the same way after God called him. (See Hebrews 11:8-16). We belong to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. We long for a place where righteousness and purity are the norm.

When Jesus was turned over by the Jews to Pilate the conversation that ensued is one of irony in my mind – here is a creature challenging his Creator without even knowing it. Men in authority, or women for that matter, seldom stop to think about the eternal consequences of their actions.  In his examination of Jesus, Pilate admitted he could find no fault with him, but he did not stand his ground. Instead he caved to public opinion and released Barabbas and, by default, condemned Jesus. Bear in mind however that Jesus did come to die. He said so himself. (John 10:18).

Have you been treated unjustly or falsely accused, insulted, or shunned and can find no way to defend yourself? Jesus made it clear to Pilate that he could call for his servants to fight and get out of the situation he was in, but he chose not to because his kingdom was not of this world. In your situation you may have to let the accusation or insult stand, knowing that you serve the King and he knows what the truth is. The Holy Spirit affirms:

“Likewise my child when you are rebuffed, take no notice of it. Humble yourself and accept that slights are part of your identification with me. The same process I went through, being humbled by the people I created, is par for the course. Do not be disheartened by it, just look to me as your example.”

1 Chronicles 21:17 David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O Lord my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”

Little wonder David is called ‘a man after God’s own heart’. He wasn’t perfect and he knew it, but he had grasped the importance of a broken and a contrite heart before God. Every so often he would make mistakes, but he would turn to God and, in full disclosure, ask to be forgiven and restored to fellowship. In 1 Chronicles 21 we see the dynamics of David’s relationship to God played out. When David repented, God gave his angel the order to cease the slaughter of the people. Oh that today our leaders would take that posture! It would make all the difference in the lives of everyone at home and abroad.

Instead, we listen daily to the rhetoric and realize that for all intents and purposes, no account is taken of God by those who lead. So we hear the continuing echo from one and all: “what in the world is going on?” The fact is that God has given man free will and does allow even despots to rule for a time. But oh the price that is sometimes paid by those whom they govern! Any number of countries comes to mind in this moment.

God has told us that he stands ready to heal our lands at all times when we repent of wrong and cry out to Him. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14).  So there is no need to despair that God is not in charge or doesn’t see what is happening. We who believe can intercede.

            “The Lord God has not relinquished ruler-ship of the earth to mortal men. He stands above the circle of the earth and observes our doings. The things which displease him are well documented. In his time he will reveal himself. In judgment he will come to set right the equity which he deems appropriate. Man is not capable of judging aright. Only God can.”

Romans 9:29 It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”

Recently as I woke up one morning the words of an old song came to mind: “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing ….” This song was written by none other than Martin Luther, the great champion of the Word of God. In the song he reminds us that we have the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing, Christ Jesus, Lord Sabaoth is his name.

This led me to try to find out the meaning of the name Lord Sabaoth. In Romans 9:29 in the NIV it is translated as “Lord Almighty”. This verse is actually a quote of Isaiah 1:9 and in the New King James Version the term “Lord of hosts” is used. Isaiah was addressing the people of Judah and Jerusalem about their rebellion against God. He saw a vision of desolation after God’s judgment and concluded that unless the Lord Almighty spared a remnant no one would be left.

When I read the first chapter of Isaiah, the hairs on my hand stood up because the condition of the nation Isaiah was describing seemed so similar to the way things are today. The same call to “Hear, O heavens and give ear, O earth” is still God’s heart for our nation. He judged his people then. For the most part, as a nation we too have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned our backs on Him. The good news is that before the Book of Isaiah ends hope is given in the promise of the Savior. Well, the Savior has come and brought us new hope, and as Martin Luther concluded, God has willed that his truth should triumph through us. We have a Savior who is pleading daily with each of us to turn to Him. We have the Word of truth and access to the power of the Holy Spirit. So, indeed we have the Lord Almighty on our side for now, waiting to rescue us as we humbly acknowledge our need of Him.

Zechariah 12:1-3 The word of the Lord concerning Israel. The Lord who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”

The prophet Zechariah was used by God to warn his people Israel of the need to listen to God’s messages which had been given by earlier prophets so they would avoid further judgment.  They were being called to obedience. As they were in the process of re-building the temple they needed encouragement. The Lord provided that encouragement by giving Zechariah visions not just of the mercy He would extend to them in their immediate future but a picture for the distant future which would include  the coming of the Messiah, judgment of their adversaries and the establishment of the final kingdom.

We are now in the 21^st century and we have seen the re-establishment of Israel as a nation and the ongoing re-gathering of its people. Jerusalem has once again taken center stage. I am neither a historian nor a scholar. I am just a believer that God’s word is the measurement of all things. Because of our short life-span and finite minds, we might be tempted to think that God’s promises to Israel are over and done with but that is not the nature of God.  The Israel we know today is small and has more powerful enemies now than at any other time in her history. But God has covenanted himself to his people and will never take his eyes off them anymore than he will abandon men and women from every tribe and tongue who honor the Lord Jesus. I believe Israel’s destiny and that of every believer is eternally linked. Some years ago, as I read Zechariah 12:1-9, the Holy Spirit spoke:

“Think not for a moment that I have forsaken Jerusalem or my people Israel. For now she is rejected and in confusion but soon and very soon the hands of time will spring forward and the nations of the earth will consider her the enemy and shall rise against her with one voice and attempt to undo her. But I the Lord God will not allow it. I will intervene to deliver her and take back the reins of power as in the days of old. I will deliver her, for she is mine, my beloved. She is mine and no one shall ever again humiliate her. Instead men will know that every word I have spoken in the Living Word is true and will be fulfilled. I the Lord have spoken.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

We live in a post 9/11 world. That hardly requires any explanation to those who were alive on that day (September 11, 2001). But for the sake of those who follow after it marked the beginning of significant terrorist attacks first in the United States and subsequently in parts of Europe. Not only that, more recently the mayhem is being compounded by mass shootings in the United States for reasons other than terrorism. When I first drafted this text three mass shootings had taken place in a 40-day period in Las Vegas, New York and Texas.  The last of the three was on worshipers in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday, November 5, 2017 and at that point 26, including children, were dead and another 20 were hospitalized.

I have not been at the scenes of these incidents but every time there is a new one, I am first shocked, then paralyzed, angry and then sorrowful. It is gut-wrenching and it is hard to imagine what loved ones closest to the fallen have to go through especially with the added media attention. After each incident I pray to God to help and comfort the bereaved so that they do not become blinded by their pain and experience hopelessness.

The prophet Habakkuk looked at the events of his day and cried out to God: “Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” That is kind of the way I felt after the last attack and in trying to cope I ended my prayer by saying: “I cling to you O Lord.” The Holy Spirit immediately responded with the following:

“And so you should. It is not that I do not see these things but you must understand that evil will have sway for a time. I am the Lord God of time and eternity and from eternity these things are minute. My children must hope in me alone and live by their faith. My reward for the righteous is certain and I do not take lightly the evil that is committed against them. Rest assured that my eyes are upon them. I am the rewarder of those who diligently seek me.”

Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus was conducting a training session for his disciples. He taught them the Beatitudes in verses 1 to 12 of Matthew 5. He outlined what their attitudes and responses should be to their circumstances as they carried on their daily lives. After that he summarized it all by telling them that they were salt and light. Their lives would be a shining example to those who do not know the Lord. Light dispels darkness and shows the way forward. Salt makes things savory and palatable. It preserves but it also cleanses in order to facilitate healing.

I live in a crowded city and I am often overwhelmed by what I see daily. Just the speed at which people move is hazardous to well-being, theirs and everyone else around them. Then I look at faces and sometimes I can tell that some individuals have completely forgotten how to form a smile – their countenances bear so much pain and stress. Many of us as believers have succumbed to that pattern of existence because we fail to take time away to be with Jesus and listen to him.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus would often go off by himself to pray and commune with his Father or sometimes with his disciples. Jesus practiced intervals of separation which were evidently necessary for renewal. I grew up in a village where there was no electricity at the time. At about age, part of my daily duties was to see that the many glass lamps we used were refilled with kerosene, the wicks trimmed or replaced, and the shades washed and dried, before lighting them each evening.  Only then would they burn effectively until bedtime. We owe it to ourselves to be deliberate about withdrawing often so the Holy Spirit can purify, polish and refill us. It is the only way to maintain our identity as salt and light to others.

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

Friend if you placed your trust in Christ as Savior and have been studying your Bible and having fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit, you know by now that you are not the same person you were at the beginning of your journey. A lot of growth should have taken place and you should have begun to identify with the nature of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist said: “He must become greater and I become less.” (John 3:30)

The issue of your salvation is settled because Christ, by shedding his blood, has accomplished all that his Father requires on your behalf. All that is left is for you to walk in obedience as you hear God’s voice concerning all the areas of your life. His indwelling Spirit speaks now. Jesus reminded his disciples that he is the Good Shepherd and said: “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). One of the benefits that should accrue to you out of this relationship with God is a certain kind of restfulness. This is not ‘a lay down arms’ kind of laziness, in fact the opposite is true. But what you should experience is peace from knowing that your Father has everything well in hand and can be trusted to work all things out for his glory and your good.

Jesus was very direct in counseling his disciples before he went to the cross: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). There is an old song that says in part: “Keep your eyes on Jesus when the tidal wave of trouble round you rolls. Keep your eyes on Jesus, he will calm the storms of life that toss your soul.”  Your peace comes from training yourself to become more aware of God’s presence. His promise to the children of Israel as they faced their enemies reverberates through time to you today: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

I was reading a book recently which encourages its readers to dream big dreams and tackle challenges head on, trusting God for the things which seem impossible. In this process one of the things the writer suggests is to look back at your past and try to identify encounters or events which spurred you to move forward with ideas, projects, careers, etc. Invariably in his own life he was able to hone in on words of encouragement which someone said or acts of kindness which kept him motivated. Those were building blocks for his success.

I paused briefly for my own retrospective and was amazed at the people, other than my parents, who made it to the top of my list of encouragers. They were kind in the things they said and did, sometimes in simple but unforgettable ways. I remember them fondly. But on the way down memory lane the odd “terror” to my childhood also surfaced. That reminds me that each of us have a sphere of influence even though we do not always recognize it, and that our words and actions communicate either negative or positive messages. So we need to check ourselves often, especially when dealing with children. Young children in particular see adults as either mean, or good or kind and they do remember. It is also from adults that they learn to be spiteful or forgiving.

Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12 include a long list of positive behaviors which we can all cultivate: sincere love for one another, honor or respect for each other, being excited about serving the Lord, being joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, generous and hospitable, showing empathy for those who grieve, and so on. Practicing these behaviors will enable us to become encouragers. It matters greatly.

John 19:28-30 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I came to the United States decades ago and one of the most surprising things to me was that Good Friday was not a national holiday and that Easter seemed to be all about Easter parades and hats and, Easter bunnies, eggs and baskets. This was in stark contrast to my home country where it was the most sacred of all observances. It was about Christ and his crucifixion and resurrection and the redemption or reconciliation with God that it makes possible. In time I came to realize that in fact in this country too these bedrock beliefs are held dear to the hearts of those who practice Christianity in a pluralistic society like none other.

When Jesus was crucified his shed blood satisfied the standard of purity and righteousness which God requires of all men but which none of us can meet. Jesus died in our place. To the believer, this allows access to God through prayer and praise, power to live an abundant life now and eternal life in God’s kingdom after death. The verses above describe the scene at the cross as Jesus took his final breath and tell us that the culminating events were a fulfillment of Scripture written many, many years prior to that day. When Jesus said “It is finished” it meant not only that his purpose in being born was fulfilled but that it was complete in such a way that no human effort can add to it or make it more perfect.  No one can work to earn redemption. You and I are simply called to believe that he is God’s Son who died in our place for every sin you and I ever committed or will commit. God did not take the death of his Son lightly. The Holy Spirit affirms:

“In that hour I broke into human history to display my great love for mankind. In that hour I chose you over my Son. Do you have any idea how excruciating that was for Him and for Me? Thus when I ask my children to fall down and worship Him, I do so because the full price has been paid for your redemption. It is indeed finished! The worship I now desire is total surrender because nothing else is enough.”

1 Chronicles 21:16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.

At some point every believer must come to grips with the fact that although God is love, he is also righteous. And because God is righteous, he is also the judge of all men and all things. In Jeremiah 9:23-24 the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth for in these I delight.”

In the first verse of 1 Chronicles 21, it is recorded that: Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to make a census of Israel. King David gave the order to Joab the commander of his army to carry out the census. Joab protested but was overruled by the King. In carrying out the command Joab refused to include the tribe of Levi and Benjamin so in any case the result was flawed. David eventually confessed to God that he had sinned and done a foolish thing. So he prayed: “Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant.”

The Lord sent Gad the seer to outline three possible punishments to David – “three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord – days of plague in the land with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.” What terrifying choices? David decided: “Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great.” The punishment proceeds.

As you read this account of David’s encounter with the angel of the Lord, let it break your heart as it did David’s and mine. It lets you see the great cost to others of your individual disobedience and willfulness. Is your latest pursuit in harmony with what God wants?