God desires holiness in truth.

God looks at the heart.

The heart is reflected in words and actions and life.

When we look around at words and actions and lives, we are obligated to discern truth and right and to distinguish between what is good and evil.

When we hear foul words and see sinful actions and corrupt lives, we are not to call those good.

When we see unfaithful men and women living unfaithfully, we must not call those things faithful that are not.

Words mean things.

Psalm 26 calls for serious lovers of God to observe things carefully, clearly and with sound discernment and discretion in order to understand rightly and to walk faithfully.

And this sober meditation must begin right at the beginning… right from verse 1 and continue through every verse to the very end.

*****

“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.”
Psalms 26:1

*****

This short initial post on this chapter is merely a preface to the very first verse of this chapter. This chapter is not to be read lightly or carelessly or that will bring great error. There is much to be said but this is all for now. These brief introductory thoughts here should be only a beginning. This chapter should be read carefully and prayerfully. More can be said later. But for all time, let the only words spoken be the words that God Himself is speaking on these things. Let us understand clearly and discern rightly.

Psalm 26

That greatest paradox. This greatest power. In the world but not of it. Fully engaged in a sinful world and among sinful men, ever without sin. Never intent on retreating to a holy huddle, never developing a convent, never desiring or tolerating a sanctuary merely removed from the noises of sinful men. Always living with holy power fully and openly on display right in the midst of the lives of fallen and broken, real and really messed up people. Touching and transforming, loving and healing, leading and guiding, boldly, powerfully, with clear vision and divine fortitude. Destroying the works of darkness from within a dark and dying world. Leading all who would follow to join in this same mission to transform those in the fire to be transformers from within the fire. And the world sees this very one, and all who are one with Him, still right in the midst of the fire, and His appearance is that of the Son of God.

Who is this King of Glory?
Selah.

Many have claimed to know Him. Many claim to know Him now.
There are too many claimers. There are too many foolish talkers.
There is too much claiming. There is too much foolish talking.
The King of Glory reigns over His Kingdom.
Those of the earth continue their hustling and bustling.
They are like phantoms running to and fro.
The One Who sits in heaven laughs.

Be careful when you enter the Presence of this King of Glory.
Go near to worship rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools.
These claimers boast foolishly without regard for the holy things.
Their proud mouths lay claim to things that are not their own.

***

Who is this King of Glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of Glory may come in.
Who is He, this King of Glory?
The Lord Almighty—
He is the King of Glory

November 24, Psalm 24

God has revealed His will and His Way through His WORD. Jesus is God’s WORD.

When we walk together with other followers of JESUS, we learn of Him through His WORD. By God’s Spirit, we understand and obey what He says.

Many things remain hidden, yet the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever.

One of the things revealed in God’s WORD relates to who God has chosen to be the one and only Pastor of His people.

Another truth God has revealed through His WORD is that His perfect will regarding marriage is one man and one woman for life. His perfect will revealed clearly in His WORD is that His followers should not divorce and should not remarry while the one they were married to is still living. In the resurrection, we will no longer be married to our earthly spouse.

There is great heavenly wisdom in God’s WORD. We each as followers of JESUS need daily to read, study, obey and walk in God’s Living Logos.

1235 BC The Song of Deborah and Barak Judges 5
1169 BC Gideon and the Midianites Judges 6 – 8

1140 BC Naomi, Ruth and Boaz Ruth 1 – 4

1129 BC Abimelech Conspires to Become King Judges 9
1126 BC Plot against Abimelech Judges 9:22
1126 BC Abimelech is Slain Judges 9:50

1100 BC Birth of Samuel 1 Samuel 1
1100 BC Hannah’s Song 1 Samuel 2
1070 BC Battle of Shiloh 1 Samuel 3
1070 BC Philistines Take the Ark 1 Samuel 4, 5
1070 BC Philistines Return the Ark to Israel 1 Samuel 6
1070 BC Ark brought to Abinadab’s House 1 Samuel 7
1050 BC Israelites Repent at Mizpeh 1 Samuel 7:3
1043 BC Saul Becomes King 1 Samuel 8 – 10