If the Lord Had Not . . . We Could Not

WOW!! Week 2 has been something else hasn't it. As I told you earlier, Psalm 122-24 have been described as problems along the way in our spiritual journey. I think we all can easily relate to this. Ancient pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem most certainly could. Warren Wiersbe states in his commentary that sometimes we face emergencies that are more than we can handle.. That is when we turn to the LORD for help, because He is own our side.

The Sudden Attack (vv.1-2)
Our enemy Satan does not give advance warning of his attacks; therefore, we must be sober and vigilant (I Peter 5:8), put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18), and be alert in prayer. If we are walking with the LORD, we need not feel unprepared for the enemy's attacks.

The Deepening Flood (vv.3-5)
There are situations where we stand helpless as the problem gets worse and worse. This is an image of persecution that God's people go through. But if God is on our side, He will provide a way of escape.

The Menacing Beast (v.6)
Again, another picture of persecution. Like a cunning animal, Satan stalks us and waits until we have relaxed our guard, and then he pounces. But the LORD is stronger than Satan, and if we are abiding in Him, we can win the victory.

The Hidden Trap (vv.7-8)
We must use the Word of God to throw light on our path so we can detect and avoid the devil's traps. Satan always has fascinating bait to offer. The LORD may allow allow us to fall into a trap, but nobody can keep us when He wants us to be free. The LORD not only opened the trap, but broke it so it cannot be used again!! The death an resurrection of Jesus Christ has broken the dominion of sin and death and we can walk in freedom though Jesus.
Praise God, we are not helpless!! "Our help is in the name of the Lord" WW

Let me assure you ladies, Satan does not want us to take this journey. And, if you haven't felt that this week, be assured that I have. So we might ask, "Why go?" The next few Psalms in the Ascent will help us understand. Stay in the WORD!!! jl

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,­
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

My Dad loved poetry, and this was one he often quoted. I was reminded of it yesterday, as the words describe the day we had. Not only was it a cold, gloomy day, it seems that every other minute I heard bad news. Just made me want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head.

Reminds me of our study. On our journey to Jerusalem, we have deep rivers to cross, mountains to climb, and valleys to descend. There are attacks from the enemy that sometimes catch us by surprise. Some days are just dark and dreary. Notice that the poet said, “Some days must be dark and dreary”. Not all days. Why should there be dark days? Why can’t life be all sunshine and sweet? Why do we have trouble? Would we appreciate the sun if we didn’t have cloudy days? Would we appreciate the good times, if we didn’t have trouble to compare them to. Would we appreciate the freedom we have in Christ if we had not first known the contempt of slavery to our sin? Would have appreciated the resurrection, if we had not first been to the cross.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds the sun is still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

And, if cold dark days will bring us just a little closer to the Creator of those days, if they bring us to a better knowledge of the One who walks beside us and holds us by His strong right hand, then let us welcome them with the assurance of His faithfulness.

May you have a blessed day in the Lord, and may it be filled with SONshine. -jl

God's Threshing Floor

Ladies,
I am so excited that many of you are commenting on the blog and keeping the dialogue going.

I want to comment myself on one of the posts about the obedience of lying face down in prayer. It was comparable to a threshing floor where wheat is separated from the chaff.

I found that interesting, and something that really concerns this particular study. Did you know that the Temple Mount was originally a threshing floor?

The account of the story is in I Chronicles 21-22. You know that King David had a desire to build a temple for the ark of the covenant, which at that time was still in a tent, even though David had it brought to Jerusalem. David had committed a great sin of pride of taking a census, and God became angry and punished Israel greatly. To stop the plague that God had sent, He ordered David to build an altar on the threshing floor of a man name Araunah and make an atoning sacrifice. David did so, and purchased the land.

I Chronicles 21:1 says, "Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel". So on the site of the threshing floor, David son, Solomon built the temple.

This is also the site where, hundreds of years prior, Abraham and his son Isaac went to worship, and there God commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Because of Abraham's total obedience, God provided a ram to use as the offering.

Millions and millions of pilgrims through out the years worshiped at that site. Millions and millions of lambs were offered as atoning sacrifices. It was a picture of the greatest thing to ever happen, not on that particular site, but on the same mountain range.

Jesus, our Passover Lamb, made the atoning sacrifice for you and me. Blood sacrifices are no longer needed, because of His shed blood. Temples are no longer needed because we are the Temples of His Holy Spirit.

However, Romans 12:1 says, "in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." So, ladies, the sacrificial system still exists. We are the living sacrifices.

I am so glad to be reminded of the threshing floor. It really became real to me this morning. I realized that my carpet looks just like a threshing floor. That's a nice way of saying it is just plain nasty. It was time for me to get up and vacuum it. Same is true with my life. It is time to do some serious cleaning if I am to be holy and pleasing to the Lord. - jl

THE ONE ENTHRONED

Week Two--Day Two
Psalm 123

I hope you have had a good day with the LORD. What a lesson Day Two has been. As promised, I am sending the outlines from Warren Wiersbe's BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY.

It has been said that the first of the three Psalms of Ascent are preparation for the journey, and the next three are problems along the way. I mentioned in our last session that when we desire to seek God, Satan will use anything to try to cause us to stumble. I think these next Psalms prove that statement to be true.

Wiersbe asks that when we find ourselves among the slandered, ridiculed, and persecuted, where do we turn for help?

We Look by Faith to God's Throne (v.1)
With our eyes of faith we see Him as we believe His Word

We Look by Faith to God's Hand (v.2)
In eastern countries, masters often commanded their servants by means of hand signals, so the servants kept their hand on the master's hand. This is what gave them direction for their work. But the master's hand was also their source of provision. Finally, the master's hand protected them in times of danger. So it is with God's people today, our direction, provision, and protection all come our Master's hand, and His hand never fails.

We Look for God's Mercy and Grace (v.3-4)
We are not only subjects of the King (v.1) and servants of the Master (vv.2-3), we are also children of a gracious Father who hears the cries of His children and comes to their aid. He has grace and mercy for each situation.

I hope these outlines and comments help you as you dig deeper into God's Word.

JERICHO ROAD

I am always so wired after our sessions together, it takes me a long time to come back down to earth. And tonight I am WIRED. What a session!!

I just loved it when Beth started quoting those songs and asked us to finish the verses. Too bad she didn't have "On the Jericho Road" as one of her selections. Marla, Shelia, Nancy and I could have helped her out on that one!!

Which gave me the idea. I found my "old brown book" with that song in it. Now in case you don't know what the "old brown book" is, I will tell you. I grew up in a rural church that used a hymn book published in the early 1930's compiled by a group named Stamps-Baxter.(And it was brown, hence, the "old brown book" as it was commonly called) Some of the songs are old hymns still sung today. But most of the songs were written for quartet style singing that we call "Southern Gospel" today.

Many of these songs were written in the early 1900's. Many of them will die out with this present older generation because this type of music is sung in very few congeregations now. And that is sad in a way, but I do love the music that is written today that speaks to this generation. Isn't it something that God inspires psalmist for each generation to speak His Word in music. I am so glad the Divinely inspired words of the Psalms of Ascent have transcended hundreds of generations, and still comfort us today.

"The Jericho Road" was written by Donald S. McCrossen in 1933. This song is like so many I grew up with. I just sang it never thinking about what it meant. The message in it is really great, and I hope it will bless you.

"As you travel along on the Jericho Road,
Does the world seem all wrong and heavy your load?
Just bring it to Christ, you sins all confess,
On the Jericho Road, you heart He will bless.'

"O brother to you, this message I bring,
Tho hope may be gone, He'll cause you to sing;
At Jesus' command, sin's shackles must fall,
On the Jericho road, will you answer His call?

(Refrain)

"On the Jericho road, there's room for just two,
No more and no less, just Jesus and you;
Each burden He'll bear, each sorrow He'll share,
There's never a care, for Jesus is there."

As you continue on the road to Jerusalem, may you find comfort in knowing that your Keeper holds your hand and will never let go. (Becky, I loved that.)

Help to Apply Psalms 120-122

PSALM 120

"Woe To Me"

When we find ourselves in distress, there are three responsibilities to fulfill if our burdens are to become blessings.

1. We Must Pray (vv.1-2)

2. We Must Trust God (vv.3-4)

3. We Must Patiently Endure (5-7)

PSALM 121

"The LORD Your Keeper"

Everything in the heavens and on earth bears witness to the Great Creator who is also our Heavenly Father, so why should I fear?

1. My Father's Creation Is Before Me (vv.1-2)

2. My Father's Eyes Are Upon Me (vv.3-4)

3. My Father's Presence Is Beside Me (vv. 5-6)

4.4. My Father's Care Is Around Me (vv.7-8)

PSALM 122

"The Peace of Jerusalem"

The Kind of Heart a Pilgrim Needs to Please God In Worship:

1. A Heart For God (vv.1-2)

2. A Heart For Praise (vv.3-5)

3.3. A Heart For Prayer (vv. 6-9)

Outline by Warren Wiersbe from his study on the book of PSALMS.