He is my mighty Bridegroom who will not rest until all the enemies of His Bride are under His feet. It also reminds me how crazy I am to put myself in place of Him — the primary sin beneath all my sins.
In The God of All Comfort, we are in chapter 9, which is entitled: “My Heart is Stirred by a Noble Theme.”
1. Read Psalm 45:1-8.
A. What is this noble theme that stirs the psalmist’s heart?
B. Jesus came the first time as meek and lowly, but that is not how He will return. Meditate on the descriptive phrases in these opening eight verses. If one jumps out at you, then the Spirit is speaking to you. Meditate, memorize, and share your contemplations.
C. In Psalm 45:10-11, how should each of us respond to this King of Kings?
D. Tim Keller says that the sin beneath all our sins is that we have put ourselves in the place of God. Meditate on this and share your contemplations. Why is that the sin beneath all your sins? Write a prayer of confession here.
2. Read another description of Jesus in Revelation 19:11-16. Again, if a phrase stands out to you, meditate, memorize, and share your contemplations.
3. John Piper says that beholding is becoming. As you behold Jesus, He will transform you. The key to a changed life is not trying harder, but letting your heart be stirred by this noble theme: the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who is worthy of your worship. What songs help you particularly worship the King of Kings? I actually was stirred as a little girl by The Battle Hymn of the Republic, though I didn’t understand it — and think most people don’t — but it does paint this scene from Psalm 45 and Revelation 19 well. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Let us behold Him together, worship Him, and be transformed.
54 comments
1A. What is this noble theme that stirs the psalmist’s heart? My translation calls this a royal wedding song! Reciting his verses must be wedding vows. David is catching a vision of God’s glory and mission and senses God’s power in him to be a part of God’s work. In v.2 he is seen as most handsome of men, as a lover would see him. In v.3-5 he sees himself as a mighty warrior piercing the hearts of God’s enemies. In v.7-8 I see that David is loved and blessed by God because he loves righteousness and hates wickedness. I love how verse 8 speaks of his garments being perfumed with cassia, the fragrance of Christ’s righteousness, the myrrh of His suffering and maybe aloe symbolizes healing. From ivory palaces harps bring him joy. David played the harp and chased away the powers of darkness that haunted Saul. Wow! This so lifts my spirits. I need to make it a poster and hang it on the wall!
1A: The noble theme that stirs the psalmist heart is the King of kings. He is compelled to write praises to God.
1B: He has a sword (v.3) and he rides out victoriously for the cause of TRUTH, meekness, and righteousness (v.4)
So much of how we see Jesus depicted in the world is that of a baby in a manger, or a weak, sad-eyed man. This psalm shows him with a sword in his hand, riding out to bring victory!
Verse 7 has always been one of my favorites in all of scripture. It’s a promise to me, and continually speaks encouragement to my heart: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;” If we strive, by His grace, to love righteousness, and hate wickedness, God promises to anoint us with gladness. Isn’t that encouraging?!
I love what you say Marlys! He rides out victorious. That is encouraging after such a difficult chapter last time.
I am feeling much better. I don’t have a marriage anywhere near what I want but I can’t trade him in. I’m afraid I would bring at least half of the problem with me and I’m not just being down on myself. It is true! When I left him, I left the dependent position and that’s why I don’t think I’m really a victim. I never really was but now he knows it. I need to learn to deliver some tough love, without apologies. I think he may have come to the Lord with the idea that this is what would bring me back. It did but he has no idea what kind of power he is trying to manipulate. I just get down sometimes because I buy into the idea that I am stuck here. I have to remember that I am the bride of the King of kings. Wow!
Anne — we love you and will pray for you as you fight the good fight, loving with tough love. I appreciate your humility and desire to do what pleases the Lord. I’m praying for you right now.
I so appreciate all of you. As I have mentioned before I frequently realize the prayers of those on this blog. As soon as I mention what I am struggling with I find myself lifted up.
The Life Application Bible says it is a poem to the king on the occasion of his wedding. While this psalm was written for an historic occasion, it is also seen as a prophesy about Christ and his bride, the church. In this royal wedding song, the bridegroom has everything- he is the most handsome, he is powerful, victorious, blessed, strong and has a beautiful bride but the tribute is not because of these things but because the king pleases God! True royalty is characterized by faithful obedience to the most royal of all, the King of kings. I love to visualize my King, as all of those things listed above. I want to be the beautiful bride He deserves, just as I prepared myself for my wedding day to my wonderful husband 30 years ago, I want to be fit for my heavenly groom on that great day. Thinking of Him stirs my heart, in fact everything I have learned in this study has stirred my heart and helped me prepare.
In the wonderful book “Hinds feet on high places” Hannah Hurnard says: “The Song of Songs expresses the desire implanted on every human heart, to be re-united with God himself, and to know perfect and unbroken union with Him. He has made us for Himself, and our hearts can never know rest and perfect satisfaction until they find Him.”
In reference to the previous lesson, I want to encourage my sisters to read Beth Moore’s newest book, “So long, insecurity.” It is really a great read.
I SECOND that thumbs up on Beth Moore’s book!!
The Beth Moore Simulcast-So Long Insecurity is this Saturday April 25. Anyone in the South Georgia area is invited to Calvary Baptist Church in Jesup Georgia. We will have tickts available at the door. Lunch is included in the cost. (cooked by the men of CBC) I’ll be working the product table. Looking forward to a wonderful day!
“Gracious words stream from your lips. God Himself has blessed you forever.” This section identifies that words stream (like water) pouring from his lips. There is some language just before that speaking about beautiful words and how they stir the heart. I think this section is identifying specifically that the words being spoken as the victorious warrior breaks forth are not the words that one might associate with a battle cry. These words describing the scene speak of spoken tenderness, comfort and restoration. To continue reading it appears that these flowing words are what defend justice, humility and the truth.
In verse four the tone shifts slightly to speak of arrows piercing the heart of the enemy. I was thinking that these loving words of affirmation coming from the King to the lowly, broken and humble feel like sharp piercing arrows to the enemy…. and they crumble at His feet knowing that the truth has been spoken, and there is nothing in all of hell that can overcome the truth of the loving affirmations that are spoken from the lips of the King coming for his bride.
The response to this stream of loving words should be taking those words to heart and letting go of the things that others have spoken against the truth in the past. Let go of even the things said by family and those that should have always affirmed the truth over us…. to only believe and hear what the warrior King coming for His bride would say.
Tim Keller is basically saying that words of judgement against another goes directly against what the King would have us say to His bride. By saying things that are contrary to God’s heart, we make it more difficult for the words of affirmation to stir the heart of the bride so that she might ride again in freedom knowing her true identy as the bride of Christ.
#1.A. What is this noble theme that stirs the psalmist’s heart?
This is a Psalm composed for the king’s wedding. I believe that the king is King David, as he was a warrior. The heart is stirred due to the noble attributes of the king; he is excellent, majestic, he rides forth in victory over his enemies. The king has a noble purpose – to defend truth, humility, and righteousness. He rules with a scepter of justice. He is noble in appearance, with fragrant robes. The psalmist’s love and admiration and loyalty to David are evident.
B. Meditate on the descriptive phrases in verses 1-8.
They all reflect the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the most excellent of men,
He is full of grace. I like how in the above painting by Martin French, Jesus is holding up His hand. The nail print in His hand is all He needs to show that He HAS won the victory! Jesus is a descendant of David, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever” (verse 6) God had promised that the scepter would never depart from David’s line.
Anne, I like your comments about the specific fragrances the robes are perfumed with.
When I smell lilacs I think of what fragrances we will know in the Lord’s presence.
This is such a glorious psalm, and it does stir my heart.
It is a mystery if there is a double portrait here. I think Solomon might be a shadow here, because of the Song of Songs, but Spurgeon is quite persuasive when he says in his inimitable descriptive way:
“Some see only Solomon and the Pharoah’s daughter. They are short-sighted.
Some see Solomon and Christ. They are cross-eyed.
…This is no wedding song of earthly nuptials, but an Epithalamium for the Heavenly Bridegroom and his elect spouse.”
What do you think?
I think it is pretty cool that this is a wedding song written for the Heavenly Bridegroom and his elect spouse because that includes me 🙂 I had to look us Epithalamium; the word wasn’t in my vocabularly!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithalamium
And I agree that Spurgeon’s words definitely are “inimitable” (I looked that one up too!).
I love the wikpedia definition! You are so fun.
If we see this psalm as simply a song for the wedding of Solomon and his bride then it is not what I would consider a notable passage and as Spurgeon says, it is short-sighted. If in this passage we see Solomon and Christ, I think “cross-eyed” is a bit strong, and if I dared, I might suggest the kinder word, “interwoven” to our dear Mr. Spurgeon. 🙂 That said, I prefer Dee’s suggestion that Solomon is a shadow here. Either way, it is a wedding announcement of OUR impending wedding to THE King of kings and that my dear sisters is heart stirring, heart pounding, breathtaking and enough to kill this country girl!
1A. My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
The writer is awestruck, by the king’s character and his works. I like that NIV translation!
1B. What kept jumping out at me is the first part of verse 4 “In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;”
I’m impressed by the word “humility” (or meekness, in some translations) listed in between truth and righteousness. Seems as if I’m often on a crusade for truth and righteousness. But without humility, truth can be obnoxious and righteousness turns into self-righteousness. Jesus is victorious in behalf of the perfect mix of truth, humility, and righteousness. I wonder how often the battle for truth is hurt because of lack of humility or righteousness.
Right on, Renee! Without humility everything else turns into some sort of “self-focus.” Well put. Thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUQYJ77qa50 This is good.
that is pretty great! Thanks for sharing, Joyce
I like what Kim said about it being a wedding announcement of OUR impending wedding to the KING of Kings! This psalm is describing in glowing terms the marriage of an ancient king, and elaborating upon the beauties of the bride and the bridegroom. I get excited also thinking of Jesus, my bridegroom coming for his bride, me! in this psalm. I love the picture by Marten French, it helps my visulation of Christ coming.
How should we respond to the King of kings?
I can tell you this, when He comes for me, this bride will gladly discard her human garment and bow low before Him in a white gown with gold embroidery, Lord willing, having done all I could to prepare for the wedding feast.
1b.Verse 4 stands out to me right now. Today I talked with a coworker who is also a dear friend. She is very frustrated because of some things at work. She said “I think I have some sort of super sensitive radar about injustice because it just drives me crazy”. Here it says in splendor he will ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility and justice. Lies, pride and injustice are the enemies we see all around us every day. May His right hand show His awe-inspiring deeds!
1c. We should respond to the King of kings by leaving this earthly home without a second thought to marry Him. In verse 11, He will love me and I will worship Him. I will not look back. As Kim said, I will be so done with this garment!
1d. Why is it true that at the heart of all my sin I put myself in God’s place. I want to glorify myself instead of God. I want to be comfortable not sacrifice for Him. I want my way not His way. I want His blessing that I may spend it on my lusts (like Gomer). When I lose my blessing then I weep and cry out to God (like the men of Malachi). I see myself as righteous and He gets my attention by removing my blessings. Then, I accuse Him of injustice because, after all, this is ME we are talking about.
Lord please help me to get off the throne of my heart and stay off. Help me to keep You there always. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me Lord. Thank you for being faithful to discipline me. Help me to truly love righteousness, humility and justice. Only by Your power can I do this. I love You Lord.
Such a good prayer. I make it mine too.
Never noticed this was a wedding song, Psalm 45. And we are the the Bride of Christ. Psalm 45, then, is our song to our bridegroom?
The theme is praise to the King. “Gird your sword on your side, O Mighty One, in your splendor and Your majesty. And in Your majesty, ride on victoriously…”
for what cause? For judgment? For wrath?
“…ride on victoriously for the cause of truth, and meekness, and righteousness.”
Sounds like Christ, alright. 🙂
Dee, I wanted to let you know that I’m recommending your blog to my FB friends.
And as a study a few of my friends and I could do together this summer. We meet on Fridays from June to August at local coffee shops to discuss some book we’re reading or to study the Bible together. I suggested to them that this summer we should follow your blog and discuss our answers together.
It’s amazing to me how God uses tragedy over and over (I’m thinking of your loss) to bless others. May God bless you as you’ve been such a blessing to so many others. 🙂 Gloris
Thank you Gloris!
1C: We are to honor Him, bow down to Him. I wonder how we could help but honor & bow down to Him…then I think about how I live my daily life…me, me, me.
Lord help us to sell out to you, and worship you. As Anne said, get me off the throne of my heart & keep me off!
1. Read Psalm 45:1-8.
1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
2. 2 You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
3. 3 Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
4. 4 In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.
5. 5 Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
6. 6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
7. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
8. 8 All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
A. What is this noble theme that stirs the psalmist’s heart?
How righteous, how majestic, how totally powerful God is. God’s throne is everlasting and He is the very definition of goodness and righteousness. He is more than human minds or words can imagine.
B. Jesus came the first time as meek and lowly, but that is not how He will return. Meditate on the descriptive phrases in these opening eight verses. If one jumps out at you, then the Spirit is speaking to you. Meditate, memorize, and share your contemplations.
Verse 6: Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
God’s rulings are all justice. Therefore they are all good. He is forever and He is perfect love. And verse 8 appeals to so many senses; fragrance, ivory, music.
C. In Psalm 45:10-11, how should each of us respond to this King of Kings?
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:
Forget your people and your father’s house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
We are to respond to God by dwelling on His majesty and perfection, serving Him with honor. And what a privilege for us that we will behold Him! What a blessing that we can behold glimpses of Him even now!
D. Tim Keller says that the sin beneath all our sins is that we have put ourselves in the place of God. Meditate on this and share your contemplations. Why is that the sin beneath all your sins? Write a prayer of confession here.
Christ,
I confess that the sin beneath my sins is self-reliance in trying to be perfect. Sometimes my mind cannot let go of the idea that I must do something to earn Your love instead of reaching out to You, blessedly empty-handed, ready to receive Your free gift of salvation and favor with God. Please forgive my stubborn heart and cleanse me from this striving. I see that it only brings distress upon my soul and less honor to You. I want to honor You with all I do, from each breath I take to my every thought. I praise You for already helping me break this awful, sinful habit and I humbly ask for this good work to be brought to completion.
In Your Name, Christ,
Amen.
2. Read another description of Jesus in Revelation 19:11-16. Again, if a phrase stands out to you, meditate, memorize, and share your contemplations.
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Faithfulness! Truth! And His blood… shed for me so I may dwell with Him eternally. And, for me, that last line says it all. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. That’s Who we worship!
#1. C. In verses 10-11, how should each of us respond to this King of kings?
Jesus Christ is to be my first love above any other earthly relationship. He must be first in my heart. I am to honor Him with my life – my thoughts, words, actions. I am to lovingly submit to Him, for He is my Lord.
D. Tim Keller says that the sin beneath all our sins is that we have put ourselves in the place of God. Meditate on this and share your contemplations. Why is that the sin beneath all your sins?
Another word for putting myself in the place of God is pride. I believe pride is at the root of all sin.
Ezekiel 28:2 says “in the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god””.
I see pride behind my sins, there are so many examples. When I compare myself to others and judge someone else, regard myself as better, smarter, more deserving, prettier, always right, critical of others.
Being overly sensitive to other’s comments, being easily offended. Not being thankful and grateful.
When my motives are to get attention and praise, I steal God’s glory for myself.
Even self-pity is a form of pride because it’s all about me.
Living independently of God, not regarding Him as important in my day to day life, thinking I am self-sufficient.
Acting as if all of life is a stage and I am “the star”.
Pride is so very ugly and it is also so quietly deceptive. I can fool myself that I think it is not there.
Some quotes on pride that I obtained through a Bible study and my teacher at that time:
“The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison; it was through pride that the devil became the devil, pride leads to every other vice. It is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
C.S. Lewis
I think that statement, “pride is the complete anti-God state of mind”, is very profound.
“Humility is the displacement of self and the enthronement of Christ. Humility means Christ is all and self is nothing.”
T.A. Hegre
Another thing my teacher taught us, when we were examining the Scriptures related to the tongue, and controlling our tongue, was that she said that when we choose to let loose and not control our tongue and use it to hurt others, it is as if we are saying, “Who is going to be God in this situation?” And the answer is, “me”, if I sin with my tongue.
Another good resource is the Seeking Him Bible study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom in which she has a very good list of the characteristics of proud vs. humble people.
Hmmm… I just was thinking I provided a very good answer to this question… I seem to be an “expert” on pride. There it is – pride!
I’ve always liked “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” too, Dee. I’ve been listening to many renditions on youtube. My favorite was Whitney Houston, but this one has all the lyrics (which are phenominal!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VslzcciRmZg&feature=related
Take a look at these last 2 verses. They fit so well with our study:
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Wow, Marlys, that’s amazing! Thanks.
The Scripture that came to my mind for writing a prayer of confession was the last part of Romans chapter 7. I can echo Paul’s words…
“For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”
“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.”
“…but it is sin (substitute the word, pride) living in me that does it.”
“What a wretched woman I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Lord Jesus,
How easy it is for me to have You as my Savior, but how hard it is for me to live each day with You being my Lord. Yet, I can’t have one without the other. I know the main sin in my life is me being “little g god” and wanting to be what life is all about, instead of having my life being all about You. I strive for significance, instead of giving You Your rightful place as King, and being content to find my worth in You. Please let YOur Holy Spirit be quick to convict me of each and every evidence of pride in my heart. I confess my pride as sin against You. Please help me to change.
In Your Name,
Amen
Anne, Tracy, Susan, what beautiful prayers..I can’t begin to confess better. I am all of the above; my I make them my prayers also. Thank you Lord so very much
3C: Here are a couple songs that have been ministering to me lately:
Jesus Messiah –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4EkllZ8gEI
Great is Thy Faithfulness –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR2-5Gw-zt4
3. Songs that stir my heart in worship:
We Shall Behold Him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTqyC8R9i20
Crown Him with Many Crowns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eb7mgqxYpE
Great is Your Mercy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmHMKfD_iY
Thank you, Renee! It was great to listen to 2nd Chapter of Acts. Hadn’t thought of them in a long while. And I’d never heard “Great is Your Mercy!” Thanks for introducing me to it! It’s uplifting to hear what others are listening to.
2. How fearsome and terrible will the sight of this Christ be for the workers of iniquity with the sword of truth coming from His mouth to strike the nations. That will be the truth of the Word that will slay them. How easy it is now for the wicked to ignore the truth of the word of God. No longer will He be the babe in a manger or the lamb silent before the slaughter. These things He has been for us, that as many as would might come to Him. To me the whole picture is awe inspiring and in the last verse His magnificent name is written on His thigh as He is seated on the white horse. At the risk of getting to far out there, I notice that. When I look at a man seated on a horse I think the most prominent part of his body is his thigh. It is the strongest muscle in the human body. I don’t know, there is just something stirring about that picture to me. But now I think these verses in Revelation are a picture of the noble theme mentioned in Psalm 45 and it is so well articulated in The Battle Hymn of the Republic. He is coming to bring truth and judge wickedness. We, His bride, have been the victims of wickedness on this earth. He is strong. He is righteous. He is beautiful. He is angry and He is coming to save us.
3D. I used to have this dear, old pastor that gave this definition of sin: meeting my own needs in my own way. I think about that a lot. Forget for a minute the whole “want” issue. When I have a legitimate NEED, I must wait on Him, I must submit to the will of my heavenly Father, and make Him Lord over my needs. He promises to take care of me, and supply all.
Matthew 6:33 says it all: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You, help me to worship you in spirit and in truth. I’m sorry, Lord, for all the times I step out from under Your umbrella of protection to go after what I think I need in my own way. Help me to take Your example and say, “Not my will, but YOURS be done!” In Jesus name, Amen.
Great sharing and videos!
Here’s a question for my southern bloggers. I have been told that The Battle Hymn can be offensive to some southerners — for it was used unkindly during the Civil War. Any truth in that for any of you?
I have not heard anything about that but I was not raised here. I can’t think that I have heard it since I moved from New England though.
The words that became the Battle Hymn were written in 1862 by Julia Ward Howe and became a walking song of the union army. The article I read was confusing as to her belief about Christ and salvation. Apparently she became Unitarian after marriage and while retaining her belief in Christ for salvation, believed that there were other ways to salvation… It stated that she was of somewhat liberal views for the time and believed women should shape the culture by political activism,the term feminist was used to describe her. I can imagine that the north felt very much that God was on their side in the Civil War and this song seemed to express that sentiment. I doubt things were that simple and am sure that it caused hard feelings in the south but I am only guessing. I have to say my view of the song is not quite as positive as when I first heard it again after all these years:(
Good research Anne.
I know I’m taking us on a rabbit trail — but I recommend Gods and Generals as a movie with a more balanced perspective. Great sin on both sides.
My rabbit trail has made me think that one of the greatest enemies is the sin in us — and one day that will be gone. I love the passage from Hosea that says he will take the sin out of our mouths.
It is so easy to see sin as a problem outside of ourselves.
I’ve been thinking a lot about four far off idols. They are:Comfort, Control, Power, and Approval.
For example, you may lose your temper — but your far off idol is control.
You may eat too much –but your far off idol is comfort.
Reflections?
Last night I went to a fundraiser for “Here’s Life InnerCity,” a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ. John Piper was the keynote speaker. He said, “Life is hard. It’s supposed to be. Get used to it.”
His point was that we shouldn’t spend so much of our effort/money/brain power/time trying to make our own lives easier…and THEN reach out to the lost world. He was saying we should reach out to the lost world NOW in the middle of our pain.
He told of a young missionary couple from his church. While in Kenya, a visiting missionary backed over their 18 month old daughter & killed her. This young couple refused to come back to the US, but buried their daughter in Kenya. Piper said he went over there for the funeral, and it was remarkable how this young couple was allowing the Lord to use this tragedy to bring the lost to Him.
I said all this to say…why are we so self-centered?! We are such creatures of comfort!
Dear Lord, help us to look to you to meet our needs. Free us to look to the needs of those around us today.
Dee, why do you call them far off? Maybe because while they are within us we do not see them? We don’t recognize them as idols. We think because we have not melted all our gold into a calf or burned our children on an altar, we don’t have idols. It has become the American way to be prosperous, but can we see it as an altar on which we have sacrificed our children?
I remember a friend lamenting to me about the sin within her heart. When she had done something that displayed humility, immediately pride bubbled up out of her heart because she had been humble. Sometimes my heart reminds me of the cesspools we used to have in our neighborhood when I was growing up. As long as that big round lid stayed secure everything was lovely. But when it overflowed the whole neighborhood knew it.
The bottom line is that as you have said we can’t change our hearts. We can drag all the furniture over that lid but it still overflows. Our hearts are the problem. I think the only help for us is in question 3 as we behold God.
I think the point is more that it is the root sin — losing your temper is not the root, but control is. Does that make sense?
3. There are so many ways to behold Jesus. We read and study the Word. We behold and celebrate creation (I think science is an important part of this). We remember what He has done in the past as the Israelites did every year at Passover and also as they were commanded in their other festivals. Purim comes to mind though it has been tainted by drunkenness. The most important thing is that we behold Him because this leads to WORSHIP which I think is what makes us like Christ. As I think about this the first song I think of is The Splendor of the King. As I shopped for a video of it, I liked this one the best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi0yLRX4d2M While the song celebrates God’s majesty the video weaves in scriptures that speak of many of the other blessings we have in Christ.
Look what I found! This song is from the 80’s. It is from Peter’s perspective and takes us from the despair of the crucifixion and Peter’s denial to a crescendo in the glory of the resurrection! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSnk1R31vg I am tempted to spend all day on you tube. I didn’t know all this stuff was out there!
I hadn’t thought of that song in FOREVER! Thanks for sharing it!
I’ve been thinking lately how blessed we are to have the internet at our fingertips. I mean, I know there are tons of bad things on here, but there are so many things to help in our walk with the Lord…and just a click of the mouse! Praise God.
Here are Don Fransisco’s song about God, Job and Satan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkw0CKuQr2Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehawpgmS_5o
Your Don Francisco songs, Anne, reminded me of one his wife, Wendy, wrote and illustrated in a cute video. It’s called, “GoD and DoG” Here ’tis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY
Yes I saw that when I was on the site. So cute and true observation.
My rabbit trail has made me think that one of the greatest enemies is the sin in us — and one day that will be gone. I love the passage from Hosea that says he will take the sin out of our mouths.
It is so easy to see sin as a problem outside of ourselves.
I’ve been thinking a lot about four far off idols. They are:Comfort, Control, Power, and Approval.
For example, you may lose your temper — but your far off idol is control.
You may eat too much –but your far off idol is comfort.
Reflections?