Monday, Psalm 133:1; Scholars are divided over exactly what the Psalmist is referring to when he speaks of “kindred” (“brethren” in the KJV). Some think it refers to the nation of Israel as a whole, others the governing council, and still others that it refers to the family. Regardless of its original intent the message is clear—life is much more pleasant and good when people live in harmony. The word “unity” is from a word meaning “harmony” which refers not to an absence of outward hostility but to an inner quality of life that issues in seeking harmonious relationships. When our relationships, whether at home, at work, in the church or in social settings are based on this quality (which comes from allowing God’s love to be shed abroad in our heart) then those relationships are rewarding and satisfying. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
Tuesday, Psalm112:1b; One of the macho man characters from yesteryear’s movies had a line, “A man’s got to know his limitations”. Over the years most of the people I’ve known who were truly unhappy never came to grips with (or admitted) their limitations. One fellow I recall had been pretty successful in his career, then he hit a brick wall in his personal life. Suffice it to say that within a 72 hour period his family life was turned upside down. I saw him a couple of weeks after the situation developed and he told me about it. He said he’d tried everything he knew to resolve the problems but nothing seemed to work. “It’s just like when I’ve had problems before, I’ll just have to tough it out.” He wasn’t a religious man, in fact he never tolerated any “God talk” around him. But that day, he listened as I simply told him how I had realized years before that I had limitations, which the Good Lord had a way of overcoming. I didn’t push him, just told him to think about it for a while. The next time I saw him he was a changed man. He had realized his limitations, turned his life and problems over to God and started reverencing (the meaning of the word “fear” in the passage) Him and discovered true happiness. Reverence for God begins when we know our limitations, and happiness comes as we begin reverencing God in every area of our lives. Happy are those who fear (reverence) the Lord.
Wednesday, Psalm 112:1c; Many people find it easy to begin “reverencing the Lord” when they face troubles that are beyond their ability to handle, but when the problem is resolved they go back to living their lives on their own terms. Then their sense of happiness diminishes and after a few weeks they find themselves back in a state of being unhappy most of the time. Perhaps that’s why the Psalmist added the words of our meditation text. He wanted people to realize that real, continual happiness could be found only when we habitually live out our reverence for God in every area of our lives. Few who read these words would ever consider murdering someone, stealing money or committing adultery, but how many of us know that the God we generally reverence wants us to love even those who have wronged us? Do we replace thoughts of ill will or resentment toward that person with genuine thoughts of concern and goodwill? Resentment, selfishness, greed, bigotry, etc. are all things that run contrary to God’s way; moreover research has shown that such attitudes can cause depression, physical maladies and psychological illnesses. Real happiness begins with reverencing God and grows as we live out that reverence through our attitudes and actions. (Happy are those…) Who greatly delight in His commandments.
Thursday, Psalm 112:6; A psychologist friend of mine once told me that one of the greatest fears people have is that they will be forgotten. I am told that among some cultures in Biblical days that if a person really disgraced the family name by their actions, their name was removed from the genealogy and never spoken by family members. Perhaps it is to this practice that the writer refers when he says that the righteous (meaning those who do what is right) will be remembered forever. On a spiritual level, those of us who reverence God and live out that reverence through our attitudes and actions will never have to worry about not being forgotten by our Heavenly Father, either in the here and now and the hereafter. For the righteous will never be move: they will be remembered forever.
Friday, Psalm 112:7; I remember reading about a radio news broadcaster during the 1940’s who often began his broadcast with the words, “There’s bad news tonight…” One of the great untruths about the Christian faith is that a believer is immune from troubles. I suspect that such infantile thinking is rooted in childish fantasies about fairy godmothers and magic wands because most of the people of real faith that I know (both rich and poor) have as much, if not more “evil tidings” come into their lives as non-believers. But that is where the similarity ends because to a person of real faith (not a Pollyanna, pie in the sky belief in a fairy tale religion) the insecurities of life become stepping stones for growth. Of course, none of us want to hear “evil tidings” or have problems, but as people of faith we know that God will see us through, give us guidance, comfort and the insights we need. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord
Saturday, Psalm 112:8; Elsewhere in the Bible there is a verse that tells us that in the face of mounting troubles, “Men’s hearts fail them for fear”. Contrast that with the opening words of today’s passage “Their hearts are steady”. Why? There are two forces at work in the world—faith and fear. When we really know God, trust God and live by his ways then faith in the goodness and love of God for us negates fear, empowers our minds to deal with difficulties and puts a new song in our hearts—even in darkest times. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.
Sunday, Psalm 134:2; For most of his ministry, my late father was the pastor of rural churches, often what is known as a three or four point charge. Those country churches weren’t fancy, they usually had wooden pews, communion table, chancel or kneeling rail, a pulpit and a piano. Instead of stained glass or colored windows the glass was clear and you could see God’s beautiful creation as we sang the grand old hymns. The churches were simple but one thing my dad insisted on was that people reverence the house of God. Certainly there’s nothing magical about a chancel, communion table or pulpit, but that which they represented was sacred and thus they were treated with dignity and respect. In some ways I’m glad this veteran of more than sixty years of ministry has gone to be with his Master because I know his heart would break if he saw what the churches have become. In my visits to various churches the past few years I’ve become aware that reverence and a sense of sacred symbolism has been removed in order to become “seeker friendly” (whatever that means). The grand hymns of the faith have become little more than children’s courses and the lofty sounds of the organ replaced by rock and rap bands. I know times “they are a changin’” just as they have for centuries and we have to adapt to the ages. But whether we are in a modern “worship center”, rural church or gothic sanctuary let us remember the advice of the Psalmist, we are in God’s house, let us reverence what it symbolizes and be aware that we are still on holy ground before a holy God. Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the Lord
Monday, July 27, 2009
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