Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Psalm 113:4 – “Getting High”


As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of this verse:

4High above all of nations [is] the LORD, His glory above the heavens.

The Biblical concept of “high” has always fascinated me. It is actually a concept of considerable importance to us earthbound human beings. “High” is almost always a good thing while “low” is typically bad. People rise “higher” in their workplace. Some students rank “high” in their class. When someone is happy they’re “riding high.” We pretty much all enjoy going to the mountains and getting “way up high.” Kings are called “your royal highness.” One of God’s names El Elyon means “Most High God.”

What amuses me is that, in a sense, there is no such thing as “high.” As long as we and our thoughts are earthbound, “high” makes sense. But, what if two people were standing on opposite sides of the earth, one at the North Pole and one at the South. What if you asked them to point “up?” The two would be pointing in opposite directions! If they both climbed in rockets and went “up” they would travel in opposite directions! What is “up” to one is “down” to the other. The direction of “high” to one is “low” to the other.

So what really is “high?”

It is actually a completely earthbound term and is, in fact, totally relative to where we happen to be standing at the moment. It only “works” when you’re standing on a planet (or moon) with gravity, so that “down” is in the direction of the gravity and “up” is away from it. The term is inherently relative. You could almost say it is anthropocentric. In order to mean anything, it requires the presence of a thinking human being, who is actually (and even unknowingly) defining the term entirely from his own perspective. As a kid, my cousins and I would climb Mt. Moosilauke in NH which rose far above the surrounding landscape to a height of almost 5000 feet. That was “high.” Yet, now my son lives in Colorado where they climb the “14-ers,” the mountains that reach up above 14,000 feet. When you’re up there “Rocky Mountain high,” the top of Moosilauke is way down “low.”

It occurs to me as I type, perhaps that is the problem with people who want to rise “high.” It is always relative. No matter how high I rise in the company, there’s always someone “higher.” And if I rise to be the CEO of the company, then there’s another company worth more money, so their CEO is “higher” than me. Napoleon was a genius of administration and could have left France (and Europe) with a heritage of good government, but he got it in his heart he wanted to rule all of Europe. It wasn’t enough to have become the emperor of France. He wanted to rise higher, and so, instead of good government, he plunged Europe into years of horrific war, bereaved hundreds of thousands of families of their sons and husbands and fathers, and left behind a memory of a cruel dictator hated by everyone.

I guess that’s why people are always “stepping on each other.” They all want so much to be “higher.” But, again, “high” is inherently a relative term, so there’s nowhere to rise to and then be content. No matter how “high” you get, up is always “higher.”

This verse before us says, “High above all nations is the Lord…” Once again, interesting that one of God’s names is El Elyon, the Most High God. In order to know Him, we have to accept that He is “higher” than us – and always will be. We have to accept that He is “high” and that makes us “low.” Part of Satan’s fall was he wanted to “… ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God … I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” He couldn’t accept that he had to be “low.” Perhaps in all of this, we find the reason why a genuine Christian can actually be a decent person – because they’ve stopped trying to be “high.” They’ve accepted that God is and always will be “higher” and so it’s okay if other people seem to be “higher.” They don’t always have to “win.” I believe this is the thought buried in the Hebrew of Psalm 91:1, which says in English, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” The idea in Hebrew is that the person who actually chooses to remain (dwell) under the rule of Elyon (the Most High) will rest, will enjoy the benefits of living under Shaddai (the One who does exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think).

Our God is the “High” one. He is “His Most Royal Highness” and everyone, all nations, all rulers, all people everywhere are “under” Him. To accept that is to accept reality. To fight it is to live in a fantasy and will finally land people in the place prepared for the devil and his minions, the lowest of lows, the pit called hell. Those who accept it will be “raised” to the highest heavens. As Jesus said, “He who exalts himself will be humbled while He who humbles himself will be exalted.”

“High” is totally a relative term, yet even its relativity ought to teach us one of the most important lessons of life – I need to be content where I am. “Promotion comes from above.”

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Psalm 113:1-3 – “All the Time and Everywhere”


As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

Praise the LORD.

  1Praise, [O] servants of the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD.
 2Let the name of the LORD be blessed from now and until ages.
 3From sunrise to sunset, the name of the LORD being praised.

This has been an interesting couple of weeks since I posted thoughts on verses 1&2 and expressed my own desire to be a “walking psalm.” As is usually the case, I’ve been anything but! I was studying verse 3 and resolved to live verses 1&2, but got clobbered again at work. I already felt overwhelmed and was trying to trust God that it is all His work and that somehow it will all get done. Then it seemed like every day more got piled on. And then more. And then more. I felt so deeply buried there’s no possible hope I can do it all. And yet, underneath it all, I do believe it’s all from Him, that He’s just wanting to stretch me and teach me. I want to be confident in Him. I want to live in praise. But I was not. I was living in absolute terror (as usual).

Things have improved a little, so I’m not quite as overwhelmed. But then all that means is, as usual, I’m being “brave when the battle is distant.” When it’s in my face, I retreat in terror.

Sigh. I do want to be confident in the Lord. I honestly don’t know how to flip that switch – to be able to stay calm and clear-headed even in the face of fear. I know it’s possible. I just can’t seem to get it. It’s like someone pointed out how natives in the jungle are often terrified by an eclipse of the moon. We all would see that, chuckle to ourselves, and tell them, “It’s okay. You don’t need to be afraid.” We know it’s just an eclipse. To us they’re being silly … even childish. “All that emotional energy and drama is so totally unnecessary,” we would say. But then how am I any different? “Be still, and know that I am God.” “Fear not, for I am with thee …” Verse 3 says, “From sunrise to sunset, the name of the LORD being praised.” He’s got it all covered. “The flames will not hurt thee, I only design, thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

Sigh. All I know right now is, even in the fear, to keep trying to do what I should, keep trying to be loving to the people with whom I interact (perhaps even those who contribute to my terror), and keep praying, keep telling the Lord I know I’m filled with fear but I should (I want to) live in faith, to keep begging His help and strength. He knows my heart. He knows whatever it is I’m missing. And He knows when and how He’ll help me see it. Of course, even seeing it, involves facing the terrors.

I don’t know. It’s all crazy. But since He’s in the middle of it all, I’m back in the fray. I guess knowing it’s all Him is what gives me hope. I certainly have none in me. Of course I’m not alone. I know others struggle with exactly these same issues. I like what Shana Schutte said,

“In 2 Thessalonians 1:11, the following phrase grabbed me, “. . . and that by his power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by faith.” … I began this calling in faith but later allowed fear and pride to take over. So I tightened my hands on the reigns of my life, and I tried to control outcomes. Instead of trusting God as I worked, I trusted in myself. I forgot that it was my job to act “by faith” but God’s job to fulfill those actions by “His power.” Indeed, we fulfill all of our “good purposes” by His power, and every act prompted by our faith is fulfilled by God. We take the first step(s) but the fulfillment and completion of those steps belong to Him. The good works assigned to us originated with Him and they will be completed by Him.”

Yes.

Before I close, I want to note that verse 3 says the Lord is being praised from sunrise to sunset. One can ask if the point of that is to say He’s being praised “all the time” or “everywhere?” I lean toward the latter. If it were time and we said, “From sunrise to sunset,” one could ask, “and what about night time?” On the other hand, in the Hebrew mind, the words translated “sunrise” and “sunset” also mean “east” and “west.” In that case, the verse would say He’s being praised “from east to west.” That would mean “everywhere.” So then we would have verse 2 saying He deserves praise “both now and forever more” (all the time) and verse 3 saying He deserves praise “from east to west” (everywhere). The two together then are saying (poetically) that our Lord is deserving of praise all of the time and everywhere. And He certainly is.

… even when we’re facing fears.

He is wonderful. I am so thankful for His never-ending kindness, that He never gives up on me, that He’s always there, smiling, gently encouraging me, and somehow, underneath it all – all of my endless drama – He keeps my heart knowing He’s above it all, He’s using it for my good, that it will end, that somehow it will all add up to making me more like Him, a better person, maybe even a braver, calmer person (some day). He’s there – all the time and everywhere.

I don’t know how anyone survives without this hope, without Him.

Hebrew 13:15,16 -- Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Psalm 113:1,2 – “A Walking Psalm”


As always, here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:

Praise the LORD.

  1Praise, [O] servants of the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD. 
 2Let the name of the LORD be blessed from now and until ages.

It would be easy to read these verses and say, “Right. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord,” seeing them as “good” words but really just more Christian clichés. I used to think like that. I remember the first few times I read through the Bible, I would dread coming to the Psalms, just for that reason. It seemed like it was just “praise the Lord” over and over again for 150 chapters. Then I read a book about a guy named Henry Venn. He was an English minister back in like the 1600 or 1700’s.

The book was actually a compilation of letters he wrote to people throughout his life. What struck me most about him was that the man was literally a walking psalm! He seemed to breathe the psalms. As he wrote to people and talked about life, the psalms were woven into everything. The man seriously praised the Lord all day every day. He saw all of life as praises to the Lord. He totally transformed my attitude toward the Psalms. After reading that book, I began very deliberately memorizing psalms and looked forward to every chance I could get to open this wonderful book and be reminded what a wonderful God we serve.

The passage before us is a prime example. For myself, I have just studied through the previous two psalms, 111 and 112. The first, 111, was about what a great God He is and then 112 was about how blessed I am to know Him. I honestly cannot think of a more fitting conclusion to that entire study than Psalm 113:1,2. “Praise the Lord … Let the name of the Lord be blessed, both now and forever more!”

There is so much to praise Him for. No wonder David wrote at the end of his life on earth (I Chron 29:10-13),

Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
And You are exalted as head over all.
Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.

In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.
Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.

Like Henry Venn, David had spent his life walking with God in this real world, facing all the troubles and pain and failures of his own, and what did he become? A walking psalm.

That is exactly who I want to be.

What struck me most about these first two verses was the words, “Let the name of the LORD be blessed, both now and forever more.” “Both now and forever more.” As I contemplate my incessant problem with worry and fear, I read those lines and it occurs to me that I have no problem seeing the Lord has been worthy of praise my entire life. Looking back, even the intensely painful times I can now see were blessings from the Lord. I can say without hesitation, “Let His name be praised through all those moments. All day, every day He was doing great and awesome things.”

Then there is the “now.” Right now, at this minute, I do believe He is working all things together for good, that He is wisely and kindly ordering the universe to accomplish the greatest possible good. But what about the “and forevermore?” What about the future? What about tomorrow? I live under this dark cloud of worry and fear. Of what? Will the name of the Lord be worthy of praise tomorrow? The next day? The next? Will there ever be a second when He isn’t worthy of praise, when He isn’t totally in control and working all things together for good? Then why am I so afraid? What am I afraid of?

It occurred to me some time ago that worry is actually imagining a world without God. It’s leaving God out of my future. I could see that, but somehow I couldn’t get it to “stick” in my brain.

I think this helps me. “Both now and forever more.” I do believe in my heart that He will be worthy of praise every second of every day of the rest of my life. I just don’t do a very good job of appropriating that truth as I face all the problems and fears and issues.

I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

I want to be a walking psalm. The Lord deserves a walking psalm. I can see though, that only really works if I will trust Him not only with my past and present but also with my future.

Such a change is utterly beyond me. Worrying over the future it seems is just a part of who I am. But then I know it’s not. I was created in the image of God to “show forth His praises.” Everything less than that are the perversions and twistings of sin in me. Still I know I cannot make such changes. But there is a Redeemer, Someone who began a good work in me. Jesus died specifically “to save His people from their sins.” Do your redeeming work, Jesus. Make me a walking psalm. You deserve it.