Exodus 23:1 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."
This verse stood out to me so strongly when I recently read it. It was as if the Holy Spirit turned the page blank except for these words. It was an answer to prayer I needed and came from an unexpected text. Like God had said, "Behold! Pay attention!
We don't have to have a text tell us to avoid falsehood, wickedness, maliciousness. Most of us want to avoid that naturally. But there it is. God says it anyway. I think it is interesting that this is worded differently than other texts that say "do not lie". God wasn't just talking about speaking the truth. There is responsibility, honest actions, and warning against secret agreements implied as well. The NKJV says, “You shall not circulate a false report." One commentary described the duty to uphold truth and justice, walk in integrity and consideration for all men, and never be in collusion with one who had raised a false report.
Chapter 23 is full of specific examples of dishonesty, and stealing. Maybe because there are so many who think the phrase "do not lie" doesn't apply to their situation. After all, they didn't actually say an un-truth exactly.
Or in Psalms 1:1, "Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners". This verse and many more throughout God's Word give the same message, don't follow counsel from someone who has done wickedly.
"Well, God. I know I'm not supposed to lie, or align myself with those who lie or are being dishonest or have done wicked things....but....I need to keep appearance, or need their advice, or want their approval"
OH HOW FOOLISH!
The Wycliffe commentary says, "To do such a thing puts one in opposition to a Holy God who will not justify wickedness."
Oh God, give me wisdom to keep far from unrighteousness and the strength to uphold truth.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT and BE RESCUED!
Lately I have been reminded of ways God has rescued me.
Psalms 18:16-19 has become my go-to verses recently.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
David wrote these words when he was being surrounded by Saul who sought to kill him. He had to run away from his enemy on several occasions. 1 Sam 23:15 says, "And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hands." David even hid out in a cave in the wilderness with his men until the enemy gave up for a time or was stopped.
The thing that stands out to me in this story is that Saul was once David's friend, became jealous of the success of David, and was angry that the Lord was with David and wanted him dead.
What an awful experience for David to go through. He constantly was oppressed by his own king. Someone he once obeyed and had pledged allegiance to, he now had to fight against and run and hide from. Oh, and did I mention... during this time, Saul became his Father-in-Law! Fight or flight? David chose flight on many occasions because he couldn't reason with Saul, it was safest to get away, and it gave David time to call on God for strength and guidance.
Something else I liked in this story is that God continually appointed David's protection. His brother-in-law and good friend, Jonathan gave David a heads up about Saul's evil desires. He encouraged David to go find a secret place of safety. Saul's daughter (David's wife) helped David escape, and David's men stood on guard to watch out for the enemy. David obviously needed that support. His enemy was too strong for him, but not for God! The Lord, through people who loved David, continued to be the support he needed.
The instinct of fleeing an enemy, the safety of escaping the enemy, the space and distance required to find rest and security from the enemy...all of this God ordained for David. The NIV says that God brought David into a spacious place. That was part of God's plan to rescue David from his enemy.
At the beginning of the relationship between David and Saul, we read how David helped comfort Saul when Saul was having some kind of mental stress or sickness. We read in I Samuel 16:23, And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him." While this is very mysterious to me, it is clear in God's sovereignty that His "big picture" purpose was at work. At the beginning of Saul's pursuit of David, it was that same music playing that ticked off Saul and the harmful spirit would return. God knew all of this, and God had a plan.
And why did all of this happen? Why this relentless, exhausting battle? What was the good in this familial feud? That is the beautiful part of the story.
God was orchestrating events in the lives of both Saul and David. He was strengthening David's character, and giving others in David's life opportunity to come along side him and support him. I think God was revealing Himself to David in fresh ways, preparing him for battles still to come. This was really God's rescue story in David's life. God wanted David to know how much He cared for him, how much He delighted in him, and how much He was lovingly watching over David's life.
David's confidence in God challenges me. He wrote in Psalm 31:7-8
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
The cross reference to this verse is Ps 18 where we started out.
I was brought to tears when I read this text-the last verse especially.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
God has taught me to see the beautiful sovereignty of HIS story in my life through affliction and distress. I have seen how God brought me through battles and relentless struggles that have lasted years. And how He brought me into a spacious place protected from the enemy, gave me protection, and built up a support system around me. He rescued me because He delighted in me and He has a "bigger picture" plan in store for my life.
O,Lord I say, “You are my refuge. Your steadfast love alone sustains me. What can man do to me? When men may fail me, you are for me."
Sometimes we have to fight, sometimes it's best to flight, and sometimes, many more times than we may even know, we are being rescued!
April Morgan -- one in whom God delights and who has been rescued!
Psalms 18:16-19 has become my go-to verses recently.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
David wrote these words when he was being surrounded by Saul who sought to kill him. He had to run away from his enemy on several occasions. 1 Sam 23:15 says, "And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hands." David even hid out in a cave in the wilderness with his men until the enemy gave up for a time or was stopped.
The thing that stands out to me in this story is that Saul was once David's friend, became jealous of the success of David, and was angry that the Lord was with David and wanted him dead.
What an awful experience for David to go through. He constantly was oppressed by his own king. Someone he once obeyed and had pledged allegiance to, he now had to fight against and run and hide from. Oh, and did I mention... during this time, Saul became his Father-in-Law! Fight or flight? David chose flight on many occasions because he couldn't reason with Saul, it was safest to get away, and it gave David time to call on God for strength and guidance.
Something else I liked in this story is that God continually appointed David's protection. His brother-in-law and good friend, Jonathan gave David a heads up about Saul's evil desires. He encouraged David to go find a secret place of safety. Saul's daughter (David's wife) helped David escape, and David's men stood on guard to watch out for the enemy. David obviously needed that support. His enemy was too strong for him, but not for God! The Lord, through people who loved David, continued to be the support he needed.
The instinct of fleeing an enemy, the safety of escaping the enemy, the space and distance required to find rest and security from the enemy...all of this God ordained for David. The NIV says that God brought David into a spacious place. That was part of God's plan to rescue David from his enemy.
At the beginning of the relationship between David and Saul, we read how David helped comfort Saul when Saul was having some kind of mental stress or sickness. We read in I Samuel 16:23, And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him." While this is very mysterious to me, it is clear in God's sovereignty that His "big picture" purpose was at work. At the beginning of Saul's pursuit of David, it was that same music playing that ticked off Saul and the harmful spirit would return. God knew all of this, and God had a plan.
And why did all of this happen? Why this relentless, exhausting battle? What was the good in this familial feud? That is the beautiful part of the story.
God was orchestrating events in the lives of both Saul and David. He was strengthening David's character, and giving others in David's life opportunity to come along side him and support him. I think God was revealing Himself to David in fresh ways, preparing him for battles still to come. This was really God's rescue story in David's life. God wanted David to know how much He cared for him, how much He delighted in him, and how much He was lovingly watching over David's life.
David's confidence in God challenges me. He wrote in Psalm 31:7-8
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
The cross reference to this verse is Ps 18 where we started out.
I was brought to tears when I read this text-the last verse especially.
19 He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
God has taught me to see the beautiful sovereignty of HIS story in my life through affliction and distress. I have seen how God brought me through battles and relentless struggles that have lasted years. And how He brought me into a spacious place protected from the enemy, gave me protection, and built up a support system around me. He rescued me because He delighted in me and He has a "bigger picture" plan in store for my life.
O,Lord I say, “You are my refuge. Your steadfast love alone sustains me. What can man do to me? When men may fail me, you are for me."
Sometimes we have to fight, sometimes it's best to flight, and sometimes, many more times than we may even know, we are being rescued!
April Morgan -- one in whom God delights and who has been rescued!
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