Tag: Save me

46.c. “Wilderness” – 10.i. “The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you”

Num 6:25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

 Psalms 21:6   For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

 Psalms 31:16    Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!

 Psalms 67:1    May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us

 Psalms 80:3   Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

 Psalms 119:135    Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.

 Daniel 9:17    Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.

 Malachi 1:9    And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. 

 Exodus 33:19    And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

 John 1:17    For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Happy the people whose king makes God’s strength his confidence, and God’s salvation his joy; who is pleased with all the advancements of God kingdom, and trusts God to support him in all he does for the service of it. All our blessings are blessings of goodness, and are owing, not to any merit of ours, but only to God’s goodness. But when God’s blessings come sooner, and prove richer than we imagine; when they are given before we prayed for them, before we were ready for them, nay, when we feared the contrary; then it may be truly said that he prevented, or went before us. (Henry)

the blessings which are laid up in Christ for his people, and which he imparts unto, them, and they are blessed with in him; so that he is made a blessing, or rather blessings to them; such as redemption to free them from, bondage, righteousness to justify them, sanctification to make them holy, wisdom to direct and guide them, and strength to assist and support them; through whom they have the forgiveness of sins, by whom they have peace with God, and from whom they receive all their joy and comfort, and at last eternal life and happiness; and all these are for ever, they are irreversible blessings, are never repented of, nor taken away. (Gill)

The “face” of God is his personality as turned towards man, or else turned away from him. His face hidden or turned away is despair and death (Deuteronomy 31:17, 18; Job 13:24); his face turned against man is destruction and death (Leviticus 17:10; Psalm 34:16); his face turned upon man in love and mercy is life and salvation. (Unknown)

There are uncomfortable situations and heart-hurting things that we experience. Some are of our own accord and others are at the hands of others. We don’t know why sometimes we are protected from them and other times we must walk through them. God knows. He will lead us and guide us and give us strength to rest in Him for resolution.

31.z. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God”

 

Matthew 8:23  And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

 Matthew 6:30    But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

 Matthew 14:30-31     But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 Matthew 16:8    But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?

 Mark 4:40    He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

 Isaiah 41:10-14   fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 Jesus rebuked their fear and unbelief, not their request or waking Him. We shouldn’t think that Jesus was in a bad mood from being awakened. He was upset at their fear, because fear and unbelief go together. When we trust God as we should trust Him, there is little room left for fear.

“He does not chide them for disturbing him with their prayers, but for disturbing themselves with their fears.” (Henry)

They actually had many reasons to have faith, even great faith. They had just seen Jesus do significant miracles, showing great power and authority. They had seen an example of great faith with the centurion who trusted Jesus to heal his servant. They had Jesus with them in the boat. And, they saw Jesus sleep; His peace should have given them peace.

When faith is only strongest in the calm winds of life and fails in the stormy winds of life, what good does it do for that person? What example does it set for those who see your faith failing in the stormy winds of life? What does is say about that person’s faith? I think our faith grows as we: 

  • Spend time in God’s Word and we meditate on it
  • Grow in our understanding, knowledge, and wisdom of God
  • Desire and seek with all our hearts, minds, and souls to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do.
  • Desire and seek to be led and allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit
  • Not only know, but Believe that God is all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing
  • Believe that all things work together for good of those who are His believers, followers, trusters, obeyers

Oh God, help not my belief but my unbelief.

17.s. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

John 12:20   Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

 Isaiah 49:5-6   And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—  he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

 Isaiah 53:10-12    Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

 Luke 9:23-24     And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Jesus’s thought of the cross just a few days away, His main concern was that God was glorified.  His purpose on earth was to redeem, save, and demonstrate God’s love for mankind.  It is hard for me to come close to understanding the commitment and longing and desire of Jesus to honor and glorify God, knowing what just a few days away would yield great physical and emotional pain.  He knew what He was facing.  He knew His purpose and was willing to die on the cross for it to honor and glorify God and redeem mankind.  

I can wrap my mind around taking a bullet, fast death, for someone you love, but willing to be tortured, beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross for the sins of every human being is an act of love so humble, pure, and holy it seems beyond understanding. What a Savior we have in Jesus Christ.  In light of this, how should we live our lives?  The writer of Hebrews said: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

11.o. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”

Nahum 1:7  The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Psalms 18:1-2    I love you, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Isaiah 26:1-4     You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Psalms 144:1-2    Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;  he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge,

Proverbs 18:10    The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Psalms 71:3    Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Where do you find peace for your troubles and trials?  Where do you go to find rest for your anxious and worried soul?  Where do you go to when confusion and fear are tearing at your mind?  God gave us many great and precious promises.  “I will never leave you or forsake you”, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”, “I, I am he who comforts you”, “I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  When we run to Him and place our trust in Him we will find peace and rest for our soul.  It is in Him alone where trails, trouble, and shadows of darkness fade away in the light of His glory and grace.  We don’t have to look very deep to see what people will do when trials and troubles come their way.  Why is it we always seem to shut God out and do things on our own rather than laying the burdens that hurt our hearts and keep us worried, angered, and upset at His feet?  In Him alone will we find peace and rest that passes all understanding.

129. My stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge

2Samuel 22:1  And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Deuteronomy 32:4     “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

1 Samuel 2:2   “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Psalms 31:3     For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalms 91:2     I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalms 144:2    he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge

I wonder what we have to go through in order to see God as our refuge, rock, stronghold, shield, deliverer, savior, and fortress.  I think it comes down to how we see God in our heart, mind, and soul.  If we have a desire to know Him more, longingly spending time in His word, expecting to find a refreshing and strengthening of our faith, and seeking to do that which honors and glorifies Him will set us on a path that we see God’s hand in everything and in control of His creation.  When our understanding of God is continually fueled by His word we begin to see the awesome power, strength, might, and unlimitedness of God.  At his voice, the utterance of a word from His mouth universes and galaxies were made.  At his command the Red Sea parted, the Jordan River stopped, walls of Jericho fell, armies defeated, dead brought back to life, deaf given to hear, blind able to see, and so much more.  How do we call on someone who is not active in our life – we don’t?

Our ability to see God as rock, refuge, and fortress comes from faith and our faith grows as we deny more and more of self-interest and we spend more time in His word (conscious intentional choice), seeking to humbly serve, honor, follow, obey, cling to, rely on, and trust in Him.  Don’t limit God for He is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.  Though we wait, we trust.  Though we have moments of anxiousness we renew our trust. Though we do not see the end of our trial we trust and know God is in control and all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Though I do not see Him I know He is there and in His hands I find peace. Though I don’t know when my trial will end I will not carry this burden for He is my refuge, rock, stronghold, shield, deliverer, savior, and fortress

Treasures of Hope

Psalms 119:145   With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes.  I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.  My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.  Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.  They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.  But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

The Psalmist passionately depended on God and His word, but that did not eliminate the participation of the Psalmist in any way. He still woke early to seek God, in prayer (cry for help) that was helped by God’s word (I hope in Your word).

i. “So long as the duty only of prayer is known, we shall be content with our set seasons. But when the privilege is felt, we shall be early at work, following it closely morning and night.” (Bridges)

“The word furnished his hope, and his hope his prayer.” (Trapp)

We use prayer in our study of the word of God; this is essential. Yet we also use the Word of God in our prayers. In prayer, the Word of God shows us:

· The nature and heart of the God we pray to

· What we have received from God, and should thank Him for

· His greatness, informing and expanding our praise

· His moral will, directing us to pray that we can do it

· His promises to His people, which we claim by faith

· Substance for our prayers, as we pray-read the Scriptures

Being diligent in prayer will never leave us destitute of hope.  It is refreshing to know that prayer soon refreshes our heart, mind, and soul with hope, new hope, dependent hope, expectant hope, lasting hope, satisfying hope, delivering hope.  This hope is grounded, established, and grown by faith in God.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

What is it that we hope for? What is it that occupies our thoughts?  What are those longings we seek in the depth of our heart?  Is it to know God, serve God, be used by God, to follow God, to honor God, to glorify God, to obey God???

We do well to give no more than a glance at the the distractions of the world around us and intently focus on the treasures of hope in His word.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”

“O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.”

Psalms 103:3  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

Psalms 32:1-5    Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Isaiah 43:25     “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Luke 7:47-48     Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Ephesians 1:7     In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Psalms 38:1-7   O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!  For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.  There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.  For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.  My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

Numbers 21:7-9     And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you.

Exodus 15:26     saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”

Isaiah 53:5     But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Jeremiah 17:14     Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

If our sin was exposed so all could see, what would people see?  If our sin were heavy weights and tied to our backs would we even be able to walk? If our sin was a brick tied to our feet and we were cast into water over our head would we ever be able to reach the surface for a breath?  If our sin was a sickness would we need life support?  The answer to these metaphoric questions depends on our ability to see our sin.  Many times I think we use a comparison approach to sin.  We look for someone else who, in our eyes, has worse sin than us.  We use this to look away instead of looking inward.  This is a lie fed to us in heaping measure by satan.  We easily latch on to this instead of seeking to know what is in our heart, mind, and soul that is offensive to God.  David wrote it this way: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” He asked God to reveal His sin to him so that he could live in such a way that honored and glorified God.  Start your day today asking God to reveal that which is not right in your life.  Then run with arms wide open confessing them to Jesus Christ and seeking to honor, glorify, worship, and praise Him for salvation and forgiveness of sin.

5 – The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around

Psalms 91:11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

Psalms 34:7     The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

2 Kings 6:16-17     So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Hebrews 1:14     Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation

Proverbs 3:6     In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Isaiah 31:1     Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

It takes time to learn that but when we are our weakest or in our lowest is when God is our all in all.  Likewise when we are our strongest and highest is when God is but a second thought.  What would our lives be like if He was all in all at all times?  What does it take to keep God all in all at all times?  Think about a weak or low time – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on, and clinging to God?  Now compare this to a time when you not low or weak – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on and clinging to God?  Our heart, mind and soul are in a battle with our sinful nature and humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God.  Praise God for His steadfast love that does not cast us aside like we do to Him.  Make commitment to desire and seek Him.

Bear you up

“ Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.”

“ For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;”

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

Psalms 71:1  In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.  Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

Proverbs 18:10    The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Isaiah 33:16     he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

Psalms 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

I read a review of this Psalm and share it with you.  Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers” are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to overcome. But such is not God’s way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean.  It is good for us to keep God our rock, refuge, power and might in both good times and times of trials allowing His perfect will, purpose and plan for our lives.

Draw near to God

“When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

“ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

“ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Psalms 69:10  When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

Psalms 55:16  But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Matthew 26:38  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Daniel 3:15  Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Isaiah 26:3  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever

Isaiah 12:2     “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Acts 20:24    But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

These scriptures capture the heart of man who trusts in God.  Note these specifically: “At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me” – “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden” – “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – ” your will be done.”  Waiting for and trusting in God fully gives us courage and confidence for whatever is before us.  Having a heart desire to be close and walk close to God has an effect on what we think say and do.  He gave us scriptures to teach us, lead us, build us up, give us hope, reminding us of His promises, power, might  and love.  Desire to be near Him and from this foundation all else finds stability and we can face whatever comes our way today.