Tag: Psalm

No Greater: MT e74

Psalm 14 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God!’”

That is how it is spoken in our English translations.  And there is nothing wrong with that translation.

However, it may be better said, “The fool says in his heart, ‘No God!” 

Both say the same thing in different ways. Yet the second one, “No, God!” is more similar to like, no, potatoes.  As if we are sitting around a dinner table and the various plates are being passed around and we do not want potatoes.  So we say, “No, potatoes.”

So combine this thought with Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God. Day to day and night after night nature pours out speech. That there is no where that this speech is not heard, it goes through all the earth.”

The fool can look around and in their heart say, NO, God.  I do not want any of that.

This is the rebellion.  At one time, 100% of us were in this camp. 

As Psalm 14 continues, “The Lord looks down from heaven on mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.  None.  They have all turned aside.  No one does good, not even one.”

What a bleak picture.  This is the rebellion. 

Yet there is one, none from the children of man, who obeys.  Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation would come out of Zion!” It has and it does. 

Those in rebellion are restored.  In this we rejoice.  We rejoice in the name of Jesus.  It is a name that never grows old. 

SDG

Acorn GPS: MT e57

A few days ago while reading I came across the name Boaz.  Even though the reading was NOT in Ruth that name is prominent in the Old Testament book of Ruth.

It triggered a question in my head, what does the name Boaz mean? 

I got a little disappointed in myself.  I just preached through the book of Ruth THIS YEAR.  How could I forget what that name means?  How do I expect the people who hear my sermons remember things if I, the one who is preaching them, CAN’T remember them?

I was very disappointed in myself.  My adult ADD kicked in and I was reminded of this fact that I came across some time ago about squirrels. 

They love acorns.  It is one part of their food supply and when they find them, they burry them for later in the winter when they need it. 

Here is the crazy thing: even with snow on the ground they can find the buried nuts (most of the time).  I call it Acorn GPS and (mostly) they find the buried nut later.

I say mostly because scientists have found they forget, or do not uncover, 80% of the acorns they buried.  From this forgetfulness, the acorns often grow into oak trees.

Psalm 19, the heavens declare the glory of God.  What this means is creation screams, proclaim, speaks that there is a Creator God.  Just look around.  Just observe.  There is a designer.  This squirrel fact, is one of those silly little screams.

Squirrels not only have Acorn GPS but in case it is not needed a new tree grows! ALL from forgetfulness.

Oh the beauty and glory of God S.D.G.

Lessons from Southern Ohio: MT Episode 18

Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates both day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.”

I grew up in southern Ohio, right on the mighty Ohio River. Summertime in the late 80s, we had a long period where there was no rain. I am unable to remember how long the drought lasted, but it was long enough that crops began to wither and die.

Except those farms that boarded the Ohio River. Hundreds and thousands of acres that shared a bank with the river were able to use their tractors as pumps and siphon water to their crops. I can remember driving up State Route 7 and seeing the vast landscape with sprinklers spraying lifegiving water. Those fields were beautiful and green.

As we begin a new year I wanted to share the purpose of Monday Thursday. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to listen to these short messages but they are written with the believer in mind. My hope is to encourage you and with Biblical insights and observations maybe help you grow your faith.

Through this year we will come back to this Psalm on occasion to be encouraged. This is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. There are MANY things which this Psalm can teach us but today learn the lesson from the 1987 drought of southern Ohio. Those farms near the stream of water, that is the Ohio River, not only survived but thrived.

Delighting in God’s word IS spending time IN GOD’S WORD and this is the picture of being planted by a stream of water. As a believer, if you want to survive, if you want to thrive, even when it is difficult, let this word be a constant source in your life. Daily.

I look forward to occasionally coming back to this Psalm this year and I certainly look forward to spending more time with you on Monday’s and Thursday’s. For now,

Happy new Year

S.D.G.