Tag: Psalm 19

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.