Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:50:43 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 22); BP: Ps. 138; RBTTY: James 4; Ez. 18-19
November 22 “Strength for Struggling Souls”
“In the day when I cried, You answered me and strengthened me with strength in my soul.”
&n bsp; Psalm 138:3
When it seems we can’t go on, He whispers “One more step, Pilgrim. My Grace is sufficient for you.”
Half-hearted praise is really no praise. That’s why the shepherd-king-psalmist David preceded today’s Manna with the words “I will praise you with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praise unto You” (v.1).
We must remember the ancient Hebrew believed the “heart” was the center of a person’s being. The mind, will and emotions all resided there; thus, his vow to “praise the Lord with his whole (Heb. ‘kol’—‘in every sense, in every way or everything, complete, nothing lacking, etc.’) heart” reveals an intentional act of the will that holds nothing back.
Dear Pilgrim, aren’t there times when we don’t “feel” like praising the Lord or giving thanks? Assuredly there are. However, the life of faith is a life of faith, not feeling. Feelings more resemble a rollercoaster than they do arctic icebreakers.
One minute they’re up. And, the next minute they’re down. One minute we’re singing. And, the next minute we’re weeping. One minute we’re meditating on God’s Word. And, the next minute we’re fretting over the latest news report or freefall of the stock market.
But, such shouldn’t be, weary one—not when the God of the universe “hears us when we cry, answers us and strengthens us with strength of soul.” Hallelujah!!
The Hebrew word “oz” is used here for “strength” and means “security, majesty, praise, boldness, power, etc.” It’s the picture of inner sustenance and fortitude that’s lofty in nature—yea, Heavenly in scope. And, when we understand “rahab” is used for “strengthened” and also means “to embolden, act insolently, make sure, capture, etc.,” we realize it is His Resurrection Presence/Power that’s reviving us and lifting us up out of the devil’s doldrums. Hallelujah!!
How thankful we should be “though the Lord be high, He still has respect (Heb. ‘ra ‘ah’—‘to consider, discern, perceive, take note of, etc.’) unto the lowly (Heb. ‘shaphal’—‘depressed, humble, those cast down, to sink down, humiliated, abased, etc.’)” (v.6a). And, during those times when we “walk in the midst of trouble” (v.7a), He will continue to “revive us as He stretches forth His Hand against the wrath of our enemies” (v.7b). Glory!!
Now, one thing should be noted here: Like the manna the children of Israel ate in the wilderness, so are God’s provisions for us. They are “new every morning” (Ex. 16:4, 13-14; Lam. 3:21-23) and cannot be hoarded or stored up “for a rainy day.” As someone said, “Faith is like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.”
Therefore, the “strength of soul” He gives us for today is sufficient for today. Tomorrow’s challenges will demand renewed faith and trust. Yesterday’s altar at Beth-el is not sufficient for today’s worship at El-beth-el (Gen. 28:18-19; 35:6-7). That’s why we must daily “seek His Face” (Ps. 27:8). And, only then will we be able to “mount up with wings as eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint” (Is. 40:31). Only then.
No comments:
Post a Comment