God’s Word

Deep Within

Posted on by Betsy

Somewhere in his childhood, my husband memorized the classic poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. We were watching a movie last week when someone started to recite it incorrectly and out from the depths of my husband’s soul came the correct version of this nonsensical poem from Carroll’s novel Through the Looking Glass.

“Twas brillig, and the slimy doves/Did gyre and simple in the wabe …” It was impressive to see how something buried deep within his mind could immediately come forth when needed. I have often stood before a congregation or sat in a church meeting and wished I could recite long pieces of Scripture from memory, but alas, I do not have that gift. How about you? Have you worked to memorize Scripture? One of the commentators of the original Disciple Bible Study once said that the only Bible you actually own is the one you can access in a foxhole: In other words, the one in your mind and memory.

David’s beautiful psalm today is a reminder of the importance of keeping God’s Word and God’s will deep within our psyche. He lays out the argument that God really isn’t interested in our animal sacrifices or thoughtless offerings, but rather God desires our obedience and trust.

Psalm 40 (Common English Bible)
You, Lord my God!
    You’ve done so many things—
    your wonderful deeds and your plans for us—
        no one can compare with you!
    If I were to proclaim and talk about all of them,
        they would be too numerous to count!
6 You don’t relish sacrifices or offerings;
    you don’t require entirely burned offerings or compensation offerings—
    but you have given me ears!

I think that in order to be obedient to God and to do his will requires a certain amount of studying, meditating, and then acting on his instruction. For that to happen, God’s instruction must be deep within us.
7 So I said, “Here I come!
    I’m inscribed in the written scroll.
8     I want to do your will, my God.
    Your Instruction is deep within me.”
9 I’ve told the good news of your righteousness
    in the great assembly.
    I didn’t hold anything back—
        as you well know, Lord!

David reminds us that a wholly sold out response to God is what God desires. Holding nothing back, we are invited to not only do God’s will but tell others about his faithfulness and salvation.
10 I didn’t keep your righteousness only to myself.
    I declared your faithfulness and your salvation.
I didn’t hide your loyal love and trustworthiness
    from the great assembly.

I am glad that you are reading Scripture with me in these devotionals and pray that you internalize God’s messages here and through your regular Bible study and worship habits. You never know when you might be called upon to jabberwocky some Scripture in the assembly!

Peace Deep Within

Keep Me from Stupid Sins

Posted on by Betsy

Sometimes when I read the Psalms I suspect that psalmist lived in the Outer Banks. Of course all the psalmists lived in Israel, but some of the observations and descriptions of the seas, skies, and land fit my home perfectly. We enjoy unobstructed views of water and sky all the way out to the horizon from many vantage points here, and I am often reminded of a friend’s daughter’s observation on her first cruise: “I can see as far as my eyes can look!” Yup, that’s where I live.

In Psalm 19, the writer extols the beauty of the glorious skies, noting the energy and excitement that come with the morning sun of day-break:

Psalm 19 (The Message)
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

God’s Word is as steady and sure as God’s creation. The sun rises with consistency just as God’s word is a solid and steady guide for us every day. Scriptures warm the heart and explain the right way to go as clearly as signposts, life-maps, and directions.

But directions only work if you stop and ask for them.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

Let us pause here and consider that. Everything we need to know for a blessed and grace-filled life is spelled out in the Bible. But like the lost, stubborn fellow who refuses to ask for directions, we truly can wander off the right path very quickly if we allow the world to choose our direction for us. The psalmist assures us that God’s Word is better than any GPS or navigation system we could come up with on our own.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Here is the hidden treasure of this passage: “Keep me from stupid sins.” I think I have found a new morning prayer!

Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.

This psalm is a reminder of the importance of being in the Word and in prayer first thing every morning. When we focus our first hour on God’s direction for our day, we have a better chance of not going astray. What do you say? Should we try it right now?

Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing unto you, Oh God, our Rock and Redeemer. Amen.

When Morning Guilds the Sky by Michelle Robertson