Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

 Psalm 116:12-19

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

I pause my study of Numbers to take a short detour to accommodate my Friday morning men's Bible study where this AM we focused on Psalm 116:12-19.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In vv1-11, the unidentified psalmist praises God for many of His attributes: how He hears our cries, protects and provides refuge during times of struggle, He is gracious, righteous, and merciful, He preserves and saves, He offers rest, He provides bountifully, and how He saves - eternally.  V15 and the preceding v13 require careful thought and upon reflection my read is that God sees us as precious - even in death - as this points to the coming Messiah Jesus Christ who is saving a place for us in Heaven (see John 14:2-3).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: For those that believe in Him and know the attributes described by the psalmist, it is a natural response to worship and praise Him.  We will not only praise Him, we will do so publicly (vv14, 18, 19).  We will serve Him (v16).  We will thank Him and call on Him to be in fellowship with Him (v17). 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that God is good and He saves!  Follow the example of the psalmist who praises and worships His name.  Proclaim God's great name publicly for all the world to hear!  

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My Prayer: Father God, You ARE an awesome God, worthy of all praise, honor and glory.  You save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

Jonah 4

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” v10-11

Arrogance, selfishness and righteousness are at the core of Jonah's anger at God's compassion.  God's response to Jonah is difficult for me today as I see much of myself in Jonah.  I often feel like I know what is best, I am critical of those who disagree with my view and I get angry or grumble/complain about those who criticize me.  

God is sovereign.  God is good.  And I must remember that His thoughts and ways are not my own and that I must come around to His way of thinking not vice versa.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

I must become present to what God IS doing in my life NOT what He is NOT doing in my life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, God of all creation, the First and the Last and You are my Lord and Savior, having loved and chosen me while I was still sinning and even before I was born.  Thank You Jesus for adopting me as You son but please forgive me for my arrogance, selfishness, and righteousness.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.

Psalm 85

The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. v12

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

 

If God is before all things and He controls all circumstances and if He also only good then we can trust and have faith in Him - the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  Even when times are difficult, we must not be shaken because God is using all circumstances for our good and His purpose.  We must give thanks.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My Prayer: Lord, You are ONLY good.  And I know You are for me...You know everything about me, yet You chose me then suffered and died for me.  You are able to redeem my sin for my good and Your purpose - only You can do this!  How great a God are You!  Thank You for adopting me as Your child - I am deeply grateful.  Yet I am not worthy of such an act - I am broken and in need of forgiveness and mercy.  Please forgive me for me worry and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

Psalm 74

It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. v13

In the midst of difficulty we must pause and reflect on God's role. He is in control.  We must also recognize that God is good and that everything He does is for His glory and our good.

In spite of the circumstances, the author* reminds himself of God's sovereignty and His goodness.

It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
It was you who opened up springs and streams;
    you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter. v14-17

We must seek God in everything and be mindful that God works in mysterious ways (Isaiah 55:8) and in all things for our good and His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Today did not start off on a particularly easy note...Thank You Jesus for providing light.

*MacArthur, John (2005-05-10). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 21931-21932). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - able to do all things and totally in control.  I know You love me...and You chose me, knowing everything about me.  You also suffered and died for me - without a shadow of doubt the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and such a gift.  I get angry far too quickly and I continue to be harsh with my words.  Forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin....and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Psalm 13

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. v5-6.

No doubt on this one...the Lord has been good to me. Yet, what is interesting here is the choice of words David uses.  Note that David indicates that he will offer praise "for he has been good to me"...implying because God has been good to him.  I am not going to judge David as I am not worthy to judge him or anybody else.  However, his choice of words causes me to examine my own motives in my praise of Jesus.  Do I praise Jesus only when he has been good to me - am I a fair weather fan?  I sure hope not!  I recently posted how we must see God's wrath daily...and that it is perfect and good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You created all things, You provide all things, and You are in all things...for my good and Your glory.  I have seen Your blessing in all circumstances...Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I continue to have impurities and sin, and that You are not done with me.  I continue to be harsh and impatient with my family.  I am not worthy of Your love and forgiveness, yet You provide it and I seek it now.  Please forgive me.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.