THE LORD SPOKE (November 1)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Jeremiah 51-52

Jeremiah 51:50 - Remember the Lord in a distant land, and think on Jerusalem.

Many still do! Jeremiah was speaking of an earlier day and his admonition was a sad reminder of the Babylonian captivity. But many Jewish people are still remembering Jerusalem from a distant land. Throughout the Jewish life-cycle there are many built in memories of Jerusalem. For example:

• at a wedding the groom smashes a glass (remember the scene in Fiddler on the Roof to recall the destruction of Jerusalem
• similarly, when a new home is built a small part on the front of the building is purposely left unfinished to remind us of the destruction of the city
• many of the daily and weekly prayers speak of the restoration of Jerusalem and beseech the Lord that it might be “speedily and in our days”
• every year at the Passover seder, the ceremony ends with the shout, Le’shanah haba’ah beyerushalayim! (Next year in Jerusalem!).

What does it mean to “think on Jerusalem”? It means to remember her history - all of it. Every step you take in Jerusalem you’re walking on 5000 years of history! Since it’s “the City of David”, it means to think of King David and the spiritual leadership he gave to the nation. The name of the city means “city of peace” but our memories are of its many destructions. Jerusalem reminds us of the Temple and God’s presence in the city.

But, take another look at that verse. Before thinking about Jerusalem, the reader is told to remember the Lord. How do you “remember the Lord”?

• read His Word so you can think His thoughts
• recall His past blessings, especially when the current situation is tough
• research His promises for the future
• relate all these things to others (especially to your children)
• reverence His holiness (“Be still and know that I am God.”)
• relish His presence - think about it often
• restore your relationship with Him
• realize that He wants to bless you if you’ll just let Him
• recognize His claims on your life
• radiate His presence to others
• respect His law
• risk great things for Him
• reconnect on a daily basis

You don’t have to be Jewish to learn something from that list!


Psalms 91-92

If you stop and think abut it, nobody fits Psalm 91:1-13. The thesis statement of vs. 1-2 is restated in vs. 9-10 as a conditional challenge: “If you make the Most High your dwelling...then no harm will befall you....”

But bad things do happen to God’s people. Open the Bible anywhere and you’ll find evidence for that. Look at the Old Testament prophets. Read Hebrews 11. Consider the example of Jesus Himself. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter though no guile was in Him.

Sometimes harm comes as punishment. It could be God’s way of correcting us for wrong choices. We really didn’t fulfill the “if” part of the contract. Or, evil could befall us because God allows it. Like Job, the Devil is permitted to attack us. Did you notice? The Devil even used the words of this psalm in his attack on Jesus (Ps. 91:11-12 in Mat. 4:6 and Lk. 4:10-11).

As you read the first thirteen verses of this psalm you realize it describes a perfect world. And we don’t live in a perfect world. So the closing verses of the psalm provide the genuine comfort and assurance. Eight wonderful verbs are used in verses 14-16 to describe how deep is the grace of God. In spite of our own weaknesses, many failures, and total inability to ultimately do right, yet He promises to...

• rescue us = the Hebrew term means “to help to slip out or escape” (see I Cor. 10:13)
• protect us = literally, “set on high” or “make inaccessible”
• answer us = “give heed to” or “pay attention” (aren’t you glad God does that?!)
• be with us = from the same preposition as “Immanuel”, God with us
• deliver us = means “to pull off” (as a shoe) in the sense of withdrawing or delivering
• honor us = from the Hebrew word kavod (weighty, heavy), often translated “glory” in relation to God
• satisfy us = to satiate, make full, fill to satisfaction
• show us = cause to see or perceive

God promises to do all of this and more for the man who loves Him. When He beckons and we take that faltering step toward Him, He comes running to us like the father of the Prodigal Son.

Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran