Song of Ascent: Fourth Step

A portion of the Old City wall, Jerusalem. 1985 Wil Robinson

A Song of Ascents.
Psalm 123

1 To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he has mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than enough
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 123, in “contrast of tone with the joy of the preceding psalm is very striking. After the heights of devout gladness have been reached, it is still needful to come down to stern realities of struggle, and these can only be faced when the eye of patient dependence and hope is fixed on God.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

In Psalm 121 the Psalmist begins “I lift my eyes to the hills. . .” but ultimately we understand this isn’t where we receive our help. Here he simply begins plain and simple, “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” Wonderful!

I do like the way the Psalmist in verse four essentially says, “I’m so over the lazy and the arrogant.”

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Song of Ascent: Third Step

A Tribute to King David’s Harp. Outside the gate, near the Temple Mount. Jerusalem.

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Psalm 122

1I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for^a Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

Psalm 122, sung on the third step, and is described in Benson’s Commentary as “words of the people, exhorting one another to go and attend upon the worship of God at his tabernacle or temple at Jerusalem, and especially at the three great festivals;”

Forgotten are the complaints of the slanderous words by false witnesses cried out about on the first step. Forgotten are the fears of some undisclosed danger of which caused frantic eyes to look beyond the hills.

Now the Levites sing of the throngs who will come up to worship the G-D of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The G-D of Moses and of King David. The G-D and Father of our L-RD Jesus. Our Father, our King.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Song of Ascent: Second Step

A Song of Ascents. Psalm 121

1I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

3He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
6The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

On the second step, the Levites sang Psalm 121. It’s has always seemed to me that the first verse is best read as something like, “Even if I looked to the hills. . .” It is like a commander of soldiers who would greatly appreciate help in the heat and fog of battle. But there is neither help upon the hill nor any on the other side. And he knows it. He also knows from where his help will come.

The psalmist exclaims that “My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.”

The psalmist, in verse five, shifts from a personal view to a more universal view of G-D and His Chosen. He proclaims, “The LORD is your keeper.” Here could be inserted Guardian, or certainly Shepherd. The word picture we might have is of our G-D standing watch over us.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Song of Ascent: First Step

Narrow Ascent. Israel 1986 Photo by Wil Robinson

A Song of Ascents. Psalm 120

1In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
2Deliver me, O LORD,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.

3What shall be given to you,
and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!

5Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war!

Psalm 120 is the first of fifteen psalms that all begin in a similar manner: A Song of Ascents. It is generally accepted among Jewish sages that these songs were sung by the Levites while ascending the steps separating the two sections of the courtyard outside the Temple. At each step one Psalm was sung, in order, until the last step and the last Psalm was sung.

The first verse sums up this song as a cry in distress and an answer. The trial that is causing this distress, according to Barnes’s Notes, is “caused by the tongue – slander.”

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Cold Fervor — a k o s i l e

August is moving like a slugSecond half of the warmth ishereSummer’s ardent beam is agrindThe popsies tan brownFodder bleaching hoaryBringing the hush and fury of merciless noonsWaiting for the heat to passBut the tick of the clock from a far-flung floorPaints a scene of growing grassNot anytime soonHumidity is whistling a tuneI won’t sit by […]

via Cold Fervor — a k o s i l e

My Head Buried in Sand

head buried in sand We were buried with Messiah; we also rose with Messiah. Should I continue with my head buried in the sand, not paying attention to this mortal world that has me surrounded? I pose this question to myself, really. It is easy for me to ignore all that is going on about me. I read some blogs and I find myself irritated the writers speak about loving the Christian Brethren as well as loving those we don’t like. It’s clearly a way to, I said, to jump on the bandwagon of the current American protest movement and its offshoot of violence and destruction. Some bloggers are more open about their views in support of, or denouncing, this uprising. Others veil there comments in generalities and mere illusions. I’ve not been sure which is worse, actually.

Then I found myself applauding blogs that mention the things that are going on, this outcry for “justice,” but not taking sides. Christians are commanded, I thought, to step above politics and temporal concerns to focus on the message of the Gospel as the solution to the failures of humankind. For those who cry out for “justice” have no clue what they are asking. Can the ungodly, the sinner, desire justice? Justice when delivered means a condemnation of sin. Rather than asking for justice, should we not all recognize our failures, or sins, and turn to our Creator seeking His Mercy and love? The hope for America, the hope for the world, is Jesus. This is the message of the Gospel; this is the hope for humanity.

And what of this generation of protesters that seem to want to tear down that which has been established? They seem to think they have a solution. Symbolically, this tearing down is carried out in things like removing statues, eradicating history, as if this will right the wrongs of the past. It’s been said that forgeting the pats means doing it all over agian.

Those who protest are not the first to open their mouths and fists, however. Born in the end of the 1940s, I grew up in one of the great revolutions—The American Sixties. We wanted to tear down the establishment. We didn’t—at lest most of us—have a clue what we wanted to build on its ashes. Sure, a few visionaries with ideas cropped up here ant there. Some of them went on to join the establishment themselves, making their mark on our culture, and in many cases soiling it with their excrement. Most just joined back in and lived out their lives like those generations who came before.

I expect nothing less of these current protesters. Raised fists fall. Palms once clutched tightly must open. Resignation sets in when understanding comes. There is nothing new under the sun. What has been done in the past is done again over and over. Footprints in the sand are swept away in the tidal movement of time.

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear G-d and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For G-d will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

What the World. . . Needs now. . .

. . . Is Love. . .Sweet Love. . .

Mel Wild wrote an exceptional, relevant—in light of our current climate of lawlessness—and just plain brilliant article using a similar refrain.

See his post at: In My Father’s House.

Here’s something I posted in 2013, which I thought about after reading Pastor Wild’s post. I share it again here:

“What the World Needs Now Is Love” is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month was canceled. The song reached number 7 on the US charts in May of that year. (source: Wikipedea)

Twenty-eight years ago today, Jackie DeShannon released the song that cried out a prayer for love.

Lord, we don’t need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last ’til the end of time

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
No, not just for some, oh, but just for every, every, everyone

While true for today as for the sixties, the call for love didn’t begin with Jakie DeShannon’s song. G-d commanded love, way back when:

“. . .you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Lev 19:18)

The Apostle Paul wrote quite a bit about love. Here are some sample quotes:

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
(Romans 13:8)
“For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Romans 13:9)
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

Isn’t it love that will counter lawlessness? Isn’t love that will bring peace and happiness? Perhaps. But before we can have love, before we can have peace, before we can have happiness, we must:

“. . .seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matthew 6:33)

Perhaps that’s the problem. We want love, we want peace, we want happiness, but we don’t seek the Lord while He can be found.

Something to think about.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

God Bless. . .

As one blogger pointed out, last year when a person sneezed, “god bless you” was a common response. No longer is a sneeze okay. But the question is: When a person says, “god bless you,” of whom is that person speaking?

“Lord help us!” a person might say. Which lord. How about lord krishna, of India?

Some Bibles help us in this way: LORD used in all caps refers to the Name of the God of Israel.

In Psalm 20, in the first verse, King David identifies G-d, of Whom he speaks as he requests assistance on our behalf, as the God of Jacob. Fairly specific, without using an actural name, however.

In Psalm 91, verse 14, the G-d of Israel says: “I will protect them because they know My Name.”

Do you know the Name of the G-d of Israel?

I pray on behalf of those who know the Name of the Master of the Universe, the God of Jacob:

1May the L-RD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the G-d of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our G-d set up our banners!
May the L-RD fulfill all your petitions!

6Now I know that the L-RD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.

9O L-RD, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.

Psalm 20

The L-RD bless you and protect you!

The L-RD deal kindly and graciously with you!

The L-RD bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Second Chances

This afternoon I sat on the back deck. I listened to part of Billy Graham’s sermon given in 1981 at a “Campaign” in Calgary. He spoke about Jonah and how G-d gave him a second chance. He also said that sometimes there just isn’t another opportunity. Take it or leave it. He used the example of one of the thieves on a cross beside Jesus. That man choose to accept Jesus. There would never be another opportunity to do so. I was good preaching! Old time preaching.

I thought about my second chance. I am so grateful to G-D for His persistent calling. Growing up in the church, I may have thought I was okay. The year was early 1962. I was in 8th grade, and my first chance came. I was at Brown Military Academy. I had a wonderful “religion” teacher, Mr. Kitchen. One weekend, along with many of my classmates, he took us to a Christian youth retreat. As I’ve reflected on Mr. Kitchen’s faith, I’m sure he was evangelical, maybe Pentecostal evangelical. The camp was great. The preaching was a lot different from the Episcopal church sermons. I was drawn in. On Sunday toward the close of the camp, there was a final sermon.

I remember not one word of what was said during the evangelistic sermon. What I remember, as if it was today–what I can picture in my min–is the alter call. It is so vivid: the preacher saying to close our eyes. I closing my eyes. Then he asked for a show of hands. I remember wanting raise my had, but didn’t. I peaked to see others. Then the preacher called for those with hands raised to come forward. I wanted to go, but didn’t. I peaked to see others go.

In Billy Graham’s sermon, he said some of the words that were probably from a song. They were about looking back and remembering a time when we’d been called and not responded. About how we might long to be able to go back to that time and respond.

How many times, I can’t count, have I said, “if only.” If I’d not walked but run to that alter that very moment, how my life might have change then, and not have waited and wandered aimlessly so may years. But I can’t relive those moments so long ago.

My second chance came, and Spirit of G-D enabled me to embrace it. I can’t go back to the first chance. So I move forward. For past is forgiven, forgotten. Today is nearly over. There’s a new day tomorrow to live, not try to relive the past. It’s a new day to make good choices, make good moves. Or at least better ones. May our Heavenly Father work His way in and through me in those choices, in those moves.

May He work in you, too, His Will and His Way.

Is the Antichrist about to be revealed?

Micheal Brown, writing in the Christian Post, asks the question “Is the Antichrist about to be reavealed?

“. . .events surrounding the coronavirus have demonstrated how quickly the status quo can be overturned, how dramatically the fortunes of nations can shift, and how a call for one-world cooperation can arise,” wrote Brown. “And what if there was a worldwide economic collapse, accompanied by plague and famine? Is it too farfetched to imagine that a powerful, problem solving leader could gain an international following?”

Brown points out that Jesus answered His disciples’ questions about His return, as reported by Matthew (chapter 24):

“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.”

In the article, Brown explains at least two potential candidates for antichrist in our times: The muslim mahdi and a messiah of the ultra-orthodoxy in Israel. It’s fascinating reading.

But Brown also stresses that “To say it again, I do not believe we are at that point. But I do believe that, in front of our eyes, we’re seeing how quickly the table can be set, even from an entirely secular point of view.”

Brown isn’t pointing to either the Iranian or the Israeli messiah as the antichrist.

I think they are examples of how easily the world can be decieved, especially in a time in which there is so much fear, desire for a remedy, desire for some form of normalicy in our lives and our world.

“But all this talk about the Mahdi being here, ready to be revealed, along with the traditional Jewish Messiah being here, ready to be revealed, underscores the point I have been making. It would not take much for a counterfeit Messianic figure to arise and deceive many,” Brown wrote. “Let us, then, keep our focus on the Second Coming of the true Christ (= Messiah). But let us not forget the warnings about that false Messiah (= antichrist) who will come first,” Brown concludes.

We must, as Yeshua said, “See that no one leads you astray.” We must see that no one leads us astray. No one. We must look into the eyes of our L-RD, that the things of the world grow dim in His light.