Close your eyes. Remember the last church service you went to? How did you read this last sentence if you had your eyes closed? You must not be listening. Now that you know what to do, close your eyes and think about that last service for a few seconds before looking back at the words.
Why were you there? Why did you go to church the last time you went? Now, can you imagine why you went the first time? Think about that. You had reasons, obviously.
We often enter into new situations with trepidation, carefully, with an escape hatch plan. The first time my husband and I met was planned. We had corresponded online and by email. Then we talked on the phone. Then we agreed to meet for a church service, at my church. Aware that a "screen personality / phone voice can be different from an actual person face to face, I asked him to meet me at a neutral location where we could ride together to my church, thinking I could just bail (jump ship, make up some excuse, suddenly become sick, etc...) if I didn't like what I saw. ;) I liked what I saw, so we drove to my church for our first service together. He was there invited. Likewise, when I went to his church...I was with him.
You might question the motives, but most people go to their own church for similar motives: Aunt Sally asked them to go, Cousin Fred is getting married at church, Little Tommy is getting baptised, a coworker asked them to visit, Vacation Bible School...few people go to church just cold-turkey off the street.
John 12:9-11 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and
they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom
he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put
Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away,
and believed on Jesus.
Remember the raising of Lazarus from the dead? He unconsciously, and unwittingly brought many "visitors" to Jesus. People saw what happened and came to see Jesus. But, it was because of Lazarus that they came. Regardless of how they felt about Lazarus, the miracle, and Jesus, there was something going on that they could not deny, short of murdering the perpetrators. That's what they set about doing. It wasn't long before Jesus was crucified. And, Lazarus...? We never hear of Lazarus again do we? Maybe he was martyred. Maybe he fled in the ensuing persecutions, helping to spread the Gospel around the Middle East and Europe. Whatever the result, we do know that many people over the course of nineteen hundred years have heard about what happened to Lazarus. It is unimaginable the influence he has had on the faith of some 50 generations of Christians. Yet, we are told only of the love he shared with Jesus. No other deed that Lazarus performed is recorded but for his great love for the master. Yet, his love brought people to Jesus. What is our love doing?
John 12:9-11 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and
they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom
he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put
Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away,
and believed on Jesus.
Reason can have multiple meanings, as seen in a few of the definitions.
–noun
a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.
a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.
the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.
-verb
to think or argue in a logical manner.
As a noun, you can have a reason, give a reason, and use your reason. As a verb, you can reason out or with. Either way, to say the "reason is because" in a sentence is criticized as redundant. The word because (literally, by cause ) contains within it the meaning of reason; therefore saying "the reason is because" is like saying “The cause is by cause,” But, as one of the usual features of the 1611 King James Bible, redundancy is prized as a teaching method of repetition. It is a key feature that you can find a synonym just after the new words used in their first occurances. For example, when the KJV1611 uses collops of fat, fat tells you what collops are more commonly called. This could be looked at as redundant in today's language, but the feature helped generations of Americans learn to read using the Bible as a reader. I am not promoting this method of learning to read. But, it was used, and it worked at that time. I think it illustrates that redundancy has a purpose in more than just poetry and song.
Joseph Glanvill, an English writer said, "The belief of our Reason is an Exercise of Faith, and Faith is an Act of Reason." We are using our intellectual powers of reasoning when we have faith in God. The passage from John 12 above gives reasons that people came to hear Jesus. I haven't throughly researched all the reasons people came to see Jesus, but I can say off the top of my head that the majority of reasons had to do with the miracles He performed for and through people. In fact, that is the reason given here. They came because Jesus had raised a man from the dead. They wanted to see this dead man walk and talk. And, they wanted to start trouble for Jesus and kill Lazarus because of the Jews that had fallen away from the temple and were following Jesus.
Imagine that! They wanted to kill Lazarus because he was healed! He was a dead man walking and he was about to be a dead man walking. What were they thinking? If Jesus had brought a dead man back to life, how did they think they were going to kill him again? And, how were they going to kill a man who could raise the dead? It is unimaginable. But, Lazarus caused all this grief. He made Jesus a wanted man...wanted dead.
We have our reasons for seeking and believing in Jesus. And, Jesus had His reasons for seeking us out through His death, burial, and resurrection. Our human powers of reason are often at a loss to explain Jesus' reasons. Suffice it to say, He loved us. That is reason enough.
Somethings just aren't worth it. When you weigh the cost against the advantages, sometimes you realize it is time to reconsider your options. Quitting has never been an easy option for me. I have had to learn how to change gears many times in recent years, when I never thought I had more than one gear. I always liked to hit the ground running. My biggest fault on the bike is when I'm climbing hills, I can't keep myself out of the higher gears. I just
feel like I'm not doing anything if it's not an all out effort. If I'm not pushing, then I'm sitting still. And, we know that can't be true. I feel the same way about giving up or quitting. I remember rides where any sane newby was dropping out and catching a ride on the sag wagon. And, they were. But, I couldn't. I feel like if I rode in on two wheels, I'm riding out on two wheels, or an ambulance. That's crazy, I know, but it's out of my control most days. I
just hate to feel like I didn't give it my best shot, you know. But, sometimes our best shot is in seeking help. God's help.
Psalms 68:1-4 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that
hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as
wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them
exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him
that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
Destroyer, Protector, Giant, Warrior, Savior, Worshiped One; Psalm 68 is a medley fit for a King. The magnitude of God is extolled in this Psalm. These same words were the words of Moses as the ark of the covenant was lifted each time the camp began to move in Numbers 10:35-36
I like that! Can you picture the men lifting the ark with those words? "Rise up" and destroy your enemies God. It sounds like a wake up call for a Savior. Imagine saying that as the pallbearers lift the coffin at a funeral. "Let this Saint arise!" They don't say that do they? But, you get the point that it sounds like God has been silent, almost asleep. Kind of like when Jesus called, "Lazarus, come forth," calling his 4-day stinky-dead friend out of the grave. Of course, Lazarus was dead, but God is always awake, my friend. Even when a stone is blocking your view.
I can picture the swirling smoke, like leaves being tossed in a heavy wind. God is this huge giant and when He stands up, all those who opposed Him just fall on every side... a big, big God! Then, suddenly, He is riding "on" the heavens. Incredible pictures there. First He is surrounded. Then He rides like the wind. But, that's nothing because this Destroyer will now protect the helpless.
Psalms 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is
God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth
out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
This kind of gives God that Robin Hood appeal to see Him destroying foes one minute, and then sheltering the fatherless, the widows, the solitary, and the prisoners in chains. But, God is multi-faceted, right? And, the defenseless need a Protector to destroy their enemies. It often seems like there is a disparity between the people who get help and the people who need help in our society. That is one thing I noticed about the doctor who accidentally messed up my first surgery. She spent a lot of time afterward doing "damage protection," for herself.
The morning of my son's graduation, I was in a lot of pain, still trying to shop for a dress, and had cried a few times in different stores just out of sheer exhaustion from the effort of changing clothes, due to nerve damage limiting the mobility of my legs. I have been avoiding even grocery shopping because of this, but almost nothing in my closet fits anymore. I ran into her accidentally as I was coming out of another store empty handed. She was shorts and sunglasses clad, smiling with her young son on her arm, and asked how I was doing in a sweet sunny voice. I was surprised speechless. I could barely find the words to answer her. I just looked at her and quietly mumbled something about "5 surgeries later...not so well ...since you messed up."
After I got in my car I sat there until I could stop crying again to drive away. So, I called a friend to comfort me. While I cried and talked, she came out of the store without her son, and stood there in front of the store watching me cry on the phone. It appeared that she was suddenly concerned for "her" safety and the safety of "her child." I couldn't believe it. She was acting like I might be about to hurt her, and hid her son. How crazy can you get? That is the point, she is more concerned about her own safety and success than about her patient's life, health, and happiness. Instead of being concerned that I had broken into tears, she was concerned about her perceived safety level.
In the hospital, instead of being concerned about the damage to my body, she was concerned about whether or not she would be held legally liable. God on the other hand, is there to rush to our rescue when things go wrong. God can be a giant in moments like those. He stands up in our defense and shelters us from the storm of ungodly men. Yes, a loving god can be fierce. He turns around the table to protect the helpless, instead of protecting those who have all they need.
The song suddenly changes tracks and we see the trembling, quaking Mt. Sinai in the wilderness with Moses again in verses 7-10. Then the track changes again for a battle scene, or rather a behind the scenes division of the spoils of war.
Psalms 68:11-14 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those
that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at
home divided the spoil. Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye
be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow
gold. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
This is the passage that first caught my eye in this Psalm. The picture reminds me of a King's heralds sounding out the call. When the message had to go far, many heralds were used to relay battle messages. This sounds like we have an army of preachers carrying the gospel message to the whole world today. Then comes the passage about Zion. In 15 & 16 the psalmist compares Zion to a mountain, but God lives in Zion. And, here comes our Warrior King now, charging on His chariots at the head of His troops with the spoils of war behind Him...
Psalms 68:17-18 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of
angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast
ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for
men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
What are these gifts He gives to men? This was prophetic of Jesus' death. He fought Satan during the three days He was dead. He took the keys of death and hell, and He took captivity captive. He received gifts for us here on earth. Acts chapter two tells us about how the disciples first received the "gift" of the Holy Ghost which Jesus promised to send in Acts chapter one. But, now look back to the Psalm, verse 6. See the part about the rebellious living in a dry land? Here is salvation, as a result of Jesus dying. Here in verse 18, we see that God even wants to live among the rebellious. Jesus died for all of us, even those who don't want the gift.
Then, we see the order of the processional march in verses 24-27, and that is followed with worship fit for a king in verses 28-31, where they call upon God to scatter the enemy before them. The Psalm ends with an open call to praise God, and we hear the mighty voice of Him who rides in the clouds. We are reminded that He gives strength and power to His people. The first line in verse 34 holds the key to the whole Psalm, for me. It beckons us to write about the strength of God. The whole Psalm is about His strength, is it not? And, God is indeed powerful and strong!
Do you need a strong God to come to your rescue? Are you surrounded by the enemy? Then call out to the Mighty God who can save you. He is listening for your call. He helps all those who call on His name.
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