Through the Bible - 1 Kings
Good morning,
The main reason I send out these "Verse of the Days" is that God's Word, not mine, may reach somebody.
My pastor's messages, the studies in prayer, and time in God's Word and prayers themselves have brought out some of the verses from the past week, regarding desert places and darkness.
Regarding Psalm 143 a friend wrote back:
This Psalm is probably one of the most referenced by believers when in times of struggle, deep struggle.
It’s a fascinating study to look at the word/concept of “darkness” as mentioned in verse 3.
As Christians many of us in hard times (darkness) slowly let the darkness envelop God to the point that we truly believe He’s not present; we’re alone to find our way out. We believe a lie that God can not still be present in the darkness. Darkness also refers to evil in the Bible which may add to our false thinking that God is not present.
But here are some verses that show God is there in the darkness regardless of how thick the darkness may appear.
1 John 1:5, 1Kings 8:12, Ps. 97 and so many more. God actually dwells in the darkness so we have the confidence that if we cling to him, Ps 63:8, he will be there even though we can’t see him. It’s like holding your parents hand in the dark when the electricity went out in your home. Even though the darkness scarred us, as soon as we grabbed hold of our dad’s hand we instantly felt safe and secure. God’s hand is always in the darkness ready to lead us through it.
The thoughts of God's Word inspiring people and multiplying it's reach brought me back to Isaiah 55 from the other day:
Isa 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Today's verse comes from Psalm 97 which my friend Larry referenced above:
Ps 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. NKJV
The word rendered "sown" - zaarua± - is from a verb which properly denotes to scatter, to disperse-as seed is scattered or dispersed when sown in a field..... Thus light is scattered abroad, and will produce an appropriate harvest-a harvest of joy. It will spring up around the righteous, and he shall reap that which light tends to produce-happiness, intelligence, and peace. The figure of sowing light is an unusual one, but the meaning is plain. It is, that the righteous will not always be in darkness; that there is in preparation for him a harvest of joy; that it will as certainly be produced as a harvest will from grain that is sown; that though there may be present calamities, there will be ultimate peace and triumph. - Barnes Notes
The references that Larry shared speak of light and dispelling the darkness. These words, the Word of God go out dispelling the darkness and come back as voices of praise. These thoughts brought me to "The Word is Alive" which I've shared before, but are worth sharing again at this time.
The Word is Alive - Casting Crowns
Looking out from His throne
The Father of light and of men
Chose to make Himself known
And show us the way back to him
Speaking wisdom and truth
Into the hearts of peasants and Kings
He began to unveil
The Word that would change the course of all things
With eyes wide open all would see
The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But His truth it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive
Simple strokes on a page
Eternity's secrets revealed
Carried on from age to age
It speaks truth to us even still
As the rain falls from heaven
Feeds the earth before it returns
Lord, let your Word fall on us
And bring forth the fruit you deserve
With eyes wide open let us see
The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But His truth it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive
The bible was inscribed over a period of 2000 years
In times of war and in days of peace
By kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers and shepherds
The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive
Could have been produced by such a diverse crowd
Over a period of time which stagers the imagination
Jesus is it's grand subject our good is designed and the Glory of God is its end
The Word is alive
My final questions for you this morning are "what are these seeds", prayer, His Word?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 97:1-98:1
A Song of Praise to the Sovereign Lord
97 The Lord reigns;Let the earth rejoice;Let the multitude of isles be glad!
2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 3 A fire goes before Him,And burns up His enemies round about. 4 His lightnings light the world;The earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare His righteousness,And all the peoples see His glory.
7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,Who boast of idols.Worship Him, all you gods. 8 Zion hears and is glad,And the daughters of Judah rejoiceBecause of Your judgments, O Lord. 9 For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth;You are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love the Lord, hate evil!He preserves the souls of His saints;He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous,And gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. NKJV
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