God’s Faithfulness

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.” -Psalm 146:5-7 (ESV)

In our Sunday School adult studies for this current quarter, we are studying selected Psalms. Psalm 146 is the assignment for Sunday, July 30. The central truth of Psalm 146 is: “God can be trusted as the One who reigns eternally.” So writes Dr. Allen Tilley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Carthage, Texas who wrote the commentary in the “Personal Study Guide” for students for the July 30 study session. Psalms 146-150 are known as the “Hallelujah Psalms” for each begins and ends with the word of praise to God, “Hallelujah!” Read this majestic beginning of Psalm 146: “Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live!”

If we sometimes become lax in attending regular worship at our church and neglect to gather to study the Bible with our Sunday School class, we ought quickly to examine our laxness and see wherein we are failing. Are we bearing some grudge against a pastor or other church leader, or have we allowed the cares and pursuits of this worldly life to rob us of the joy of praising God for His faithfulness?

How faithful is our God? In Psalm 146, a hymn of praise to God, the psalmist lists nine definite ways God’s faithfulness is shown to us:

1. God executes justice for those who are oppressed (v. 7a)

2. He gives food to the hungry (v. 7b)

3. He frees prisoners (v. 7c)

4. He opens the eyes of the blind (v. 8a)

5. He lifts up those who are bowed down (v. 8b)

6. God loves the righteous (v. 8c)

7. He watches over sojourners (this can be translated as ‘resident aliens’) (v. 9a)

8. He helps the widows and the fatherless (v. 9a)

9. He brings the ways of the wicked to ruin (frustrates them) (v. 9b).

How can we describe God’s faithfulness? The Psalmist lists nine ways in three verses from Psalm 146. As good as the list is, more aspects of God’s faithfulness could be added. Hymn writers have been trying since King David’s time and before to find a way to express God’s faithfulness. Our best efforts in writing still fall short of the glory, majesty, strength, provision and all-encompassing faithfulness of the Lord of Lord and the God of the Universe. Think about and meditate upon the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” copyrighted in 1923, with words written by Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960) and set to “Faithfulness” tune composed by William M. Runyan (1820-1957). Here is the first stanza and chorus:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus: Great is thy faithfulness; Great is Thy faithfulness; Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me” Amen! Ethelene Dyer Jones July 30, 2017

God’s Faithful Love for Us

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure for ever.” -Psalm 136:1 (The Amplified Bible)

Psalm 136 with its 26 verses has the same refrain ending each verse. I used the Amplified Bible today in the introductory verse that begins this devotional because it best expresses the Hebrew word “chesed” (expressing God’s faithful love for us, His people) which is translated “His mercy and loving-kindness” which endure forever, now and for all eternity! Seek to think of the magnitude of God’s love: He knows us even before we are conceived in our mother’s womb (see Psalm 139:13); He knows us and woos us to Him while we are in this earthly life. Read meditatively all of Psalm 139 to see all the ways God follows each of us whom He loves.. Even the “hairs of our head are numbered” (see Matthew 10:30). With the Psalmist we can say assuredly: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 33:18). Not only is the Lord with those who fear and follow Him on earth, but He has prepared an eternal place for believers after this life is ended. Jesus promised, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). This promise is steadfast and sure, as the Psalmist declared: “The Lord redeems the soul of his servants, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22). Indeed, the refrain that is repeated in each verse of Psalm 136, “His mercy and loving-kindness endure for ever” is intended to give us comfort and assurance in our earthly life and hope for the life beyond.

The writer of Psalm 136 gave a summary of what our reaction should be for God’s faithful love and mercy (undeserved favor) for us: “O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure for ever!” (v. 26, Amplified Bible).

I read about a “Blessing Bowl” in which a faithful follower of God wrote a major daily blessing on a 3 x 5 card, dated the card, and placed the card in a special bowl. At the end of each month, she reviewed what she had written on each card and had a record of events in her life that showed how God’s “mercy and loving-kindness endure for ever!” I thought the idea was a good one, and I began to record major blessings. I had already done this for a long time in a daily journal. The “blessing card” gave quicker access when I wanted to review God’s blessings to me at the end of each month, and have a special time of thanksgiving for His care for me. Time and obligations often preclude my listing all the blessings, but I find that there is always an outstanding one each day worthy of recording. Writing down special blessings gives me a record of God’s faithful love to me and also provides a springboard for thanks and gratitude. When we take time to record our outstanding blessings, we seek to become more aware of how God indeed is with us in our daily lives and through the triumphs and troubles we experience. We, as the Psalmist, can declare in all sincerity and truth: “His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!”

The writer of the beloved gospel song, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” (words by Civilla D. Martin, music composed by Charles H. Gabriel, 1905), based the thoughts in the hymn on Matthew 10:29-33 and also expressed the major theme of Psalm 136 in beautiful words: “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,/Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eyes is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free; For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” Amen! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 07.23.2017.

An Invitation and a Reason

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker!

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” -Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV)

In the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, the authorship of Psalm 95 is attributed to David. However, in later editions, even the authorized King James Version (1611), no author is given. Many scholars, however, hold that the style and content are like so many of the Psalms of David. Even though we have no verification of authorship, the Psalm is the type of Psalm called “Enthronement,” seeking to have worshipers “enthrone” or raise up the Lord in worship and follow Him faithfully. The Psalm speaks forcibly of God as the Creator and the One who invites us to worship and bow down before Him, the Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6). Scholars also believe the Psalm was used during the Jewish celebration called the “Festival of Booths.” At harvest time, the people went to the fields to gather in the harvest, making themselves temporary tents made of palm and willow tree branches to house them during this time of ingathering of crops. Workers lived in these booths for a week as a reminder of their temporary dwellings in the forty years of wilderness wanderings after God delivered them from Egyptian bondage. A holy convocation was held on the first and eighth days of the Festival of Booths. Verses five and six of this Psalm would have been the call to all the people to gather and worship before God, Maker and Creator, and the one who provided rain, sunshine and soil to bring the crops to the time of bountiful harvest. It was a glorious time of worship. To remind the worshipers that they were also “the people of his pasture” reflects on the cogent message of the 23rd Psalm, which is definitely a Psalm from the pen of David, and the most-quoted Old Testament passage of the entire Bible. We worship and bow down before Him because He made us and He keeps us with His hand.

What is involved in worship? One element is remembrance, as verses 8 and 9 remind us. At Meribah, soon after the Israelites’ release from Egyptian bondage, they complained to Moses that he had led them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness because they had no water. God commanded Moses to strike the rock and pure water to drink came forth abundantly. Again, when they had crossed the desert and were hoping to enter the promised land, the need for water arose. And the second time, Moses’ rod was the instrument used by God to bring forth water. Each time, the people failed to trust God in adversity (the need for water), and complained loudly. Because of their unbelief, none but Caleb and Joshua of the approximately 600,000 who came out of Egypt were allowed to enter the promised land. Even Moses and Aaron died before they went in to possess the physical land of Palestine.

What then is involved in worship besides remembrance? Confession, or acknowledging sins. Then praise, adoration, awe, wonder, love, thanksgiving, humility and reverence. Worship helps us recognize God as God, our Creator, Sovereign, Savior and Lord. A companion New Testament scripture to read and study as we study Psalm 95 is Hebrews 3:7 through 4:13. A portion of Psalm 95 is quoted in this passage in Hebrews: “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test, and saw my works for forty years.” (Hebrews 3:7b-9). Believers need to worship God in Spirit and in truth because He is our Maker and He is sovereign, He is our Shepherd and we are kept by His almighty hand. Selah! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 07.09.2017

Christian Characteristics of a God-Directed Life

“Put on, then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” – Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV)

I remember when I was much younger, as a young minister’s wife, I had the privilege of attending a state-wide Bible conference at which Dr. Julian T. Pipkin, then Georgia’s Secretary of Sunday School work, an excellent Bible teacher, was teaching the gathered group Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

To help us remember verses 12-13, and Paul’s command to Christians to “put on” characteristics needed by each Christian in his life, Dr. Pipkin, always dressed appropriately in suit, white shirt and tie when he appeared before an audience, came before the class that day and took off his coat; then his tie. Then he asked us to turn in our Bibles to Colossians 3:12-13 and asked for a volunteer to read the two verses. After the verses were read, he led in prayer. Then he said something like this:

“Now let us see if we can do what today’s scripture asks us to do.” He then went to the chair where he had laid his coat. He took it up, put it on, and also put back on his clip-on tie. He then looked neat and well-dressed, as Dr. Pipkin usually appeared before an audience. “ ‘Put on,’ God tells us through Paul’s writing, because we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, we must deliberately put on (1) compassionate hearts, (2) kindness, (3) humility, (4) meekness, (5) patience, (6) forbearance, (7) forgiveness. Seven Christian characteristics or virtues should be as well-fitting to our lives as the clothes we wear, and as deliberately ‘put on’ daily as if we were dressing ourselves appropriately.”

Dr. Pipkin’s simple but profound illustration of showing us that we don’t “automatically”: have these virtues, we must ‘put them on’ deliberately, or develop them in our lives and use them for other’s good remained with me. He led us to talk about each of the seven virtues, and we had good group discussion of how we might exercise the virtues in daily situations. I came away from that Bible study very conscious that these Christian characteristics do not just “happen” in the Christian’s life. As Paul states, they must be deliberately cultivated, put into one’s life.

To put on the virtues of Christ calls the Christian to a holy lifestyle, to one that will not only benefit the “wearer” of these virtues but will help all those whom the Christian encounters in his daily walk.

As we met with Dr. Pipkin the next day at Bible study time, he asked us how conscious we were of “putting on” the seven Christian characteristics we had studied the day before, and how had we utilized any one of them in our encounters with those we had met. We were able to share how we were much more aware of how the “well-dressed” Christian approached others. We could name the seven virtues we were working to incorporate into our manner of life: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance and forgiveness. God, help each of us to put these on and practice them daily. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 07.02.2017

Gratitude for Answered Prayer

“On the day I called you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” – Psalm 138:3 (ESV)

Psalm 138 is a catalogue of praise to God for hearing and answering prayers. A Psalm of David, the Psalm recounts various situations in which God showed His love and concern and answered the believer’s prayers.

God is still faithfully answering the prayers of believers today. God shows steadfast love and faithfulness (v. 2). His name is exalted above all (v. 2). Whatever day one calls on God, He answers and increases the soul’s strength. The kings of the earth will come to recognize the Lord as sovereign and sing to Him (vv. 4, 5). Although the Lord is high, He regards the lowly (v. 5). In the midst of trouble, God stretches out His hand and delivers the faithful (v. 7). The believer can be assured that the Lord will fulfill his purpose in his life, and that God will not forsake him, the “work of His hands” (v. 5).

Even though David wrote the words of Psalm 138 centuries ago, the truths hold true today.

God stands ready to hear and answer our prayers. The faithful can go to Him with petitions daily. They are assured that His ear is attuned to their needs.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He hears the prayers of His faithful servants.

He hears and answers even me. Praise is a part of petition and thanksgiving. Let us not forget to praise the Lord for His faithfulness to us day by day. Selah! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.25.2017

“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” – Hebrews 9:15 (ESV).

Hebrews 11 has sometimes been called “The Roll Call of Faith” by Bible scholars. In that chapter the writer of Hebrews lists many Old Testament examples of those who held a strong faith in God under the “Old” or First Covenent, made to Abraham and subsequent persons whose accounts are given in the Old Testament. Those believers were faithful to hold to the promises passed by word of mouth generation to generation and recorded in the law and the prophets, the Psalms and Proverbs.

In the New Testament we learn of the New Covenant mediated by Jesus Christ the Lord. A mediator is one who helps two parties arrive at an important agreement. The first covenant, given to the Israelites, became ineffective, not through flaws in God’s beneficence in giving it, but in the people’s inability to keep the terms of the covenant. Jesus came and established a New Covenant between Himself and God and for believers.

Jeremiah and others of the prophets wrote of and anticipated the New Covenant. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant…not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33). Jesus was the mediator—the executor of the New Covenant. And since, for remission of sins, there must be shedding of blood, Jesus Himself was the perfect sacrifice. He willingly offered Himself as the guarantor—the blood sacrifice—to seal the terms of the New Covenant and pay the price for mankind’s sins and separation from God.

The author of Hebrews states that “all who are called” will receive the promise of the eternal inheritance”—another way of stating “eternal life.” An amazing fact is that Jesus’ death for the propitiation (offering, sacrifice) for mankind’s sins is retroactive. Therefore, the “roll call” of the faithful in Hebrews 11 gives us an insight of Old Testament heroes whom we can expect to meet in Heaven because of their calling-out and faith held by those who lived before the coming of Christ to earth for the sacrifice of sins.

Jesus’ sacrifice is also “once for all” for any (of any era) who hear(d) and heed(ed) His call, believe in Him, and accept His sacrifice for sin. Dr. John Macarthur states in his commentary on Hebrews: “In a deeper sense, the sacrifice had already been made in God’s mind long before it was made in human history, because Christ’s works were finished from the foundation of the world” (see John Macarthur, New Testament Commentary. “Hebrews.” Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005, p. 235). Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer, has done His work for the faithful of all ages: “It is finished!” was His triumphant cry from the cross before He died. To accept or reject is personal choice. Let us “be about our Father’s business” and declare to our unsaved family members and friends that any individual has but to believe, accept, confess and follow Jesus, and then look forward to an eternity with Him and with saints like the called-out among whom were Moses, Abraham, David and so many more. And, too, all who believe in this life will be reunited with ancestors and loved ones who have gone on before us. How can we not want to receive “the promise of the eternal inheritance” as declared in Hebrews 9:15? - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.18.2017

Choosing the Right Path

“Blessed is the man Who walks not I the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in
the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in
the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be
like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its
season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 
The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 
Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But
the way of the ungodly shall perish.” -Psalm 6. (NKJV)

When we plan a journey, we want to arrive safely at our chosen destination.  We
map out a route.  Now we have a our fingertips help through the Global
Positioning Service (GPS) as a handy device on our cell phone.  We can quickly
get directions and the route to travel.   We often refer to living life as the
“path” we follow, or the “journey” we take as we live out our allotted days on
earth.  The anonymous writer of the first Psalm invites all who read it to
embrace the pathway God has established for the good of man.  He calls it “the
law of the Lord”—another way of stating that God has made a covenant with man,
to lead and direct him, and lead him in the “paths of righteousness,” the way
man should follow and live.  This way is delightful, and man should “meditate on
it day and night.” 

Early in my Christian life, I committed the King James Versions of this Psalm to
memory.  Throughout my years, I have often quoted the Psalm and meditated on its
truth.  “Blessed”—“happy”—is the person who avoids the counsel of the ungodly,
refuses to stand in the path of sinners, and avoids the seat of the scornful. 
Instead, happiness comes when one delights in the law of the Lord and thinks on
God’s law day and night.

As a child, I could easily understand the metaphor (although I did not then know
to call it a metaphor, a comparison) of being like a stately tree growing beside
the water and bearing fruit.  On our farm, we had apple, pear and peach trees. 
These bore delicious fruit for our family’s use.  I could then easily relate
what the Psalmist was teaching when he said the “blessed” or “happy” person was
like a productive, fruit-bearing tree.  I related, too, that trees that bear
fruit need water, just like a person, to grow and develop.  And in my thinking,
I related the study of God’s Word as being the “water of life.”  This is a
wonderful concept for a young child to learn and live by!  I also liked the
promise as a result of this action:  (The tree—the person) “brings forth fruit
in its season; the leaf does not wither; whatever he does prospers.”  As a youth
and into adulthood, I wanted to follow that method of seeking fruit and that
result of bearing fruit.  I had much to learn, but somehow the lesson fell upon
eager ears.  My path was set.  Early on, I wanted to walk with Go, and I made a
choice to do so.

This past weekend I had the happy privilege of returning to “my mountains,”
where my roots began.  I took friends, one born and reared in China and another
born and reared in British Guinea, to visit the mountain community where I was
born and reared.  We walked a short distance on the famed Appalachian Trail that
crosses Highway 129/19 at Neel Gap a few miles “up a mountain” from where I grew
up.  We drove to the church which was a pivotal point in my growing up years. 
We visited the country schoolhouse where I studied from Primer through Seventh
Grade, thus getting a firm foundation in education.  We viewed a portion of the
land that was once my father’s fertile farm.  We saw my “old homeplace.”  We
drove near the river where I was baptized as a testimony to my faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ on an August Sunday afternoon in 1939.  I think my friends easily
learned from my excitement at being “home’ that I had learned early in life an
eternal truth:  To choose and follow God’s path in life is the way to go.  This
path does not preclude troubles.  But it does assure that God is in control and
that God knows “the way of the righteous.”  Therefore, we have the choice of
choosing the right pathway, the Way with God as Guide.  It is a sure path—the
right path!  Selah!  - Ethelene Dyer Jones  06.04.2017