Dr H Reflections

The inner joy of the Lord ∙

The inner joy of the Lord ∙

The joy of the Lord is your strength – Nehemiah 8:10

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Many of the challenges and demands of 21st-century life are beyond what previous generations could have imagined. How often do we hear the phrase, “It’s complicated?” Our schedules are full of activities and responsibilities. Consider those who are affectionately called “soccer moms.” In the “old days,” kids on local high school teams typically boarded a bus and drove 10 to 40 miles to a game. Nowadays, these dedicated mothers drive hundreds of miles to ensure their children can engage in sports. Remarkably, these committed mothers adeptly manage their schedules to make it all work. They have learned the art of time and life management.

It seems like everywhere we turn, we find an Overwhelmed Opal, Gloomy Gus, Anxious Ashley, or Doubting Dave. For them, life is more like watching an autopsy than being at a joyful celebration filled with happiness and hope.

Paul tells us how to be successful in both simple and complicated situations. Rather than telling us to try harder, Paul tells us to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him the center of our attention. How is this accomplished? We have to change our way of thinking. Rather than concentrating on our obligations and duties with concern, Paul offers an alternative to struggling. He provides three straightforward directives: be joyful, pray continuously, and give thanks always.

Instead of permitting life to overwhelm us, we accept each day as the Father’s will for us. We decide in advance to have a positive attitude characterized by faith and dependence upon Him. Then, we simply follow through. Over time, it may well become our standard practice and routine.

Pause for a moment and reflect. Can you imagine the Lord Jesus Christ being rushed or experiencing disappointment or sorrow because He failed to accomplish something?

Neither can I.

REFLECT & PRAY

When we look at everything around us, we can easily become overwhelmed. The tasks at hand can appear unmanageable, and time is too short. Increasing the amount of time we have available is not possible, but better time management is.

Father encourage me to focus on You, practicing joy and gratitude regardless of the circumstances, knowing that all things come through Your hands. It is all part of your well-thought-out, intelligent design for my life.

INSIGHT

Nehemiah 8:10 Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!

No matter how far we have fallen or what we have done, the Father always remains our strength and protection. The Father has provided something for each child of the King to sustain, undergird, and uplift them. It is like a supernatural, miraculous elixir. It is described in one simple word: joy. But it is not just any joy; it is “the joy of the Lord.” More precisely, it is the joy in the Lord. That is the joy that children of the King experience when they rejoice and delight in the Father’s presence.

Some have merely heard of this joy, a few have caught a fleeting glimpse, but others have quenched their thirst in the exquisite presence of the living Father God. How sweet it is.

The Hebrew word translated as strength is maoz. Maoz literallyreferred to a mountain stronghold or fortress. The word is most frequently translated as strength in the Old Testament. It “denotes a place to which one would flee in time of danger” (Barnes). “It means ‘bulwark’ or ‘protection.’ NJB translates the whole clause as ‘the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.’ FRCL renders this: ‘The joy that comes from the Lord will give you strength.’ CEV restructures it to say, ‘he will make you happy and strong.’ [The Hebrew] proclaims ‘the joy of the LORD is the strength of you.’ . . . ‘the joy of the LORD is your rock of protection’” (UBS).

Along with Psalm 46, this thought inspired Martin Luther’s hymn, “A mighty Fortress is our God.”

We can rejoice when we realize and understand that our omnipotent, omniscient Father orchestrates the events of our lives. The Father, using His boundless wisdom, has thought everything through. He exercises His power and authority to accomplish His purpose. He not only arranges our circumstances; He is with us in them. He is always with us and never leaves us.

Matthew 28:20 Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Paul is clear in the steps of action we are to take.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Prayer is spiritual breathing. Just as breathing is predominantly automatic and unconscious, regulated by the autonomic nervous system, prayer can be continuous and unceasing. It takes place without conscious effort. In the same way, we breathe air without ceasing; we can pray without ceasing. This type of prayer becomes an attitude of dependence and continual conversation.

Over time, some children of the King have mastered the art of spiritual breathing through determination and practice. They unconsciously pray without ceasing, turning to the Father for direction, guidance, and inner peace. This practice has become a joyful habit and an integral part of their lifestyle. They’ve learned to express gratitude not solely during favorable moments but also during challenging and demanding ones. They instinctively seek to glean the lessons the Father imparts in every circumstance they encounter.

Developing a spirit of gratitude should be the goal of every child of the King. We should develop a life practice of gratefulness. Instead of reacting to life’s fluctuations with questions, objections, or challenges, our initial response should be gratitude.

Sadly, we have all experienced the opposite. We know what it is like to complain, be discouraged, and feel irritated, frustrated, angry, and resentful. How often have we rehearsed and acted out the sad, melancholy script of lamenting and mourning how things are?

Instead, every child of the King should practice, practice, practice gratefulness.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

The choice is always before us.

Philippians 3:1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-26-1

Bread from heaven ∙

Bread from heaven ∙

In the morning you shall be filled with bread, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God. – Exodus 16:12

Exodus 16:13-15

13 So it came about . . . In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.

14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground.

15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.”

“The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys” (Malcolm S. Forbes).

So often, people are not satisfied with what they have. It seems that they always want something else, something more. When does this begin? It seems to set in at a very young age. Commonly, a child is not satisfied with their toys for very long. They often want something different, particularly what somebody else has. The point is that whatever we have is never enough.

So it was with the children of Israel in the wilderness. They had just witnessed ten of the greatest miracles of the Old Testament. That was soon followed by the amazing miracle of the opening of the Red Sea, allowing them to escape Pharaoh’s army while destroying it simultaneously. They had been set free and given liberty from their taskmasters. They were no longer slaves to the Egyptians. Were they grateful? Did they give thanks and praise to the Father? No! They complained and were not satisfied with what they had.

Exodus 16:2-3

2 The whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.

3 “If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

Whatever gratitude they had did not last long. Rather than being thankful for what they had, they focused on what they did not have. It seems incredulous. Until we do a little introspection, examine our own hearts, and recognize we do the same thing.

The Father graciously gave them what they asked for.

Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day.”

Exodus 16:14-15

14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground.

15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.

The Father has a sense of humor that bubbles to the surface now and then. He is delightfully playful numerous times. As HE observes the people walking about questioning, wondering what they see, they keep asking, “What is this, please?” That is, “Ma-na, ma-na, Ma-na”? He simply says that is what you will call it – Manna.

Manna was the bread of heaven. It was a supernatural provision that lasted for 40 years. But it was much more. It was a prophecy, a picture that one day, the Father would provide a far more wonderful and satisfying bread of heaven.

Deuteronomy 8:3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

How can we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?

REFLECT & PRAY

“When Jesus called Himself ‘The Living Bread,’ He was not claiming to be exactly like the manna. He was claiming to be even greater!” (Wiersbe)!

Father thank You for providing the True Bread of Heaven, your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for drawing each child of the King to the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

In John 6, an exchange ensues between the Jewish religious leaders and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ claims to be sent by the Father as the true bread which comes out of heaven.

He tells the crowd that the Father wants them to believe in the One He sent. The crowd responds. They challenge Him. Since He made such extraordinary claims, they ask to show us a sign that we would believe in You.

Speaking of bread, it brings to mind when the Father provided the heavenly bread, manna, through Moses.

John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

They began to murmur. Unified consensus eluded. They could not fully agree because they knew He was Joseph and Mary’s son. How can he say He came from heaven? How can he make such a claim?

Reacting to these doubts, the Lord Jesus Christ makes even bolder statements. Some have thought there is a suggestion of cannibalism.

But the mystery of this passage is found within it. When understood, it explains itself, and the secret is resolved.

John 6:53-58

53 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.”

54 “But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.”

55 “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

58 “I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did even though they ate the manna but will live forever.”

This discussion revolves around understanding and embracing the true bread of heaven. There’s no physical bread here, only the presence of Lord Jesus Christ. He does not intend for them to eat Him or drink His blood.

John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

To cease to be hungry, to eat is to come to Him. To cease to be thirsty, to drink is to believe in Him.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-16-1

Don’t get sidetracked ∙∙

Don’t get sidetracked ∙∙

Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. – Proverbs 4:27

Jeremiah 15:19 If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

Getting sidetracked is a universal occurrence that can affect anyone. Our attention diverts from the primary task or objective, often toward matters of lesser significance. Consequently, our intended accomplishments are left incomplete.

Our original intentions and aspirations tend to fall by the wayside. We lose focus. We get off the main highway and begin to follow bunny trails. Frequently, we remain oblivious to this process as it unfolds. Recognizing the shift that has occurred takes time, leaving us slightly bewildered. This state of confusion can easily give rise to feelings of frustration and annoyance.

As we progress in age, these instances of diversion seem to become more commonplace. For example, we might enter a room only to forget momentarily why we did. But be of good cheer; forgetting a few things is not a sign of early-onset dementia. But if it’s ever happened to you, it sometimes feels like it.

Like the United States Marines, the Father is looking for a few good men and women. During Old Testament times, there was a special subset among the children of the King: His servants, the prophets. The Father’s prophets were His representatives, His emissaries. They were often sent to deliver a message. They could not be easily deferred. They did not back down or get sidetracked. They remained resolute in steadfast.

The Father explained this to Jeremiah simply and succinctly as a part of his prophetic commission.

Jeremiah 15:19 “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

The book of Proverbs is full of Solomon’s great wisdom. It was parsimoniously summarized in Proverbs 4.

Proverbs 4:23-27

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

25 Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.

27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father uses distractions to urge us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Father it is so easy to be sidetracked and get off course. Help me to respond better to the vicissitudes of everyday life. Help me not to be discouraged by the frustrations and disappointments I encounter.

INSIGHT

To avoid being sidetracked, developing the skill of focused concentration is essential. It should be a top priority. Staying on task requires discipline and practice. Learning to focus and stay focused is a science and art that can be learned. How can we diminish getting sidetracked? By learning to deal with distractions effectively. This often leads to improved focus and increased effectiveness. Here are a few suggestions:

Avoid panic

Confusion and the feeling of losing control can lead to panic. There is often a lot of blaming and self-condemnation. Negative emotions only make matters worse. On the contrary, positive feelings and thoughts yield contrasting outcomes.

What can be done? How do we avoid a downward negative spiral? For children of the King, reading and meditating on the Scriptures can be quite calming to the spirit and soothing to the soul. Revisiting the Father’s promises in the face of our irritations can break the power of our errant propensities. As we turn irritations, frustrations, and burdens over to the Father, He assumes responsibility for our well-being.

Psalms 27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?

Slow down

Distractions are always crouching at the door: conflicting thoughts, uncontrollable emotions, bothersome sounds, offenses, slights, or minor interruptions.

What can we do? So, how can we combat these distractions? To safeguard our focus from being snatched away, it’s essential to take control. We’re presented with two primary choices: disregard the distraction or set a mental placeholder and deal with the distraction. Once the distraction is handled, we can then seamlessly realign our focus.

Psalms 66:9 Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

Take a break

There are moments when we just run out of gas mentally, and our focus and concentration diminish, causing our focus and concentration to wane. During these periods, we can shift our attention to a temporary new activity, granting our mind a much-needed break. Engaging in physical activity frequently facilitates a reset. A fascinating phenomenon occurs when we intentionally redirect our focus to another task – our brain continues its problem-solving efforts on an unconscious level. As a result, we often find ourselves inundated with novel ideas and potential solutions upon returning to the original challenge.

Psalms 119:67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me, but now I closely follow your word.

God uses discipline, not as a whip to force us in line, but as a messenger to urge us back into a safe place. Correction is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God (Stanley).

Jeremiah 15:19 If you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.

The prophets had a special responsibility to live a life without compromise. This commitment extended to their thoughts and expressions. What really mattered? The precious! They needed to develop the skill of learning to extract the precious from the worthless. To accurately represent the Father and be His spokesman, literally His mouth, they had to live by a higher standard. They could not entertain worthless ideas and speak meaningless words.

The same is true for any child of the King. How well are you doing at extracting the precious from the worthless?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-15-1

Grumbling complainers ∙

Grumbling complainers ∙

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

– Proverbs 27:20

1 Corinthians 10:6-13

6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,

7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.”

9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

In 1976 the American movie, “Network” showed in movie theaters across the United States. “Network” received widespread critical acclaim. It was a commercial success and won four Academy Awards.

The decade of the 1970s was marked by significant challenges: frustration, depression, soaring inflation, and the Oil Crisis of 1973.

“Network” vividly portrays the deep-seated frustration and despair of those individuals who felt they have no recourse, remedy, or strategy. It embodies the intense emotions of disillusionment prevalent in modern life. Through the character of Howard Beale, a fictitious TV anchor played by Peter Finch, the film encapsulates this sentiment with his iconic outburst, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” He urges viewers to voice their own frustrations by leaning out their windows and passionately declaring, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”

The movie resonated with audiences, symbolizing a pivotal moment in American cultural history. Peter Finch’s portrayal was seminal. People were unshackled and began to “tell it like it is.”

While feelings of anger, resentment, and lashing out are nothing new. These sentiments trace back to ancient times, to the Garden of Eden. The Old Testament frequently highlights these emotions, mainly through stories of resentment and grumbling. Such narratives serve as lessons, urging us to make better decisions.

1 Corinthians 10:6-11

6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Greek word translated as crave or desire is epithumeo. Epithumeo means to have a strong desire, a longing, or lust. Generally speaking, it is a neutral term for intense longing or craving. However, it most frequently takes on a pejorative sense and refers to an irregular and inordinate desire, appetite, lust, impure or worldly desires, or lewdness. Epithumeo can be thought of it as strong negative desires on steroids.

The Greek word rendered as grumble is gogguzo. Gogguzo means to grumble, complain, mutter, to express oneself in low tones of disapproval. It is an onomatopoetic word based upon a sound associated with what is named. English words such as growl, murmur, cuckoo, sizzle, and whippoorwill are examples of such.

Anyone can be disappointed or discouraged by circumstances. Many go to the next level and become agitated and extremely angry. But for the children of the King, there is a better way to respond.

We can learn the skill of taking every thought and emotion captive. Instead of being dictated by our feelings and thoughts, we have the power to govern them.

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals” (Henry Ford).

REFLECT & PRAY

Paul likens human reasoning and debates to military strongholds or fortifications. Individuals construct these spiritual defenses to shield themselves and block an invasion from the knowledge of God.

Father so many times I’ve been deceived and misled. Help me to be wise and empower me to take every thought captive to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSIGHT

The true battleground lies in our minds and hearts: our thoughts, emotions, desires, and cravings. The adversary of our souls, along with his minions, is relentlessly working to sway and mislead the children of the King. They employ tactics of deception, falsehoods, ambiguity, doubt, and intense negative emotions like anger, fear, vengeance, and hatred to fulfill their aims.

The New Testament provides examples that showcase the enemy’s capacity to influence and determine outcomes.

One is recorded in the events of the night of the Last Supper in the Gospel of John. The enemy first influences Judas by placing the desire into his heart to betray the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever his motives, Judas had betrayal in his heart. The enemy encouraged his thoughts and plans.

John 13:2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, putting it in his heart to betray Jesus.

Then Satan went to the next level and entered into Judas. Lord Jesus Christ was fully aware of the unfolding events.

John 13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

The rest is history. Judas was one of the twelve apostles. Yet he was the son of perdition (John 17:12). No one suspected what was coming except the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Could such an event befall a child of the King? Reflect on this: Judas wasn’t a child of the King. He opened his heart and mind and gave the enemy an opportunity. Paul cautions every child of the King against allowing such an opening. (Ephesians 4:27).

A second example is found in the Book of Acts.

Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.”

Ananias dropped his defenses, permitting Satan to influence his choices and decisions. He allowed Satan to fill his heart. He chose poorly and suffered the consequences.

Is it possible for this to occur to a child of the King? Yes, it did. Indeed, it happened. Ananias was a child of the King. Yet he allowed Satan to take control and fill his heart.

How can we effectively deal with Satan’s attempt to influence and control us?

We learn the art and skill of subjecting every thought to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. On our own, we cannot achieve this. However, the Father has equipped us with spiritual weapons to fight and win this spiritual battle for the mind.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.

4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have” (Norman Vincent Peale).

The bottom line is that the Father has given us the ability to control our thoughts and emotions. The choice is ours.

What is the opposite of complaining and murmuring?

Expressing thankfulness and gratitude!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-4-1

Futile rage ∙∙

Futile rage ∙∙

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? – Psalms 2:1

Psalms 2:1-6

1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and his anointed one.

3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then in anger, he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Rage is a form of violent, uncontrollable anger. It influences our reasoning and judgment. Rage is angry resentment or prejudice against a person or group. Frequently, our rage is unfair and unjustified.

Road rage, however, refers to aggressive and angry behavior displayed while driving. The term was first coined in 1987 in response to a series of shooting on freeways and interstates in Los Angeles.

Rage behaviors on the road encompass a range of offensive actions such as rude gestures, verbal insults, and threats, both physical and through driving maneuvers. These actions are motivated by the driver’s desire to alleviate their frustration, but in the worst cases, road ragers aim to intimidate or cause harm to others. Shockingly, some incidents escalate to the point where a driver leaves their vehicle to assault or even use firearms against another driver.

Alarming statistics reveal that road rage is increasing. More than 1500 such cases are reported each year, resulting in over 12,000 preventable injuries. Perhaps even more concerning is that at least one firearm is involved in over 37% of road rage incidents. During a seven-year study, over 200 murders were attributed to road rage incidents, highlighting the severity of this dangerous behavior on the roads.

Rage is often thoughtless and blind. Sadly, it lurks in the heart of every fallen person. If you search, you will probably discover its silent presence. Tragically, the Father is the object of rage and rebellion.

Who is ultimately in charge of planet Earth and the created universe? Where does the buck stop? The Scriptures unequivocally answer this question. The Father is the architect, the intelligent designer, and the Creator of all. He is sovereign over His creation.

Psalms 2 recounts the senseless rejection of the Father’s rule and authority. His chosen and anointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ, is also targeted. Psalms 2 reveals an astonishing yet consistent pattern found throughout the Scripture. The Father sits serenely and confidently upon His throne. He is composed, ruling with peace and confidence. He is sovereign over all aspects of existence. He has made choices, and His choices stand firm. On the other hand, people tend to be obtuse, stubborn, self-absorbed, willful, rebellious, and defiant.

The opening word of the Psalm sets its tone: “Why.” The psalmist, however, isn’t seeking information or clarification. Why is he asked why? He is expressing a sense of puzzlement and even astonishment. In modern English, we might ask, “How can people be so foolish?” Why do they erupt in tumultuous rage, surrender themselves to senseless anger, and “waste their time with futile plans?”

People deceive themselves into believing they can successfully rebel against the sovereign, omnipotent Lord of lords and King of Kings. They delude themselves, thinking that their futile struggle and defiance have the power to alter somehow or overthrow His absolute authority.

In their folly, they envision themselves as contenders in a battle for supremacy. On one side stand the kings and officials of the earth. Their adversaries are the Father Himself and His Anointed One, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This appears to be an utterly unwinnable contest. It is like a bunch of angry mice screaming and plotting against an alpha male elephant. Yet even this feeble analogy fails to capture the absurd incongruity of the situation.

If we base the outcome solely on numbers, who would be victorious? Throughout history, their combined armies have numbered in the billions. On the other side, there are only two opponents: the Father and the Son. However, it is no contest. The Father is greater than all.

It is worth noting that their entire rebellion is in words only. They only raise their voices against the Father, never their weapons.

The absurdity of it all is reminiscent of a fairy tale, like the one about the big bad Wolf and the three little pigs. Similar to the Wolf, those who are in opposition to the Father are full of hot air. They huff and puff, but absolutely nothing changes. The Father’s plans and choices are set in granite. They stand firm, unwavering, and no created force can alter them.

REFLECT & PRAY

It is almost inconceivable that anyone would be so foolish and imprudent as to wage war against the Father, knowing they cannot possibly win. Nevertheless, against all reason, some still choose to do so.

Father it is so easy to judge and condemn others. I must confess that rage lives within my wicked heart as well. Thank You for forgiving my rebellion. Enable me to understand and forgive others as well.

INSIGHT

Psalms 2:1-3

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

The Hebrew word translated as rage, angry, and in an uproar is ragash. It signifies being in a state of great anger, to behave violently or irrationally. “The verb ragash designates any noisy or riotous assembly that practically seethes in its antagonism” (Leupold). The nations gather in a frenzy of tumultuous anger, and it escalates from there.

They “devise futility” (Leupold). They make plans, they plot, they scheme, they ruminate, and they strategize. The Hebrew word translated as vain is riq. It has the sense of being empty, useless, pointless, or worthless.

The bottom line is that neither rage nor pathetic, pointless scheming can bring about any change.

The French common language version (FRCL) translates the Hebrew as a question and a statement: “The nations are in an uproar – but why? The people plot, but it is useless!” (UBS).

Pause momentarily and visualize the psalmist penning these words and shaking his head in disbelief (Johnston). They cannot possibly win; their cause is absolutely futile, so why try? Rage, murmured shouts, and scheming are rooted in the hearts of every fallen individual. Our hearts, by nature, are naturally bent against the Father, the living God.

How does the Father react to such feeble rebellion and raging anger? He laughs!

Psalm 2:4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

Just imagine in your mind’s eye for a moment, the Father, regally sitting in heaven. He is shaking His head, laughing. I can hear Him saying, “Really! You can’t be serious!” He scoffs at them, ridicules them, and mocks them.

Despite being children of the King, each of us possesses the same fallen nature. We are prone to indulging in self-pity and harboring angry resentment. Yet, the Father is not angry with us, for He understands our frailty, knowing we are mere dust (Psalms 103:13-14). So, how does the Father respond to His children? Perhaps He, too, would ask the question, “Why?” And with some incredulity, He ponders, “How can My children act so foolishly?” He exclaims, “They just don’t get it now, but someday they will.”

In a twinkling of an eye, the Father transitions from astonishment to a deep and sorrowful longing, followed by overflowing forgiveness, all while yearning for our complete restoration.

Why do we become so angry and rage? Why do we waste our time with futile plans?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 5-30-1

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: