THE WEEPING TREE!

Monday, August 31, 2020

 

THE WEEPING TREE!

 

Ps 84:5-6

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

 

           The word Baca literally means “the weeping tree.” It has, I think, mistakenly referred to the Mulberry tree but is, most likely, a form of Balsam which weeps sap like tears.

 

           Emblematically, this valley is passed through by believers on their way to worship. The route takes the worshipper through a valley of tears, but his focus is on the House of God and the joys of God’s presence there.

 

           Because of his focus, the worshipper turns even this arid valley into pools of refreshment and he who follows him quenches his thirst. Oh, and there is a thirst for God in the parched throats of the believer. What the unbeliever ignorantly fails to feel is a painful lack in the heart of the one who longs for God. The believer does not feel at home or comfortable in this valley, but he follows his heart toward God.

 

           It is a terrible thing to be an un-churched worshipper! Whatever the cause of his wandering, he passes by the tree of weeping. He senses his displacement and his distilled tears fills the pools.

 

Ps 84:10

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

Dear Lord, let me be reminded of the joys of Thy house. Let it motivate me to faithful attachment and refreshing worship. AMEN

 

SEASONAL STRUGGLE!

 

Sunday, August 30, 2020

 

SEASONAL STRUGGLE!

 

Gen 8:21-22

21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

 

           Yesterday’s buttoned up pickup truck displayed 126 degrees on the dash but it soon cooled to a normal Texas 108. To say that it was hot would not be very creative. Evening brought a thunderstorm which settled down to a light pelting of droplets on the bedroom windows. This morning it is an almost perfect 72 degrees.

 

           Today is the last weekend in August and I have experienced 73 of these seasonal wrestling matches. Summer’s fierce frown loathes to give way to Autumn’s gentle sigh of relief but yield it certainly will. It always has because God has decreed it to be so. It is His promise.

 

           To say that “this too shall pass” is only to affirm our faith in a consistent and faithful God. He is doing what He said He would do. We try to help Him, but it doesn’t make Him hurry. We try to prevent Him, but it doesn’t make Him wait. There is a rhythm to God’s world. There is also a rhythm to life. Infancy, puberty, maturity, and infinity are in God’s hands as well. At the end of it all is heaven with its inconceivable perfection.

 

Rev 21:23

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

Dear Lord, give Thy church a little refreshing in this world of rage. AMEN

DOES GOD HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?

 

Friday, August 28, 2020

 

Gen 17:16-17

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed.

 

Gen 18:12

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

 

DOES GOD HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?

 

           We find the word “laughed” in the Authorized Version thirteen times. When God looked down to find a progenitor for the Jews, he did not search out a young and virile couple. He found a couple of old childless prunes. Both of them laughed when they were told of God’s plan. That laughter contained both derision and delight. Derision because of the utter impossibility of it and delight at the prospect of it.

 

           I think Jesus laughed a lot and probably used sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek comments. When he confronted Nathanael, he hailed him as one in which there was no guile. I think that was a bit of a joke. When Nathanael asked how Jesus “knew” him, Jesus answered that He saw him under the fig tree. This was hilarious humor in that day. You can read it in John 1:47 and 48.

 

           Jesus was a kid magnet. Children loved him! When His disciples tried to drive them away, He said “allow them to come to me.” Then Jesus informed them that heaven was not simply hallowed halls filled with Gregorian chants but a playroom full of laughing children. You can read it in Matthew 19:14.

 

           Does God have a sense of humor? Have you ever been to the zoo? Have you ever looked in the mirror?

 

Ps 16:2-3

2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

 

Dear Lord, bring laughter into this day. Let me not forget to laugh at myself. AMEN