Why Authority

Psalm 140:6-13

“I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”  Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.  Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed. Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.  May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise.   May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.  I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.  Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.”

I have no understanding of why a very wealthy and by the world standards very successful businessman would put up with the vastness of hate and evil that has been directed at him and his family, like President Trump.  My only conclusion is it’s his calling from our Lord.  I do not have any understanding of the Presidents spiritual condition, but I do understand what I as a follower of Christ must do, and that is to stand against evil and hate and obey the command of my Lord.

As one who is a “follower of Christ” have you taken to heart what God has instructed us to do in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”   Often, in our business we forget to put on our battle equipment, and what is our main weapon “Prayer,” not name calling but humbling ourselves before  the Father and asking the LORD to hear our cry for victory over those who are disciples of the evil one, and to pray for all who are over us in authority.

My wife has been my teacher for years in this area of my life, mercy and grace, she has a spirit of quietness and grace that I often do not apply to my life.  When I’m asking God to do as the Psalmist is doing in verses 9-11, Jan often reminds me of the grace God has shown me, and that our Father desires for all people to find life in His Son.

For years I did not give much thought to the poor and needy until I came under the influence of two pastors that taught me from Scripture that it was the heart of our God to do so.  I am so thankful for Pastor Larry York and Pastor Ray Still for having the 

heart of God and teaching us to also be the hands and feet to the under resourced people in our community.  Yes, we can praise the great and wonderful name of our God and look forward to living in His presence.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Enemies among Us

Psalm 140:1-13

“Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.  They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah  Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net;  beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah   I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!  O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.  Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;  do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let burning coals fall upon them!  Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!  Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!  I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and will execute justice for the needy.  Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.”

The enemies may have been in the house of David, for we know that his generals did not always support David’s desires or instructions.  We also know that his own sons often did things David would not have approved of and Absalom tried to take the kingdom from David.  Absalom was a snake in the grass, you and I must guard our hearts from the Absalom’s in our friends and family, for they enjoy stirring up evil in our families and also among our friends.  Never forget the first deception recorded in Scripture is the serpent, it is found in Genesis 3:1 and the first lie is found in 3:4.  One must never forget these words of Jesus, John 8:44, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  Wow, that sounds like Jesus is talking to the lowest scum of the earth, but that is not the audience, no it is the chosen people of God, but it gets worse, Jesus is talking to the scribes and the Pharisees, the religious.

We will pick this up tomorrow in verse six, but let us look at verse five, “The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net;  beside the way they have set snares for me.” Selah  Are we not living through such a time where the proud in our FBI and the Democrats never believed their plans would be discovered?.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A God who loves Sinners

Psalm 139: 17-24

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.  I awake, and I am still with you.  Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God!  O men of blood depart from me!  They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.   Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?  And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?  I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!   And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!”

My dad was a Bible teacher, both his cousins were well known for their Ministry’s, Bill Rice had a place for the deaf and did a great work, and his brother John R. Rice was a preacher, and author of many books on the Bible and wrote a paper called, “Sword of the Lord.”  Each of these men would have given this council I believe, my dad sure did, run fast from the person who thinks they understand the vastness of God or His thoughts.  David compares them to the grains of sand, so if you can tell me the numbers of grains of sand, I might stop running.

When we examine “God hates,” we must understand what a great example is found in Psalm 5: 4-6, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.  You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

To even allow the thought God hates sinners into your mind is deceptive, it goes against Scripture.  Yes, He hates sin but still longs for sinners, all sinners to receive grace, to accept the love gift of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Is that not incredible?  Yes, God has provided a way of salvation for sinners, and you better be exuberant about that kind of love, for you and me, for it is clear in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  I hope you see a God of Love, of amazing love and grace for sinners, who is to be feared, and obeyed.

“Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?  And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?  I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.”   I know that David had a heart for God, for God told us so.  I also know that it is hard to have anyone listen to me or you when we demean them, by calling them names, and despising them.  My mother often told us to love sinners but to hate their sins, she also told us not to have anything to do with them, I found that to be very confusing.  This I know I’m a saint and I sin, but when confronted by God or man about my sin, it breaks my heart that I’ve sinned and confession to God is required and often to the one I’ve sinned against.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!   And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!”

I have yet to meet a person that does not need grace, and I know this God is the source of all grace, so run to Him, He a good Father with open arms.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

.

Made in Secret

Psalm 139:13-24

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.   I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.   My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

What an appropriate Psalms to close out 2019, the final days of December and it seems that a few of the many parents want their child to decide what sex they are.  My oldest grandson not always known for his tack, was ask by a young lady he was dating this question; if we had a little boy and he thought he was a little girl what would you do?  He said that’s easy, I would pull down his pants and show him the part he came with. That was close to the last date, and he is back seeking his love, a big trout in a river some place.

As I read, these thoughts come into my mind, like even if I was not wanted, I was part of God’s plan from before the foundation of the earth, and I’m reminded that God’s works are wonderful!  Before I was, you saw me and desired a relationship with me, and you took pleasure in me, but sin kept us from having that relationship and you also knew that before the foundation of the earth.  You sent your Son, your only Son who was  the lamb without blemish, to take my sins and the sins of everyone.  In the gospel of John 1:9-13, we see that Jesus who told us He was the light of the world, that light is our only hope of a relationship with a Holy God.   ^“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.   He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own, and his own people^[ did not receive him.   But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

I’m so glad I do not understand God, or His ways, if I did I would not need grace or faith, and when anyone tells you they do, my counsel is run from them, they are more messed up than you are and in greater need than you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Search me and know me

Psalm 139:1-12

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.  You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

The Psalm’s are so rich with insights, but if we only had Psalm 139 and applied it to our understanding of a Holy God, we would come away with awe and worship.  The Holman Study Bible states my thoughts, it is timeless truth.  “You search me, and you know me.  God’s attributes are not restricted to time.  The words know … understand… observe and are aware speaks of God’s omniscience.” In these first six verses we experience these attributes of God, His omniscience and omnipresence.  If it be God’s will to lead us into 2020, may I challenge you to read the Psalms, not as you would read a book but as if you were searching for something of great value.  I believe it can be a life changing experience, and I would hope you would exchange your insights with me and others.

In verses seven through twelve we come to an understanding that only a very foolish and ill-informed person believes they can do anything outside of the knowledge of God.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

We will stop at verse 12, you and I have plenty to chew on in those first 12 verses, and it is coming to a very exciting part, can’t’ wait to see what God has to show us tomorrow!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What is your most admirable traits?

Psalm 138

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.  On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.  All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth,  and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.  The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

This is a Psalm of David and one of the most admirable traits of David was his heart for God, and his desire to do God’s will.  Think on what David is telling the Lord; “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.  On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”  I’m fearful that many in the Church do not have the heart that David had, how I long to be single minded of heart before a Holy God.

In verse four David is not talking about in his lifetime but a time in the future, we refer to this as prophecy.  The prophet Isaiah gave us this insight of this time David is referring to in Isaiah 2:1-4.  “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  It shall come to pass in the latter days  that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways  and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law,  and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

David understood God’s love and protection of the humble and how He would distance Himself from the arrogant and proud.  David also knew that God had a plan and purpose for his life, and it would be fulfilled.  We will close this paper with this thought; “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Have you returned to Slavery

Psalm 137

A sad time for the people of God, who found that living independent of God’s authority and commands did not bring blessing but curses.  Do you recall Jacob’s con job on his brother Esau and their dad who was almost blind for his birthright, and all for a bowl of stew.  How Jacob ran from his brother fearing he would kill him.  And now his descendants the Edomites were Babylon’s allies in the destruction of Jerusalem.

The lament of those exiles over what God had given them and now once more they are slaves of a pagan Babylon.  The Psalmist is telling us how the Babylonians ask them to sing the songs of Zion, knowing the pain they were still inflicting on them.  The people could not enter into worship in Babylon because it was unclean and had no temple for them to worship.  

The people of Israel longed for Jerusalem and made an oath to not forget and to stay loyal to Jerusalem.  They understood the cost of living independent of God’s authority and plans, they were reaping what they sowed.

Now let’s move to 2020, and as a follower of Christ your Country of birth is not your home, in fact earth is not your home, you are just aliens and strangers on planet earth.  Fifty years ago in a hotel room in Victoria, Texas I got a new Citizenship, and the apostle Peter tells what happen to me and many others in 1 Peter 2:9-12, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.   Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

So where is home, you will find the answer in John 8:23, 24, where Jesus is talking to the Pharisees?  He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.   I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”  Look with me at Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Look also at Hebrews 11:16, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

Shall we end todays paper on Psalm 137, with these words from Jesus found in John 17:14-18,  ^“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.   I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.   Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”  This is Jesus talking to the Father about all that put their trust in Him.  It’s not about being religious, Jesus has a big problem with the religious people at the time He spent on planet earth.  One final word from Jesus, as he was talking to his disciples before returning to His Father and home.  It is found in John 14:1-4, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.   In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.   And you know the way to where I am going.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

His Love is Eternal

Psalm 136

Twenty-six verses that all end the same way; “His love is eternal.”  The Psalmist gives us a collection of things and events God has done from the beginning of time to the conquest of Canaan.  It is a list we need to ponder on, for it might open the eyes of your mind and heart to understand the love God has for everyone, and yes, you are very special to our God.

It begins with reminding us that God is good, and that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  Do you thank Him for all the good gifts He has given you?  The coach that told you how to be a man when you only had a mom at home, that was not an action void of God’s love and goodness.  What about the teacher or neighbor that was open to listening to you and encouraging you?  Once again, make no mistake God was in that.  Or you may have been blessed to have parents that loved you and encouraged you but also disciplined you and told you about God’s love.  Mine, told me about Jesus and took me to church, but often in those small Baptist Churches, I did not see God’s love, many of those people were ignorant of God’s love, mercy, His good gifts.

The Psalmist tells us of the Wonders of God, how He made the heavens, how He put the land on the waters, and made the sun to rule the day, and moon, the stars to rule the night.  How He warned the nations of Egypt of the death of their first born, both livestock and son, if they did not let his people go and when they did not, it happened just as God had said.  The people of God said; His love is eternal!

The Psalmist reminds us of how God led them through all the impossible obstacles such as the Red Sea, but when Pharaoh and his army followed them the waters came back on them and they were all killed.  Do you recall how God led His people through the wilderness and struck down great kings.  Do you recall what happen to Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan, and how God gave their land as an inheritance to Israel?

Do you understand how much God’s love is eternal, when they were subjects of humiliation His love was there, and He rescued them from their foes.  Do you understand that Jesus the baby boy God put inside the virgin Mary was His best gift to a broken world, and that Jesus victory on the cross set you free from sins control over your life.  Maybe you need to once more read John 10:10 and be reminded that God’s love is eternal.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

An Open Hand - Not a Clenched Fist

Psalm 135:15-21

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.  They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them,  so do all who trust in them.  O house of Israel, bless the Lord!  O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!  O house of Levi, bless the Lord!  You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!   Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the Lord!”

We do not have idols today; do we?  I know of no one who bows down to a carved image, do you?  So, I ponder on what is our form of idols, and what is my form of an idol, and I was reminded of these words of Chuck Swindoll in a conversation he had with the late Corrie ten Boom, “Chuck, I’ve learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me.”

I cannot think of a better way to state why not to have a clenched fist on what God has blessed you with than this by Alistair Begg’s.  “Hold material goods and wealth on a flat palm and not in a clenched fist” is for our own good because clenched fists cannot receive what an open hand can. And if we don’t give, we miss the blessings that God desires to pour into our lap, running over. To see a need and do nothing about it is sin. Besides, it’s in our best interest to give so that we might receive back from God His great blessings.”

In my 78 years on planet earth, I’ve seen many clenched fist people and I’ve also been afflicted with the clenched fist of ownership.  But I’ve learned what Alistair Begg’s has said so well, and I’m way too selfish to not keep my hands open to receive God’s blessing, plus I’ve now experienced the joy of giving and the blessing it has brought to Jan and me.  I’ve also learned that only God’s mercy and grace can replace this idol of the clenched fist, but only when we are sick and tired of our greed and lust for the things of this world that the Psalmist is talking about.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Chosen like Jacob

Psalm 135:4-14

“For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.  For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.  He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants; who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan, and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.”

My business life was working in sales for an amazing Company, but often management did not explain why we were required to go a new direction.  We had a saying the puzzle palace is up to it again.   I always would say I do not have enough insight or information to second guess their decision.  If you and I do not have insight and information to understand why a leader took a company in a new direction, how could we hope to understand why God moves in directions we have no understanding of? 

I’ve never met a dad, who had daughters that did not view them as his treasured possession, yet the people of the world get all upset that God would do so with Jacob for Himself, Israel as His chosen people, His treasured possession.  My mom and dad would often say (How in the “Sam Hill” did you get that opinion or do such and such?  I always wondered who was “Sam Hill,” so I googled the name Sam Hill and found this answer, it was a cleaned up swear word.  "What in the Sam Hill is that?"), the "Sam" coming from salmon(sale(o)mon an oath) and "Hill" from hell.  I guess we could ask what in the Sam Hill makes you think you understand God’s ways?   You began as dirt and you will return to dirt, and you’re just a mist in this life that God has chosen to give you on planet earth, but please do not forget, you have been given a soul that will live forever.  The question is where?  It is of the upmost importance to know that God the Father loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die in your place and pay the full price for your sins.  God the Father and God the Son’s desire is to have fellowship with you, now and forever.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Who am I

Psalm 135

“Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord,  who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God!   Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!  For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.”

It is early on a Sunday morning and I find myself in Psalm 135, it is about worship, and a song came into my mind, “Who am I that a King would blead and die for, who am I that He would pray not my will but thine LORD.”   The song was written by Rusty Goodman in 1965, and I believe it resonates with in the heart of all of us.

When I think of how he came so far from glory,
came and dwelled among the lonely such as I,
to suffer shame and such disgrace on mount Calvary took my place,
then I ask myself this question who am I?

Chorus:
Who am I that a king would bleed and die for,
who am I that he would pray not my will thine Lord,
the answer I may never know why he ever loved me so,
and to an old rugged cross He'd go for who am I?

Verse: 2
When I'm reminded of his words I'll leave you never,
if you'll be true I'll give to your life forever,
I wonder what I could have done to deserve God's only Son,
to fight my battles until there won for who am I?

  In this world I’m a son of a factory worker, I came from a dad who valued the things of God more than anything this world has to offer.  I do not believe his life was easy, but as I reflect on Scripture, it was never promised.  So why would God place such value on a factory workers son?  The song above goes on to say; “I may never know why He ever loved me so.

I  have no doubt he gave us the value He placed on us and it can be found in both the New and the Old Testaments. These are a few of the Scriptures you can look to for why He ever loved you so; Psalm 139:13-16, Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Galatians 2:20, 1 Samuel 16:7.

As I go this morning to worship, I’m not a factory workers son, I’ve been adopted into the family of God, I’m a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice