Solitary

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
Psalms 68:5, 6 NKJV

Our God cares for the lowliest of society. He often reverses the situation that has wounded the soul. Those who are alone find themselves deeply connected to a group in mutual love. Those who are in debt find themselves with more than they need. Those who acknowledge Him are given strength to rise above their circumstances.

I am thankful for all that Jesus has done for me. But, I am especially thankful to have been placed in a family that loves Him so much. Together we are rescued from our history and given a new future in His holy habitation.

Blessings

“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

“So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:23-27 NKJV

God has been blessing His people for a very long time. His blessings are meant for our preservation, after all He is keeping us. He has shown His glory and grace upon us. Together they are the key to serving Him. His power and clarity flow from His glorify, showing us His will and our sin. With Isaiah we cry out “I am undone!” His compassion and sympathy bring our redemption to fruition! Now we can call out to God with Isaiah, “Here am I, send me!” As He turns His face to us we come into deep relationship with Him and we are at peace because He has saved and justified us all.

Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are now blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. Like the Israelites, His name has been put upon us! We are blessed.

All I can say to God’s people is The Lord bless and keep you!

Remember?

Remember, O Lord , Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord . Good and upright is the Lord ; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
Psalms 25:6-8 NKJV

David is asking God to know His ways. He is asking God to teach him even though he acknowledges that he has sinned since he was young. His prayer is that The Lord will not forget who He is; a God of tender mercies and kindnesses. Whenever you deal with me, remember who you are Lord! Once he reminds The Lord (and himself) of the kind of relationship they have he prays for God to forget about his failures. Don’t remember how hard it was to get me this far. Your goodness has allowed You to teach me Your way even though I am a sinner.

This should be our prayer too! We are counting on the tender mercies of our Lord. Only His lovingkindness can make us eligible for His training.

Lord, thank You for Your mercy that has brought me this far. Teach me to be like You. Show me Your way.

Presence

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” Exodus 33:15, 16 NKJV

After the fiasco with the golden calf, God had moved out of the center of the Israelite camp. Moses would go out to the tabernacle to meet with God. When God’s presence would show up in a pillar of cloud the people would worship from their tents. God told Moses that He couldn’t travel in their midst because His holy anger could break out and consume them all. When the people heard this news they were grieved.

Moses went back and told God they couldn’t go on without Him. Without His presence they would have nothing to distinguish between them and the previously victorious nations who conquered the land. They wouldn’t be special. They would be just another nation rising to fall.

Moses asked God to do it by grace because God had told him that it was personal between them and that He even knew Moses name. Moses even asked to know God better. He asked to see God’s glory.

Two things came to mind when I read this passage. First, no matter how “successful” I am without Him there is nothing to distinguish me from others who have succeeded before. Only in His presence is their fullness of joy. Only in His presence is their satisfaction and peace. His presence is what marks His people. I want that mark.

Second, when the chips are down press in for more of His grace. Moses took this situation to be an opportunity to know God better. When I am dealing with failure I should not withdraw from Him I should press in because I need Him more than ever. This pressing in is how I get marked by His presence.