Spiritual Gems from a Recent Quiet Time

Spiritual Gems from a Recent Quiet Time

I share with you some of the promises of the Word of God I have recently received in my quiet time.  First, Daniel 1:9 says; “Now God caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel.”  This verse supports asking Almighty God to place persons within our myriad challenges and situations whose hearts are favorable towards us.  Listening to “Money Matters,” a Christian radio talk show, encourages me to ask God to change the hearts of people who may initially treat me adversarially.  Elsewhere, scripture speaks of hearts of stone being turned to flesh.

Second, Psalm 142:5 says; “I cry to you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”  Actually, David writes this psalm while hiding in a cave escaping either King Saul or one of David’s other numerous enemies.  The entire seven verses are most helpful on any given day.

The “Parable of the Persistent Widow’s” brevity allows easy memorization which potentially yields a fallacy of thinking you have this text forever pegged.  Yet, I saw seemingly for the first time in Luke 18:7-8 the eternal promise that Almighty God will indeed grant justice to His children.  “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.” 

Fourth, the Holy Spirit recently reminded me of a verse, Isaiah 50:7, upon which I stood firmly during a challenging time a few years ago.  “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.  Therefore have I set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame.”  I plan to commission a calligraphy rendering of this verse so that I may frame it for my offices at the church and at home.

Fifth, the stories of the Lord’s deliverance of Jehoshaphat against the Moabites and Ammonites in 2 Chronicles 20 and of Hezekiah against Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, in 2 Chronicles 32 contain immortal lessons of encouragement for anyone experiencing spiritual warfare.  In the former story, the seventeenth verse greatly edifies my spirit.  “You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” 

I reason I shall not have to endure a protracted struggle in order to resolve any longstanding disputes.  Practically speaking, the verse reminds me to simply show up and face life on its terms.  Heretofore, I would like to avoid a lengthy period of skirmishing.  Currently, I resolve to devote my time, money, energy and talents to worthwhile causes.  Upon achieving a resolution of whatever divinely ordained form to my adversities, I wish to enjoy peace. 

Moreover, I fervently and genuinely seek the Lord’s will in all matters.  Please join me in praying that He will sift any residual egomaniacal impulses.  I hope to avoid ingratiating self-seeking motives and self-centered fears for the fleeting emotional comfort they may bring.

Finally, in addition to my personal bedrock passages of Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10-13, 42:16 and 43:1-3, I discovered Isaiah 51:12-13.  “I, even I, am he who comforts you.  Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?  For where is the wrath of the oppressor?”  Referred to as the gospel of the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah enduringly encourages and empowers us to recall the fact that we serve the Sovereign Lord of the universe.

Theophany - Have You Seen the Lord?

Theophany – Have You Seen the Lord?

In the third chapter of Exodus, Moses observes a burning bush that is not being consumed.  Moses’ experience is an example of a theophany.  As this burning bush episode records an encounter with divine presence rather than a supernatural miracle, it is a theophany instead of an epiphany.  Instead of marveling in response to the extraordinary suspension of the laws of physics, Moses realizes he is in the direct presence of Almighty God.  Through this strange phenomenon, God grabs Moses’ attention and ordains Moses to accomplish His divine purpose for the Israelites.

Inasmuch as the American Heritage Dictionary defines a theophany as a “divine manifestation,” this godly appearance possesses several intricate characteristics.  Theophanies begin with divine initiative in the midst of life’s daily monotony.  While tending his sheep near Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses notices the burning bush that is inexplicably not being consumed.  Quite possibly, we have similar encounters while attending to routine responsibilities.  Interestingly and ironically, we may find ourselves in the presence of Almighty God as His will determines.

Secondly, a theophany requires a human response.  Powerful subtlety factors into both God’s initiation and our humble and immediate reply.  Exodus 3:4 bears this point: “When the Lord saw that he [Moses] had gone over to look, God called him from within the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’”  Had not Moses responded as he did in the third verse, “I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up,” he would have missed the experience of a lifetime.  As we go about our daily affairs, we should be open to an encounter with God at any time.  If we fail to watch and listen, then the Lord finds someone else who has the requisite humility and willingness to become His chosen vessel.

Third, a theophany transforms the space where it occurs into “holy ground.”  Standing in the presence of God means that we are in the midst of perfection.  As finite and sinful human beings, we cannot arrogantly assume we can approach the divine as we are.  Consequently, God tells Moses to “take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”  Holiness is synonymous with godliness.  Therefore, we cautiously refer to ourselves as “holy.”  It means to be “set apart exclusively for divine use.”  If we offer our gifts, talents, time, energy, and resources to God for His particular purposes, then we legitimately characterize ourselves as “holy.”  Otherwise, we utilize religious pretense to cloak self-seeking ambition.

A divine plan and preparation are the fourth components of a theophany.  In the seventh verse, God tells Moses that He has indeed seen the misery of the Israelites within Egyptian bondage.  Further, God hears the cries of His people for relief and liberation.  Accordingly, He discloses His plan to Moses.  “I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land.” In identifying Himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” God reveals His intentions to fulfill the covenants that He made with them in Genesis 12, 15 and 32. 

Moreover, God “comes down” and chooses Moses as His human vessel to fulfill the covenant.  Despite Moses’ subsequent protests detailing Moses’ incapacities, the Lord assures Moses that He will sufficiently prepare Moses for the task that awaits him.  There is an old saying, “God’s will won’t call you where His grace can’t keep you.”  Ironically, God had already been preparing Moses.  For the first forty years of his life, Moses lives as a prince in Egypt.  He grows up in the palace of Pharaoh.  Moses learns the laws, culture and social mores of the people in power.  After committing murder in which Moses kills an Egyptian who is oppressing an Israelite, Moses flees to Midian as a fugitive.  God allows him to remain “on the lam,” until the Pharaoh who was in power at the time of the murder dies.  In the interim of the second forty years of life, Moses works as a shepherd overseeing the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro.  Both of those periods significantly prepare Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the promise land.

Fifth, God provides for those whom He calls.  Later in the text, Moses raises additional objections to God’s purposes.  Moses reminds God that he, Moses, has a speech impediment.  God uses Aaron whose eloquence informs the Israelites of God’s messages when communicated through Moses.  Like Moses, many of us ignore God’s call or attempt to disregard it because of a crisis of faith in ourselves.  The dilemma occurs when we doubt whether God can accomplish His purposes through us.  Yet, the good news is that God equips us with everything that we need to fulfill His plan.