Are you a grumbler or a groaner?

When you are in trouble, or trial, or pain do you grumble or do you groan ?

To me these terms sound synonymous. I think maybe a groan sounds like uuummrrgg and a grumble sounds like hurmghurmghurmg.

But in fact there is a great difference between being a grumbler and a groaner. I will explain what this difference is. This difference, and which side you're on, has considerable ramifications in your life. It's a difference between living a life in the blessing of God's mercy or the curse of God's judgment.

God loves groaners. In both the Old & New Testament God is for the groaners.

Exodus 2:23-24 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Romans 8:23
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Groaning is something people do when they are in a painful situation.

In our example from Exodus the people are oppressed slaves.

In Romans it mentions believers who believe and have the spirit, but are still dealing with the corruption of this world and this body not fully resurrected.

In each case there is a hope in God's mercy. In Exodus they cried out for help. They would not have cried if they didn't believe that God could help for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6).

The verses following Romans 8:23 describe a believers hope and patience.

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

God loves to be gracious and merciful to those who hope in him and call to him in the midst of their trials.

Grumbling is also something people do when faced with painful situations. Some translations use the term murmur for grumble.

Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

This is the passage that got me thinking about the whole subject. The Bible states clearly, as I will demonstrate more, that these people were in the wrong. In fact they were in grievous sin. When I read this last night it got me wondering: Why does God love the groaners in Exodus 2 and hate the grumblers in Exodus 17?

The difference when we look for it is clear. It is the difference between doubt and hope. It's the difference between giving up and persevering.

A few verses later the attitude of these people is described further.

Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

These are the same people who months earlier had walked through the Red Sea on dry land. They had seen all the mighty plagues on the Egyptians. Yet they asked, "Is the Lord among us?"

Later passages in the Bible look back to the grumbling Israelites in the dessert in judgement, because of Exodus 17 and other episodes:

1 Corinthians 10:9-10 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

Psalm 78:21-22 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;a fire was kindled against Jacob;his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.

Doubt is a serious sin. God's anger arises against those who do not trust his saving power. It isn't enough for us just to believe the right facts about God. God actually wants us to trust him and will judge us if we don't. James says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)

But I know that I have been like the Israelites. I can relate to those people. How would I react if I saw my daughter without water in the dessert?

Just the other night I was grumbling to God. The difference between me and the Israelites is my life and my child's life weren't in danger. I just wasn't getting what I wanted. "God why are you doing this to me? Why can't I have ____?" As I said this I knew in my heart that God was not pleased with this whiny grumbling.

After everything that the Lord has done for me I like the Israelites was wondering if he was really with me.

God despises this grumbling and doubt.

Let us repent of our doubting and ask God to give us more faith to trust in him.

God calls us to trust his saving power. The good news is that God can be trusted.

Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

If we are believing in God and trusting in his promises God is for us.

Just like all who have trusted in God before us we will groan. God calls us to groaning. Our groaning (when we can put it into words) should sound something like this:

Lord I don't like this trial, but I know that you work all things together for my good, and I will hope in your mercy

Lord I don't want to face this nevertheless let your will be done.

So be a groaner. call out to God in faith. Don't grumble and give up in despair.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Jesus (Matt 19:26)

Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Luke 2:40C

Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The favor of God (or the grace of God) was upon the boy Jesus.

Evangelicals tend to think of grace in terms of forgiveness. We are sinners and we are forgiven and given eternal life (even though we don't deserve it) because of God's grace. Jesus' death on the cross purchased God's grace for us.

This concept of the grace of God is true, and it is beautiful. It gives us hope. We deserve the wrath of God not his favor and the good news that Jesus died so that we can be forgiven is indeed amazing.

Yet God's grace can not be limited to just the one aspect of forgiving sinners. God's grace is far greater than that. Jesus had no need whatsoever for forgiveness, and yet the grace of God was upon him. The Father was pleased with Jesus, he favored him, as we can see in his pronouncement, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

When we look at Psalm 90 we can get a good picture of the favor of God.

Psalm 90:13-17
13 Return, O Lord! How long?Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!

Moses the man of God wrote this psalm to entreat the Lord's favor. It was written at a time when the Israelites were afflicted by God. Maybe in the trying days prior to the Exodus or in the long years in the dessert Moses called out to God.

We can see what the Favor of God is by seeing what Moses asked for. There are three aspects to what Moses wanted for his people: To have joy in God, to see God's powerful work, and to have their own labor be established by God.

We can see each of these aspects significantly in the life of the Lord Jesus.

1. Joy in God

Luke 10:21

21 In that same hour he [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

2. See God's powerful work

Romans 1:4

4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

3. His labor was established

John 19:30

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus finished work on the cross was for us. The work of his hands which was established was him saving all of us who have trusted in him through the centuries and into the future. He rejoiced at God's will to save us, and God's power was displayed in the act which saved us.

The favor of God was upon Jesus. He experienced that favor in his life death and resurrection.

He brought the good news that the favor of God was also upon us who believe. He came to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor had come (Luke 4:19). And it has come for us who believe because of what he has done.

We should have the same hope and experience because the favor of God is upon us: We will rejoice in him, we will see his power, and our work will be established.

Psalm 22:27-31
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.30 Posterity shall serve him;it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,that he has done it.

On Psalm 46 and the "End of the World"

The word end doesn't always mean the same thing. I mean there the end that means finished like "The End" that pops up on the screen right before the credits, and there is the end like "means to an end". The latter kind of end is synonymous with purpose. With the world (as is often the case) the former kind of end is closely related to the latter kind of end, but I will be posting mostly about the 2nd kind (the purpose kind).

In Psalm 46:2 we are told that we will not fear. Even though all of these scary things happen i.e. the earth gives way, the mountains fall in the ocean, the waters roar.

Now why would we not fear if mountains start falling?
Mountains are large and if they don't stay still the outcome wil be disastrous.

The reason God's people shouldn't fear is that there is something more powerful and more invincible than shifting continents, falling mountains, and roaring oceans. And that great and powerful force is ironically enough a river.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy habitation of the Most High.

Because of this river the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High (That means us. That means Christians. That means the Church) shall not be moved.

This river is the same river that causes us the tree of life to bear fruit and grow. To grow leaves for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). This river causes us to bear fruit and grow. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

You see the river is a person Vs. 4 There is a river. Vs 5 God is in the midst of her. God is the river.

It is remarkable that in this passage (Psalm 46) the hope of God's people is in something that makes us glad. Our gladness in the Spirit. Our joy in our wonderful Lord and how good he is to us. That is why we can't be moved and cannot fail though the unimaginable enemies are arrayed against us. Because God is still with us, and he makes us glad.

And because the Joy of the Lord is our strength and the Lord is with us. His purpose for us and the world will be accomplished. The "end" of the World will come.

He will make wars to cease to the end of the earth, he will break the bow and shatter the spear, he will burn the chariots with fire.

He will be exalted among the nations.

This hasn't happened yet. Wars have not ceased. The Lord has not been fully exalted in the nations. The great Commission has not been completed (and I don't think it will be by 2012).

So we like the Psalmist don't need to fear that the end is coming every time we hear about an earthquake or a snow storm. His end will come. He will be exalted. His purpose in history through the Church will come. There is no maybe with God. What he wills is certain His purpose isn't dependant on whether we kick out enough Democrats in the mid terms.

The Lord of Host will bring it to pass. He will bring the nations in. He will make peace. Because the chief end of man, the chief end of the church, and the chief end of the world are all one in the same: to glorify God.

This Psalm speaks about world history, but it also speaks to me and to you. It also speaks to people who do fear everyday. And it gives us hope.

Real life is hard. Harder then we sometimes remember when we are speaking into someone else's life situation. Real life means Biblical principal (A) + Hard situation (B) doesn't always equal you can sleep at night. But there are at least two pieces of good news in this Psalm that you can remember.

1. There is a river. You may know this river already you may have been refreshed by its stream before. This river has a purpose in your life to make you glad.

2. God wins. No matter what happens in your life. No matter what you lose. Remember your Lord wins.

Be still, and know that I am God... The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty Luke 2:40B

Luke 2:40 And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.

As a child Jesus was filled with wisdom. In the following narrative, which I plan to write about soon, we will see how remarkably wise he was at such a tender age.

Jesus had wisdom beyond any other person in history. One of the blessings of having a perfect Lord and Savior and being able to meditate on his life is to see how he was perfect in every aspect. He was perfect in wisdom. Jesus being God was in his being wisdom. Jesus' wisdom was beyond that even of Solomon. Although God did give Solomon immense treasures of wisdom (by which we are still blessed) Solomon also demonstrated his compulsion to utter foolishness. The wisdom in Solomon's life was mixed with and contaminated by his foolishness and hypocrisy. Christs' wisdom was the wisdom from above that is pure (James 3:17). Jesus thoughts and actions were not corrupted by any sinful motive or desire. Oh that we could say the same about our own.

There are wise men and foolish men. There are men (and women of course) who are all over the spectrum of wisdom and foolishness.

The end of that spectrum, the greatest wisdom, the wisdom by which all other wisdoms aught to be judged is Jesus' wisdom. "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3).

When we think of wisdom we are thinking about the activity of the heart and the mind. We are thinking about what someone thinks and what someone chooses. When we examine decisions or thoughts they should be examined with this in mind how closely do they align to Jesus' thoughts and decisions.

Jesus was certainly filled with wisdom beyond any other man, but he obtained wisdom in the same way other men do. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10).

The fear of the Lord is a description of motivation. To fear the Lord is to live ones life in obedience to God's revealed will loving to please God and dreading to displease him. To fear the Lord is to treasure his commandments.

To live in this manner Jesus our Lord demonstrated perfectly.

We are to seek to follow our Lord's example. We are to seek and pray for the fear of the Lord. We are to love God's commandments as he did.

Jesus was filled with wisdom even as a child and let us behold the man he became and think about whose will we do:

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Luke 2:40A

Luke 2:40 And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong,

Strange to think that my Lord had to grow. The one through whom all things were made had to grow.

He made the greater light to rule by day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made Adam a man, but he was a boy.

He had to do what I did and you did. He had to be small and too small to do anything. He had get taller year by year. He wore out clothes just like Samuel (1 Sam 1:18-19). He had to be dependent. He did not equality with the father a thing to be grasped, but grasped the weakness and powerlessness of a child.

He became strong. We also have gained strength at one point in our lives. But for what? With what goal? Even for the most successful of us. Maybe to impress for a short time with athletic feats. Maybe to fight. Maybe for a few of us (in this time and place) for useful labor producing for our families. Maybe, again for a few, to fight in wars. Are these the greatest ends our strength? Was our strength worth cultivating to impress, to wound, to kill, or to make bread?

His strength was worth cultivating. No other has ever made so great a use of strength. He fasted forty days and forty nights. He at times had no leisure even to eat, yet he taught and fed and healed out of his strength because he had compassion (Mark 6). Compassion requires strength. He endured criticism, hatred,and betrayal. Love endures all things (1 Cor13). Love requires strength. He took up his cross. Bearing a cross requires strength.

He spent all of his strength for us. He was poured out. As we think of how strong he was and is. We think how necessary and wonderful it is that he became strong as a child.

My child hood is past most of it was wasted. But I must also become strong. We must. More than physically of course. I'm not talking about push ups. Though physical strength is a part of it and has some usefulness. We must have strength with a purpose.

We are commanded to: Love your neighbor as yourself. Put on compassionate hearts. Take up your cross and follow me.

He gave all the strength he had and held nothing back in his life and his death. Now in his resurrection and exultation he has been given abundantly more strength to supply weak sinners. All power in heaven and earth have been given to him: him who was small and grew and became strong.

It is true that we are weak, but he is strong. And all our strength comes from him.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Let me see (a poem)

Let me see

Let me see again the light
Give to me that sacred sight
That these fast passing days I might
Thru the night walk aright
Before the Light of the world

Ecstasies let my mind know
Let my eyes see let my heart grow
My sweat, blood, and tears flow
As I bow this clay body low
Before the Light of the world

I've loved flesh and pride and gain
But not when I see the lamb I've slain
Beams of joy from wounds of pain
I drink the wine free as the rain
Before the Light of the world

I saw how your own did not receive
Your testimony would not believe
Knew not the Father either and were deceived
Dared even in anger to seethe
Before the Light of the world

I see the wages sin imparts
The aimless hate and broken hearts
The children all are torn apart
And the kings are still searching in the dark
Before the Light of the world

I long to see the latter days
Sun of righteousness with healing in its rays
On every groaning nation displays
Every knee bow and every toungue praise
Before the Light of the world

I read John 8 http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+8 earlier in the day when I wrote this.

And I had this song in my head http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TgzTfume2c they kind of go together. The song is not exclusively Christian., but does have allot of Biblical imagery.

A Psalm in a shack

My Wednesday started out a total drag. I hardly slept the night before. Exhausted I made it to work slightly late. My shirt was wrinkled and this was noticed by my superiors. It was a pretty unpleasant experience for me when others noted my faults and they were right about them, I had no one to blame but myself, and I was still half asleep. Due to my shabby appearance my duties for the day were relegated to a shack. But a shack can be a very nice place. In fact as soon as I found out about the move I took it as good news. There is a lot less you have to deal with in a shack you know.
So there I was in the morning over 7 hours left of shack time ahead of me. I still wasn't feeling particularly "spiritual." That is when I remembered some of my own advice, "When we don't feel like a praying that is when we need to pray the most".
So I thanked my Lord, I confessed my sin, and I made my petitions.
Then I thought about worship. God is worthy of my worship in all circumstances,and often exalting the greatness of my God lifts my spirits.
So I looked to Psalms. I was thinking maybe my old fave 145 or something around those parts I settled on 143. I read it over a couple of times, said it out loud, and kind of sang it. I was struck especially by Vs. 7-10:

7 Answer me quickly O Lord
It is good for us to call out to God urgently. This prayer is recorded in God's word as an example for us. Although we must also have patience; this request is the righteous reaction when we find ourselves overwhelmed by dire straits. In fact this should be our first reaction instead of reacting in the flesh to cry out to God. In all our pain and confusion we are to cast ourselves upon our only hope i.e. The mercy of our God.
My spirit fails!
What is meant here by spirit? The spirit in this passage is that which gives us the ability to continue. It is our strength. It is our will. And at times it is entirely sapped. So we call out for God's quick action on our behalf. We are at the end of our own strength we need God's help. This can apply either to our internal struggles with our own sins or an external struggle. In either case the source of our strength is one and the same God. Oh that we would be conscious of our weakness more often and come to our rich King for help. What a God he is a God that doesn't take from his servants, but gives to them from his own strength.
Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
I hear in this line. Lord pay attention to me. Do not ignore me. Do not treat me like those whom you do not love. Turn your eyes upon my tribulation. Lord See and let me know you see. Lord care and act. Don't let me fall. Lord redeem my life.
8 Let me here in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
The hearing here asked for is more than just physical hearing with the ear. It is more than the acknowledgement of a fact like The garbage truck comes on Wednesday mornings and God loves steadfastly. No this is the hearing only those whose spiritual ears have been opened can possess. This is similar to God's face turning to us. It is an intimate knowledge. It is a knowledge with an emotion of contentment. It is the assurance and reassurance of my Lord's love for me. It is ancient news that is new every morning (Lam 3:22). A comfort in the midst of trials and inconsistencies. I fail. I have wrong motives. I'm irresponsible. I'm proud. I'm critical. I love but not enough. I pray but not enough. I try bu not enough. Yet my Lord loves me . This is a comfort that only those who truly call upon God and trust him can know. That is why it says, "for in you I trust". This is a fountain for the friends of God. I trust him. I surrender my life to him. My future is uncertain, but it belongs to God, and I believe he will care for it. I desire to hear of God's Love because my hope is set in him and not in another.
Make me know the way I should go,
What a prayer of humility this is. I don't know which way I should go. I ware myself out trying to find it. Make me know they way. Lord I am the sheep and you are the shepherd.
for to you I lift up my soul.
To you in worship as an offering, and in surrender I give my whole self. In affection I lift myself to approach and adore you.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge!
Tee opposition is to great for me. The people, circumstances or thoughts that would do me ill are to great for me to stand. I have come to hide in you O Lord for cover, safety, and deliverance.
10 Teach me to do your will for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
It is interesting to note that David wrote this Psalm. I suppose it must have been written in a time of real literal violence. Perhaps when he fled from Saul or Absalom. Yet in the midst of this conflict what does he ask for specifically? He asks for teaching. He asks for leading. How precious is wisdom. It is more valuable than money, horses, chariots, or weapons. To make the right decision is what is of the most value. In all of our circumstances we may see our physical needs, but what we need first is wisdom the wisdom from above. This requires God's good Spirit or the Holy Spirit. We need him to empower us and to guide us. We must set our minds on the things of the Spirit. And we seek from the Lord to set us on the level ground. The straight and narrow path. We desire straight paths for our feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. We want to be able to march on to the goal, and for our journey to end in victory.

Our hope is in the Lord. My Wednesday improved.