Psalm 133:1 (continued)

Keep the comments coming! They've been so good! Unfortunately, some of you have been unable to post directly on the blog. Here's a secret: even if you don't have a Google (or other) profile, you may still be able to publish if you click "anonymous." If you still can't post your comment, go ahead and comment on Facebook. BTW, if you go to my Facebook page and click on Notes (on menu across the top), you should be able to find all the postings, which is helpful since this post will soon be lost among all your other entries. 

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1


If you read the entire psalm -- all three verses -- you'll see that the psalmist compares unity among the brethren to the oil that runs down Aaron's (the priest's) beard . . . anointing oil! Or also like the dew that descends upon the mountains of Zion, the place where "the LORD commanded the blessing." See how highly unity is prized.

Those of us who love the LORD should do all we can to promote unity this Christmas season--and always.
What are some practical ways we can do that?

God's Promises - Psalm 133:1(continued)

Good discussion yesterday! Thanks!

Let's continue to discuss Psalm 133:1 for awhile. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Something never came up in our discussion. How can this verse be considered a "promise?" Do you believe it's even possible to live at peace with the difficult "brethren" or "sisteren" in your life? Let's talk about this.

Oh, and by the way, Rich brought up a good point . . . where to post comments. If we post them on the blog instead of  Facebook, they remain accessible without having to scroll down forever and losing the post altogether. So, if possible, that would be best.

Promise #1--Psalm 133:1 KJ V

Well, here we are. Are you ready to discuss our first of God's 800 promises in the Bible? How about starting with a verse that promotes peace and unity? Perhaps we need to remember this verse more during the Christmas holidays than at any other time.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Psalm 133:1 KJV

What does this verse mean to you? Come on now: let's hear from a bunch of you. Who knows what healing may occur just in time for Christmas! (Comment below!)

A New Thing!

Are you, like me, wishing there were more Selah passages in Psalms? What a gift God gave us when He instructed us to pause, chill, take a moment, and think about the blessings we found there. The good news is we can always go back and think on those things again and again.

But for now, let's try a new thing!

When I was wondering what to write about once the Selah passages were completed, my friend Gail suggested we consider the promises found in the Bible. In The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book,
David Wilkerson lists 800 promises from the Word of God. That ought to keep us busy for awhile!

These 800 promises deal with spiritual needs, personal needs and future needs. I don't know yet whether we'll go through them in order or mix them up.

But what I do know is that I want to hear from you. We will all gain so much more if we interact, all of us with each other. Sound good?

So for today, I'll leave you with an assignment. Ask God to fill you with a desire to know what He has promised. Tomorrow we'll come together and discuss the one He leads me to.

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 143:6

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.” 

Psalm 143:6 “I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.  Selah.”

Meditation

How fitting that this last pearl focuses on a personal relationship with you, my Father.  In the final analysis, that’s what life is all about, a time to be born and a time to die . . . and a time to be born again, and live forever—with you.

Without regular drinks from your streams of living water, your children dry up like parched land.  My soul turns arid to the point where nothing will grow.  So fill my cup, Lord, from your springs.

I spread out my hands to you, palms up, to receive your love, your goodwill, your blessing, your help. My need for you is everlasting.

I raise my hands to you, palms out, lifting them in joyful adoration.  You are worthy of the purest praise I can offer.  My soul thirsts for you and my heart hungers for heaven.

SELAH

Look up: John 4:14; Ecclesiastes 3:2; John 3:16; Psalm 42:1; Matthew 5:6

 

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 140:8 (continued from December 5)

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 140:8 “Do not grant the wicked their desires, O LORD; do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.  Selah.”

Meditation

Amid the landmines, David turns to the LORD.  I should, too.

His troubles, as well as my own, result from the fact that we live in a fallen world.  When our mutual ancestors Adam and Eve stumbled onto a landmine (planted by their chief enemy), disobedience resulted in banishment from the Garden of Eden.  From then on, no more ignorant bliss. From then on, landmines everywhere.

Man learned about sin, and soon became very skilled at it. Scripture says that when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.  Hiding . . . and hopefully praying.  That’s when, more than ever, we need to turn to God.  Only he can permanently thwart the plans of the wicked. Only he can humble them. 

Certainly there’s a time and place to stand against the wiles of the wicked; and that place is found in the Lord—in his mighty power, fitted with his armor, praying in the Spirit.  Our God is an awesome God! None can stand against him!

SELAH

Look up: Genesis 3:23; I Peter 5:8; Proverbs 28:28;

Ephesians 6:10-18; Zechariah 4:6