Author: astherainandsnow

“Save me, O God!
    For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying out;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
    with waiting for my God.

More… are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
    those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
    must I now restore?
O God, you know my folly;
    the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me..;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me…
For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach…

Zeal for your house has consumed me,
    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
    it became my reproach…

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord…
    In the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
    or the deep swallow me up,
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me…
Make haste to answer me.
Draw near to my soul, redeem me!..

You know my reproach,
    and my shame and my dishonor…
Reproaches have broken my heart,
    so that I am in despair…

I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving…
You who seek God, let your hearts revive.” Psalm 69:1-7,9-10,13-20,30,32b

Reproach: An expression of rebuke, disapproval, or disappointment; a cause or occasion of blame, shame, discredit, or disgrace.

David’s lament gives a view into his heart after God’s. Afflicted by hatred and false accusation, he humbly asks God to expose sin and folly, and not to allow others to be ashamed or dishonored because of him. He then prophetically acknowledges that his zeal for God has brought him reproach likened to that of Christ’s. In pain and despair, he cries for mercy. His prayer, tied desperately and securely to God’s love, is an anguished yet hopeful identification with the Man of Sorrows. (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3-8; Acts 13:22)

There are many situations and incidences that can lead us to anguish. Since the fall, sufferings give particular opportunity for us to identify with Christ. It’s healthy to consider the reproaches we suffer and understand their source. Are they due to blatant sin? Then confess and repent. Do they result from righteous identification with Christ? Then be glad. Every reproach we endure is a chance to know the Him better and to make Him known. (Philippians 3:10-12; 1 Peter 2:20-22; 3:14-17; 4:12-14)

When we suffer for being Christ’s, how will we lift high His cross? Would we honestly pour out our hearts to Him and make sure we have no cause for shame? When will we begin to thank Him for sharing HIs reproach, and rejoice in what it is effecting in us and others? (James 1:2-4)

Lord, teach me to count it all joy to suffer the reproach You so willingly suffered for me.

“The Lord spoke to Moses,.. ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time… This is the food offering that you shall offer: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering… for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering… to the Lord… Like the grain offering of the morning, and like its drink offering, you shall offer it as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

“’On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering.., besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

“’At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord…'” Numbers 28:1-11

The offerings God prescribed to Moses were regular and exact, all with the end of thoughtful sacrifice that pleased Him, and pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ for their sake. Morning and evening, day in and out, special offerings on Sabbaths and monthly, the detailed requirements seem a full time endeavor. Rather than impinge on life, they established the rhythm of sacrifice in the life of His servants, directing every aspect of their time and effort to God their Lord. Beautifully designed for His people and purpose, He accommodates these rigors of daily attention with Sabbath rest. (Numbers 28:25)

In ancient society without automation of any kind, the harsh requirements of daily life simply to live, eat, and transport are hard to imagine. To spend time so regularly on repeated rituals may seem inefficient and wasteful to the modern mind. But the Lord determined to center His nation on Himself. He was sovereign, provider, and sustainer, worthy of their trust, adoration, and sacrifice. These regular habits would keep them humble and the Lord at the center.

When we think the Lord is in our mess, wanting to be an integral part of how we manage time and resources, we might resist His intrusion. Why can’t I just do what I want? What do I cling to as mine that is really His? What self-absorption fails to consider is that we were made for His glory, not our own, and possess nothing apart from His grace. (Isaiah 43:7; 1 Corinthians 4:7)

What could daily offerings of self, time, resources, relationships, our work, look like for us? How might putting the Lord first morning and evening change our daily outlook and countenance? Do we view sacrifice of self as onerous, or a delight? How can our lives exude a more pleasing aroma to Christ? How will we redirect priorities to honor God foremost? (Romans 12:1-2)

Lord, make my highest desire to spend myself for You and Your glory.

“When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam… saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came upon him, and he said,

“’The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
    who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    falling down with his eyes uncovered:
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
    your encampments, O Israel!
Like palm groves that stretch afar,
    like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
    like cedar trees beside the waters.
Water shall flow from his buckets,
    and his seed shall be in many waters;..
    and his kingdom shall be exalted…’

“’The oracle of Balaam..,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
of him who hears the words of God,
    and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    falling down with his eyes uncovered:
I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…
And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion!'” Numbers 24:1-7,15-17a,19a

Balaam’s initial intent to gain materially from Balak by compromising God’s instruction was overtaken by God’s supremacy. Having been humbled by a talking donkey, Balaam could not help but speak what his opened eyes had seen. Although the king of Moab persisted in asking for personal blessing, he could not persuade the enlightened Balaam to change God’s message. (Numbers 22:4-22,27-32,36-38)

All God’s children have a responsibility to proclaim what He’s revealed in His word. Every day we have opportunity to converse with others, share insights, suggest ideas, answer questions. The world persistently issues lies disguised as truth, and works to upend devotion to Christ. The enemy relentlessly appeals to emotion, greed, and pride, trying to get us off course. It’s vital we’re regularly exposed to the Scriptures so they permeate our thinking and inform our messages if we’re to be purveyors of God’s oracles. (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Psalm 145:4; Romans 10:14; Galatians 6:6)

Wholehearted commitment to speak truth, no matter others’ response, sets straight our course. Would we confess our weaknesses to be cowardly or succumb to fear of rejection or peer pressure? When once we humble ourselves and acknowledge His commands and presence to cheer and guide, we can confidently speak for Him. (Numbers 25:1–3)

What has God done and given in our lives that we can tell? To whom is He prompting us to speak of His victory offered, His grace? When tempted to shy away from speaking, will we ask Him to reveal His word and vision?

“Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.” Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty (2005)

Lord, open my eyes to see Your truth, so I speak what You speak in love like Your love.

“Jesus… said to his disciples, ‘The Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified’... Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, ‘Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.’

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” Matthew 26:1-2,6-16

Matthew leaves unnamed the generous woman who lavished her love on Jesus with the fragrance of extravagant abandon. It is her act of complete selflessness he intends to convey indelibly as a worthy example. But Judas he names, and he will be associated forever with greed and betrayal of the One whom he’d followed for three years. Judas stands out in sad remembrance, while the woman hides behind her Christ. Unnamed and forever noteworthy.

Every day we perform acts large and small, significant and insignificant, some we’d rather undo or forget, others that make a positive difference. If we knew each act were recorded, and one day we’d be held accountable, what would we decide? Where might we hide? Do we behave now as though we will face a reckoning then, or think only for today, and ourselves? God knows the visible and invisible, and will remember everything we have done in the flesh. (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12; 22:12)

Am I bent on making a name for me, or for Jesus, that He might be acknowledged and adored? What drives my daily choices for expenditure of time, energy, resources? Would I intentionally offer our best to the Savior, and do good unto others in Jesus’s name so that He’s the One seen and praised?

“Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice,
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfil.
Living for self or in His will;

Oh let my love with fervour burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.” ~C.T.Studd (1860-1931)

Lord, help me live so you are remembered.

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.  Some men brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven… Get up, take your mat and go home…’ 

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he [said], and Matthew got up and followed him.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners ate with him and his disciples. The Pharisees… asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’

” Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’

“While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’  Jesus got up and went with him…

“Just then a woman who’d been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’

 “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.

“When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ They laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up… 

“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’

“When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you’; and their sight was restored…

“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke.” Matthew 9:1-2,6,9-13,18-25,27-30,32-33

Into boat, on shore, going on, dining in, getting up, turning and seeing, entering in, moving on, back indoors, heading out. Outcasts, the disabled, cheaters, rulers, the ‘unclean’ and helpless, beggars, and demon-possessed. Jesus moved with intention from place to place, person to person, available to all. There was no tidy schedule for this Savior, no social preferring, no safe distances from the infectious or reputation-tarnishers. Jesus took thought and full heart for others, all in a day’s work.

When have I taken time to bring healing, encouragement, help to a needy soul? Is my mindset shaped to plan and do only for my progress or advantage? Do I cram hours to the edges, with no margin for God’s interruptions and opportunities?

How available are we to our families, friends, service to others? How might we follow in Christ’s steps? Where will we practice generous outreach to the unclean and unlovable? What do my habits and agenda reveal about my heart’s willingness to serve God over self? (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Lord, help me daily offer You my time and self, for Your kingdom work and glory.

“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. The sons of the singers gathered together…

“Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.  After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,  Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,  and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah.., son of Asaph;  and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.

“The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;  and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;  and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader.  And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away…

“For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” Nehemiah 12:27-28a,31-43,46

Nehemiah’s account of returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall is rich with description, suspense, tension between rivals, and prayer. He names places and people with detail, illustrating their value and importance by including them in God’s inspired word. And in the short 13 chapters of his book, he inserts a riveting description of the mass marching choir who gave thanks to the Lord upon the wall’s completion and dedication. Song was in Israel’s blood and the melody of their history, so it would be joyfully expressed in this glad celebration of God’s faithfulness.

Often upon completing a task at hand, we move quickly on to another, or take what we deem a well-deserved break, indulging in self-congratulations and relaxation. Yet every completion is an expression of the Lord’s enabling, His gifting, steadfastness, and blessing on the work of our hands. It bids us thank Him with joy. (Psalms 90:17)

Would we daily commit our works to the Lord, and praise Him when He establishes them? In what situations where we have endured, or are enduring, is He calling us to gather with others to sing praise? How can we make this a regular practice? (Proverbs 16:3; Isaiah 26:12-13)

Lord, may I ever and gladly sing to honor Your faithfulness and love.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position…

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us…

Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God.” Psalm 62:1-4a,5-8,11a

Rock. Salvation. Fortress. Refuge. As God has proven Himself these, the psalmist proclaims he can wait, hope, rest, and trust. He is not and shall not be shaken. The solid reality of his Lord allows David to endure secure in every hardship and threat. Attacked, battered, cursed by men, God’s king is held strong by his powerful Sovereign.

These truths of who God is do not change. Who He has always been He always will be. The strong tower to whom David ran in faith for salvation is our Savior today. Christ Jesus absorbed all our shock at Calvary, and we can always, always, hide in Him. (Proverbs 18:10)

But the battering seems relentless. Taunts from without, doubts within, our existence here on earth is fraught with heavy soul weights and those who would bring us down. We lean hard against pressing circumstances and disappointments, and totter in faith. The more we claim these truths as our own, practice trusting the Rock, rest in Him as fortress and refuge, the greater our confidence and will to proceed.

Will we trust Him at all times? Pour out our hearts to Him? How can and will we quiet our souls to wait and hope in Him alone?

“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!” ~Martin Luther (1529)

Lord, keep me trusting You alone as my rock, fortress, and glory.

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.” Matthew 1:1-6

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.  And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

God’s Spirit saw fit to list many names early in Jesus’s genealogy in Matthew. Sprinkled into the lineage of renowned Jewish men are those of a few Gentile women, included by His sovereign goodness. Just as Jesus Himself was a poor man of sorrows, His human forebears were of little earthly consequence, save for God Almighty. (Isaiah 53:2-12; John 1:46)

Although the Old Testament does not account Salmon’s marriage to Rahab, it’s assumed she was the harlot in Jericho who, and at the risk of her life, boldly hid Israelite spies because she feared and believed in their God. Perhaps Boaz their son learned from their marriage about redeeming love and grace, and directly from his mother about the genuine faith of outsiders. What Boaz learned he implemented, as kinsman-redeemer taking the Moabite Ruth as his wife. She, of an accursed and pagan race, had embraced Naomi’s faith, and with Boaz bore the grandfather of King David. (Joshua 2:1-21; Ruth 1:1-18; 4:10-17; Hebrews 11:31)

How wondrous the grace of God! What is not in the world important, God makes vital. Ordinary people He makes extraordinary, for timely place or role, and knows and names each one. We tussle and vie for notice and recognition, foolishly thinking we deserve God’s favor for what we have done. (Esther 4:14)

Yet God, in His providence, weaves His plans through history to raise up the lowly and exalt His divine glory. Can we, as His children, learn to think this way? Can we humbly, like Mary, bear the Christ for His renown alone? What kind of stewards are we of His naming and knowing? And whom can we acknowledge for the way they’ve borne Christ to us, or carry Him into the world? (Luke 1:52)

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.” ~John Newton (1779)

Father, help me live out the identity You give by Your grace, to Your glory.

“The Lord spoke: ‘Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over its banks…’

“Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
    speak a word, but it will not stand,
    for God is with us.

“For the Lord spoke with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary…’

“And when they say to you, ‘Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?  To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Isaiah 8:5-7,10-14,19-20

The Lord issued a strong message for those who refused His loving Lordship. Rather than fearing God’s ordered consequences, purporting conspiracies, and spreading wickedness, however threatening they might be, God’s people were called to a higher fear. As the One in ultimate charge, all enemy hordes, quaking nations, and blistering threats come through the Lord’s supreme authority. Nothing can snatch or shake those He holds and keeps. (Isaiah 9:6-7; 26:3; Zechariah 2:8; John 10:28-29)

Refusing God’s gentle waters of peace, we wind up mental and physical energy on supposing and hypotheticals, and bear the consequences of misdirected emotions. We fret at things over which we have no control, or a future we cannot determine, like uncertain finances, national and world issues. We convolute His wider plans because we fixate on minutae. We turn from His truth to seek solace in false sooth-sayers. If we soaked in the flow of God’s word and gratitude for what He’s done, our faith would so swell to crowd out fear. How prudently do we tend our focus and steer our fear? (Isaiah 10:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:2-4)

With all that shudders and threatens in the nations and our lives, what if we garnered our senses and attention toward the holy God? What if we bowed before His righteousness, word, judgment, and reprisal for disobedience? How might we not only know Him better, but humbled, be in a better frame of mind? How can we better ground ourselves on His sure foundation and stability for our times? What freedom and delight our days would know if we feared Him alone! (Isaiah 33:6; Matthew 6:26-34; 1 Peter 5:7)

What presently agitates? Lurking doom, inadequacy, failure, shame, world terrors? Do we fear man and circumstances that churl and choke, or God, and wait for Him in hope? Imagine the peace we could spread, the hope we could instill, the ways we could magnify God before others if He was our only fear. (Exodus 20:20; Isaiah 8:17; Psalm 46:1-4; 121:1-4)

Lord, teach me to fear You alone, and to trust Your wisdom, ways, goodness, and ends. (Isaiah 12:2)

“Let me sing for my beloved
    my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
    on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
    and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
    and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
    but it yielded wild grapes.

And now, O… men,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
    that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
    why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you
    what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
    and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
    and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
    it shall not be pruned or hoed,
    and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
    that they rain no rain upon it.

“For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
    is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
    are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
    but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness,
    but behold, an outcry!

“Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
    that they may run after strong drink,
who tarry late into the evening
    as wine inflames them!
They have lyre and harp,
    tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,
but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord,
    or see the work of his hands.

“Therefore my people go into exile
    for lack of knowledge;
their honored men go hungry,
    and their multitude is parched with thirst.” Isaiah 5:1-7,11-13

Fertile slope, cleared of stones, planted with choice vines, protected, vat ready. Untended, ignored, misused, wasted, wild and tasteless. The described handling of God’s vineyard highlights the stark contrast between God and man, generous bounty and careless waste, love and selfishness. What God prepares and intends for His children is easily abused by people who regard only themselves.

We have much abundance in our lives that goes unrecognized, unappreciated, unused. The gift of space and opportunity, hours and days before us to choose how to invest and make fruitful. Health and senses to enjoy the topography and textures and rigors, the beauty and color and music of the world around us. Hands to tend soil of relationships, to manage tasks, to love on others. Minds to process thought, make smart decisions, solve problems. Consciences to confirm what is good and convict of the bad. People who enrich character, capacity, experience, and the human heart. The capacity to worship that swells and nourishes the soul.

The Lord has made ready for us our places to seek His wisdom and produce God-honoring crop. Home, workplace, community, church: many and varied are His vineyards. He’s provided empty vats, awaiting good wine. How seriously do we take our responsibility to turn good yield? (Isaiah 33:6; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 6:38)

How are we maintaining spiritual fertility? What foreign stones have accumulated that prevent healthy roots, relationships, and flourishing? How well do we tend to justice, righteousness, kindness? Where do we need pruning to make the most of God’s provision?

Lord, make my life a pleasant planting of Your grace and bounty, to Your glory.