As the rain and snow

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;..
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day…

O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again…
You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One…
My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long.” Psalm 71:1-8,12-24a

The continuals of mighty God, and our experience and interaction with Him, expand our vision, secure our hope, and inspire our praise. Continually come to the rock. Continually praise. Continually hope. Give glory all the day. Praise yet more and more. From before my birth, from my youth, and I still, all the day long, to old age and gray hairs, to another generation, again, and again.

Our God is measureless, limitless, an immovable rock, and we can come to Him again and again in every season of need. He hears our cries, and He delivers. He knows our suffering, and He rescues. From wickedness, injustice, cruelty, accusation, hurt, and calamity, He saves us into hope, trust, praise, revival, comfort, and joy. There is none like Him!

What cares have we that He cannot hold, what fears over which He cannot triumph? What troubles will we bring for Him to solve, what harm for Him to heal? (Psalm 55:22; Matthew 11:28; John 16:33; 1 Peter 5:7)

O my God, keep me continually close, and continually proclaiming Your wondrous deeds of might, salvation, and faithfulness. You alone are worthy of vibrant, ongoing trust, hope, and praise.

“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach… To the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” Titus 1:10-11,15b-16

Paul’s aim, and charge, was that everyone possible hear the life-changing gospel, and he had strong words for those who denied its gracious invitation and power. It was one thing to be unable to discern spiritual things because of a hard heart. But to resist them altogether through willful stubbornness and sin, or to profess to know Christ and deny Him and His transforming power in practice, was detestable. (1 Corinthians 2:2-5; 1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Today we put up with soft faith and deficient standards. We tolerate inordinate affections, greed under the moniker of ‘right,’ and man-twisted biblical mandates to coalesce with personal preferences, however unrighteous. We fill our minds with man-speak, our barns with transient treasure, our hours with empty entertainment and endeavor. We excuse meaningless pursuits by checked-off lists and increased ‘likes’ to our accounts. We espouse a low view of God because we neglect, or have forgotten, His highness, and we justify constant flirting with many companions who think even lower by claiming to be an example. But how deep goes our faith, and how lush is its fruit?

Paul is serious about the responsibilities of Christians to live out our profession, and calls conceit and superficiality to account. So is Jesus, who condemns puffed up talk that has no matching walk. And so should we be. Where do we stand condemned because of our denial of Christ and His power, either by initial belief, or by selfish living? He who saved us is able to make all grace abound to us for genuine good deeds He’s prepared for us to do. (Mark 7:6-15; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:10)

How willing are we to avoid those who consistently dishonor our Lord, or would steal away godly desire? Are we willing to denounce unholy action? Do we regularly match our profession with Christ-like living? We deny the power of the cross every time we succumb to temptation and wallow in the spiritual lowlands. (Titus 2:11-13)

Father, grant me discernment, and give me the mind and heart of Christ for all I meet. Please use my understanding and communication of Your truth to attract those now denying its life-giving grace, and set them free. (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5)

“The righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy…

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord,
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:3-10,32-35

Our God is everywhere, very present and active. Underneath, overhead, and all around. He rides the deserts of our wandering, our wildernesses barren of hope and love, the whirlwinds of disruption, and the skies filled with stormclouds. He, above all, is watching, guiding, keeping. There is no place we wander, in mind or body, no place we try to flee, that our Lord is not there. (Numbers 3:14; Job 38:1; Psalm 46:1-3; 121:1-8; 139:7-12)

“There is none like God, O Jeshurun,
    who rides through the heavens to your help,
    through the skies in his majesty.” Deuteronomy 33:26

When others contend against us, He rides to bring aid, giving courage, words, resilience. In arid seasons of the heart, he rides with fresh rain, showering spiritual encouragement that soaks deep, refreshing the soul and reviving hope. In whirlwinds of world-dust that irritates our sight, He rides to bring relief, cleansing our eyes and restoring holy vision. In storms of pelting vitriol and anger that buffet with might and drench our vitality, He rides to shield the spirit, to comfort, and heal heart hurt. In the malaise of languishing, when we are spent and depleted, He rides to bring rest. This is the God of whom we sing, this is the God we exult.

Do we sense and trust Him as Father and Protector? Has He settled our anxious minds? Are we listening for Him to make the way before us as we march through confusion, not knowing otherwise where to go? Do we then follow His lead?

Do we drink in the rain He spills for us, and see new growth sprout? Do we soak in the love He showers, and revive with fresh confidence? Do we gratefully receive and implement the power and strength He gives to face daily foes of temptation, fear, shame, or argument? Are we looking up, and gathering all our cares and needs and joys in His sanctuary, and giving Him praise? (Romans 5:5)

My awesome Lord, who rides all through my life, may I ever be jubilant with joy and bless Your great name as You deserve.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall…

“I… remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder… And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:3-8,10,12-13,19

When Jesus effectually calls us and delivers us from sin’s corruption, we begin our salvation by being granted all things pertaining to life and godliness, and our end is God’s glory and excellence. In the mean time, we live presently in the precious and very great promises of Christ, partaking of and being established in the divine nature He imparts. He has granted faith by His grace, and that faith grows through our days as we supplement it with practiced virtue, increasing knowledge, disciplined self-control, strengthening steadfastness, deeper godliness, more genuine brotherly affection, and more Christ-like love. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Are we thriving in our spiritual lives? If not, why not? Effectiveness and fruitfulness in God’s kingdom are the result of diligence in all these areas. Whose Spirit-inspired reminders are we ignoring, or dismissing? How involved are we in mutual stirring up, the stoking of holy fire among brothers and sisters in Christ? In what areas have we given in to sloth and ease? Why do we settle for mediocre, rote communion when we serve a personal and majestic King? Have we become complacent in prayer, stuck in a rut in our study of God’s word, ambivalent about deep Christian fellowship that is iron sharpening iron? (Proverbs 27:17; Romans 12:6-13; Hebrews 10:24-25)

What promises of God are we disbelieving? His strength perfected in our weakness? His peace in our anxiety? His mercy and help in time of need? His wisdom when we have none? The grantor indwells us with His Spirit and has guaranteed His goods, yet we fail to appropriate them as our own. What laziness, busyness, fear, or distraction is holding us back? (2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:14-16; James 1:5-8)

We do well to pay attention to what we have been granted, and to do everything we can to nurture it in ourselves and others.

Lord, may I flourish in all You have entrusted to me, to the praise of Your beauty and glory.

“False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words…

“Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme… But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed… Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray…

“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. They entice… those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.’” 2 Peter 2:1-3,12-15,17-22

Woe the sin that so easily entangles! While we prefer to assign this description of false prophets to others- those heinous, evil, undisciplined rebels with whom we want nothing to do- we cannot get beyond slaves of corruption without looking at ourselves. When we are willing to probe within, we recognize the insidious tendencies of our hearts to ‘return to Egypt.’ (Exodus 16:3; Hebrews 12:1)

We blame temper on its triggers, gluttony on addiction, indulgence on deprivation, and greed on desert. We confess ‘shortcomings’ with no true repentance, and excuse behavior as if we have a right to mistreat others and get our way. And all the while we have been, even if subconsciously, overcome by what enslaves us. Once shackled, we either don’t recognize our chains, or prefer to deny them. Overcome is overcome, rendering us incapable of escape apart from the freeing grace of God Almighty. (John 8:32,36)

To what false voices are we listening? What idols in our hearts need toppling? What irrational assumptions, deceptions, or insatiable appetites have we allowed to run wild and trip up our reason and right way? Do we need a step back to properly analyze false promises of freedom, and to re-steady our souls on reality?

Lord, overcome me in every part, and every way. Inextricably bind me to You alone. In the joyful freedom that is my salvation, may I see clearly with Your eyes, and love with Your love, so others can also be free.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls…

“You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot… You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” 1 Peter 1:3-9,18-19,23

Our God is a God of measureless bounty, and infinite attributes. In His divine economy, He is always on time, supplies perfectly all we need, never exhausts, never forsakes, and is able to do more than we ask or imagine. The Lord loves us enough to set boundaries, and discipline us, and steer us in His paths. He loves us too much to let us stray too far, or continue in sin without repercussion. He loves us to the end by living, and dying, and rising again, to accomplish our full salvation. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 121:3-6; Ephesians 3:20; John 13:1)

God’s mercy is great, and the joy He gives in Christ is inexpressible. Once we are born again to living hope, there is nothing here on earth, no earthly treasure or charm, that compares with our undefiled and unfading heavenly inheritance.

We may be tempted to idolatry- the love of image, goods, privacy, reputation, even family, over our love for God- but His power that saved us can guard us in the struggle. He tests our faith to uncover our depravity and absolute need for Him. He brings trials to refine us in their fire, to expose what is unpleasing and burn off our dross. He loves us enough to measure them with grace, and too much not to let them sting, and prick us to right action.

Do we recognize, in our present griefs, His surpassing power? Do we value our Savior’s surpassing worth, and that of our guaranteed inheritance? Are we too steeped in the world’s ways and habits of deception and delusion to exercise faith’s courage in the unseen? Are we trusting the perishable for our security, our solace, our good standing among men, when God is calling us to trust His supremacy?

Savior, wean me from the world and all its traps. May I respond to Your love-inspired tests and trials with vibrant hope and unshakable faith.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.” Isaiah 61:1-4

There is a scratch in the sky this morning, the only smudge of color in an otherwise clear canopy, like a scrape that’s injured smooth skin. Its color draws attention, diverting my eyes from all that is right to the lone aberration. It has the trace of the Maker’s hand, Him who makes beauty from the scratches in our lives. Only our Lord is flawless. Only He turns mourning to gladness, the faint-hearted to praise, devastation to wholeness.

Would we remember this ongoing grace were every day smooth, every sky clear? Captivity groans for freedom, brokenness for restoration, ruin to be raised. It is these frictions and longings that flow forth in beauty and glory when Jehovah appears and has His way. Every scratch points to His perfection, every longing to His appearing when all will be well. (Revelation 21:3-7)

How can we perceive our life scratches anew by considering the good news our Lord announces? Would we fix our hope on His promises of what is to come, and on Him who will fulfill them?

And how can we minister to others in low places of life and soul? If the Lord has indeed anointed us with good news, how readily and often are we proclaiming it? Who is mourning that we can comfort, who is faint that needs reminding of God’s reviving strength? Where do we carry the gospel in word and action, by binding the broken through affectionate care, or loosing the bound by forgiving wrongs against us while explaining the love of Jesus? When all we see are frail seeds of potential, what are we doing to nurture individuals and relationships to establish them as oaks of righteousness? (Isaiah 40:28-31; 1 John 3:18)

God’s blessed favor touches every scratch, and reaches every devastated generation. It is in fact the ruin in the world that magnifies the loveliness of His grace. We who have received the gospel for ourselves have the daily privilege of proclaiming it, speaking truth in love so His mercies and bounty can be known and employed for the building up of the Body. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Lord, in the power of Your Spirit upon and in me, help me proclaim and live out Your good news to the poor and brokenhearted. May Your people grow in gladness, that You may be glorified.

“He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…

Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away…
He had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:3-9

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We see and hear Jesus’s mistreatment- mocking, accusation, flogging, excruciating torment of mind and body- and wince. We shrink from such suffering, or get stuck in the pain and see no way out. But for our Savior, it was a pathway, a means to joyful end, a necessary road to glory. Do you see it? There in the middle, brought us peace, with his wounds we are healed. And for the joy set before him. In the midst, in the choke and wretchedness of the agony, is the promise of peace, healing, joy.

The challenge for us is that pain can distort our perspective. Angry fists and caustic words can pummel at reason and sensibilities. Beaten down, accused, and weary, we can lose our ability to see rightly. God has holy purpose in suffering, and we mustn’t lose sight of the blessedness of the pathway and joy on the other side.

Living this side of the cross we have the glorious picture of what is that joy- full and abundant life, and freedom in Christ. We experience the power of the resurrection as we share in the fellowship of suffering, so we are not defeated. We know the richness of salvation’s spiritual blessings that fill and guard and guide us. (Ephesians 1:3-14; Philippians 3:10-11)

For the present, we walk pain’s path, that way made rocky and littered by Eden’s fallout. But Jesus is nigh, and in His determined ‘while,’ restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes us. He never wastes it. Beaten olives produce good oil.

What tangle do we need extricating from in order to see the righteous end? Where does our vision need to shift from the near-sight of pain to the far-sight of joy? A long look at the Suffering Savior affords glorious worship of the Perfecter of Faith. (1 Peter 5:10)

God of all grace, humble me and keep me from sin along this day’s path. Establish my heart firm in faith, trusting Your strength, and praising Your dominion over all. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

“My heart is steadfast, O God,
    my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
    Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!” Psalm 57:7-11

“I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
    that I may meditate on your promise.
Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
    O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
    they are far from your law.
But you are near, O Lord,
    and all your commandments are true.
 Long have I known from your testimonies
    that you have founded them forever.” Psalm 119:147-152

“Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4

There are times when the blush of dawn overwhelms with emotion, choking the throat, glazing the eyes, stirring waves of gratitude for the undeserved beauty of God’s rich hues of grace. In these moments, when the soul feels ready to burst, and the quiet cannot be contained, the natural, and reasonable, and spontaneous impulse is to sing.

“Awake, my soul, and with the sun

thy daily stage of duty run.

Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise

to pay thy morning sacrifice.” ~Thomas Ken (1695)

I rise and open up his word,

to hear and converse with my Lord.

To know His grace and learn His love,

and set my mind on things above.

You have forgiven all my sin,

now make and keep me pure within

For since You died to set me free,

I won’t withhold myself from Thee.

With grace and truth please fill my mind,

and guide me in thy way divine.

Infuse my heart with holy light,

so I will cherish all that’s right.

I offer up to You my day,

and all I think and do and say.

My goods, my gifts for You to use,

my toil, my time as You so choose.

I long to know and be like Christ,

to love and serve, grow strong and wise

To speak His words and like Him see,

I raise my hands, ‘Here am I, send me.’

If this should bring me death or pain,

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

So come what may, favor or loss,

privileged I am to bear the cross.

And so I ready for each hour, 

  to live them in Thy heavenly power. 

Thy will to seek, thy love to share, 

  Thy fame and glory are my prayer.

(Numbers 24:15-16; Isaiah 6:8; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:1-2)

Amen.

“The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.’ So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak… Balaam said to Balak, ‘Behold,.. have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak…’

“Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you…’ God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, ‘I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.’ And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, ‘Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak…’

“‘How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
    How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?..’

“Balak said to Balaam, ‘What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.’ And he answered and said, ‘Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?..’

“And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, ‘Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak…’

“‘God is not man, that he should lie,
    or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
    Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?’

“Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?.. 

“Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said,

“’The oracle of Balaam,
    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.'” Numbers 22:35,38; 23:3-5,8,11-12,16,19,26; 24:2-4

Balaam had a loyalty problem. Though he was God’s spokesman, his heart flirted with other affections. He was easily swayed by the possibilities of fame and fortune, and could not stand firm on God’s firm word. He spoke absolute refusal with absolute ambivalence, always entertaining the next enticement from Balak. Ultimately, against the backdrop of his weak and ineffectual deal-making, sovereign God’s pronouncements went forth. His word always stands, and we would do well to stand with them. (Numbers 22:1-32)

The guarding of the tongue is no small matter. God takes our words seriously- they flow from our hearts, and He cares about our hearts. He expects us to take care of what we say. Words are His tools for consolation, blessing, and eternal life, but they can also be restless and full of deadly poison. (Luke 6:45; John 6:68; 1 Corinthians 14:3; James 3:8)

What constrains our tongues, and who restrains them? If the Lord Jesus constrains us to speak His life-giving words and we comply, His Spirit will restrain us from words that divide, deceive, and destroy. What malice, deceit, slander, and breaking of confidences need we put off? Will we rely on His Spirit to replace ugly words with those that upbuild and accord with grace and peace? (Colossians 3:8; 4:6; 1 Peter 2:1)

Put a guard over my lips, O Lord, and guard my heart. May I speak only Your words, in Your gracious and strong voice, to the end that Your truth is made clear and Your excellencies are magnified. (Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 4:23; 1 Peter 2:9)