December 21-23

Your word I have treasured
in my heart,
that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11

Our journey before our Christmas Season break ends with a most amazing trail. I am sure that if we took time to investigate every turn and sight visible from this lofty course, we could spend a lifetime on its path. Let me leave you with a trail map and you can take your time during the holidays to do some exploration on you own.

The pathway of Psalm 119 is broken down into twenty-two divisions with each division consecutively corresponding to one of the twenty-letters of the Hebrew alpha-bet. Obviously, this pathway is designed to express the A to Z of something! Eight verses make up each division. Now there’s a significant number for you! Not only does each division start with the consecutive letter of the alpha-bet, each of the eight verses in that division also starts with that same letter. This is more than just clever; it is Divine design.

As I walk through this intriguing Psalm, I see the journey of a man’s life, from cradle to grave. The first section, Aleph, begins his life’s trek. From the very beginning of life, we are made aware that the only path to happiness and blessing is to walk in God’s ways. In the second section, Beth, we see a young man, perhaps a boy of about 12 or 13, struggling with keeping his way pure. As the young man grows, life becomes more complex; longings, desires, successes and failures are all brought to God. By the time you get to Qoph, you hear the words of one who has walked in God’s path for many years. The weariness of life has set in and the man cries out to God to revive him. When we get to the division of Shin, we hear the words of a man who has walked steadfast throughout his life and looks to the future with the hope of God’s salvation. Tav gives us a glimpse of a man surveying his life and looking to God to reward him with the blessing of praising Him in His presence.

One thing remains consistent through each division - God’s Word is the only answer and direction we need for every phase and situation of our lives!!!

A while ago, I became intrigued by the design of Psalm 119 and began to do some study of the wisdom and mystery of the Hebrew alphabet. It is said by rabbis and Jewish Hebrew scholars that, “The alphabet – if correctly understood – is a primer for life. Ethical conduct, religious guidance, philosophical insights, all are nestled in the curls, crowns, and combinations of the Hebrew letters.” I also became fascinated by the fact that each of the eight verses of each division begins with the same letter. I began to wonder if there wasn’t a message in those eight words. Just for interest sake, I would like to give you the meaning of each of the first word of the seven verses of the first section, Aleph. But rather than give them to you as definitions, I am going to give them to you as a sentence!

To be desirously envied! To be desirously envied indeed are you!
Oh that at that moment I will thank You.

Verse eight has three statements that begin with the letter aleph, and they read:

The statues I will keep! Do not forsake me!

I am convinced that the combination of these first words is not a coincidence. Their collective message is an overview of the theme of the Aleph section. The second section, Beth, reveals a similar pattern and progression in thought. Once again, here are the first words of each verse in consecutive order.

With what? With my whole heart!
With my heart, blessed are You.
With my lips!
With Your way!
With Your precepts!
With your statutes!

Yes, I am thoroughly convinced that you could walk a lifetime in Psalm 119 and never exhaust its mysteries. I encourage you to take some time to ponder its messages, as well as its main theme. May we go into this next year knowing that God’s words which are spoken out of His love for us, are there to guide us no matter where we are in life. May we find comfort and rest in hiding its treasures in our heart so that we may follow His ways and embrace hope for eternity!

December 7-18, 2009

Will someone please tell me how I got a week behind. Sorry for the delay - again!!! Thank you for bearing with me. I'll try to do better!!! Since last week and this week are both walking us through the Psalms, I am combining the two together. If your Christmas season is as busy as mine, you probably won't even notice that I did! Love and blessings!!!

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.
Psalm 91:15-16




This week we continue to walk with Hezekiah as we hear the Psalms he collected to guide him and encourage him on his journey. These ancient words are timeless. The situations faced in Hezekiah’s day, or David’s for that matter, continue to be repeated in each generation. If there is one thing we can learn from it all, it’s that human nature never changes! The pendulum of the Psalms swings from overwhelming joy and victory to unbearable sorrow and defeat. Where does one even begin to categorize the messages of the Psalms!!! But I believe there are some common threads that are constant for every generation.

1. God made us and He has the right to rule us!
2. If we stray from His ways, there will be consequences!!
3. If we live our lives trusting Him in every situation, we will walk in peace no matter what is going on around us!!!
4. God has promised victory in the end!!!!
5. God is worthy of praise no matter what is happening in our lives!!!!!

Is it any wonder that Hezekiah was so diligent to gather strength from these songs? No matter what he faced, he could either find the counsel, hope or insight that he needed. As you walk with Hezekiah, be sure to identify the words that speak to your life today. You may want to take extra time to look into the Psalms that God speaks directly to you. Just as with David, sometimes their message seems quite easy to understand, while at other times, their words are shrouded in mystery. Some of the thoughts God whispered to David were meant for his time, while others were prophetic and spoke of a time to come. God will still speak to us in that fashion today.

Let me give you a personal example. A number of years ago, I was speaking in the northern part of Michigan. Before I left, the pastor asked if he could pray with us before we began our five-hour trek home. He told me that God had given him a word for me. He went on to say that he hoped it meant something to me, because he really didn’t know why God had given it, but he felt there was something very specific and significant in its content. The verses were found in Psalm 91:11-12

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

My spirit identified with the message, but I also had no real insight to their “deeper” meaning. As my friend who had accompanied me on this trip and I were heading home, there was a real sense of God’s presence around us. We both enjoyed basking in His peace and comfort. It wasn’t until we were just a few miles from my house and took the exit off the Interstate that we understood the words God had given. While we were on the exit ramp, there was a horrible noise that came from under the suburban and the vehicle seemed to have difficulty moving forward. Pulling off to the side of the road, I got out to see if the transmission had fallen on the ground! We called our husbands to come and rescue us. They hitched the car to the back of my friend’s suburban and headed towards home. They had only gone a short distance when the front tire separated from the axel and went rolling down the road. When our husbands investigated what had happened, they found that every lug nut holding the tire on had been completely sheared off!!! We had just driven a couple of hundred miles with some mighty powerful angels bearing us up, lest we strike our foot against a stone!

My encouragement to you is that, as you are reading, if God speaks something to you personally, write it down, date it in your Bible, highlight it in florescent yellow, or write it in your journal. Then watch God bring the fulfillment of His personal word to you. And when all is said and done, you will be able to easily do what is so often contained in the Psalms: You will be able to praise the Lord!!!

November 30 – December 4, 2009

This is a bit late. I had it ready before I left for Israel, but didn't have it posted so that it could be there in time. Please forgive the delay. Now I just have to get the one up for this current week. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the Lord, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the Lord.
(II Chronicles 29:15)




Put on you Sunday best and let’s get ready for a truly special occasion!!! Have you ever noticed that preparations for special events take much longer than the events themselves? We don’t see this any clearer than Hezekiah’s preparation to rededicate the Temple and the reestablishment of its services. The king set everything in its proper order, being careful to follow the instructions of Moses, David, Gad, David’s seer, and Nathan the prophet.

Have you noticed that when Israel diligently endeavored to repent and get on the right track, one of the first things to be reinstated was Passover? This was not just any mundane holiday, it was the covenant memorial meal God instituted to remind them of His preeminence in their lives and in the nation. They would not be where they were had God not chosen them and delivered them and brought them into the land. These were all His doings! God had said that this covenant memorial was to mark the beginning of days for them. How apropos that this should be the first national celebration recognized after the rededication of the Temple.

King Hezekiah understood that this covenant memorial was not just intended for the kingdom of Judah, but for all Israel and sent the invitation throughout the northern, as well as the southern kingdom.

I must admit that my heart really goes out to the messengers who had to carry the invitation. No matter how good the message, there are those unbelievers who prefer to hold on to their old ways and would rather ridicule the messengers than to follow God’s ways. Things haven’t changed!!! Thank God for people who hold on to God’s truths in the dark places, and who respond to His bidding, even when it’s not popular.

You may remember that God had ordered the king to copy the Law and the Word daily. It is obvious that Hezekiah took this seriously. The words of David and Solomon held a solemn place in his heart and he collected them as a constant reminder of God’s instructions. As we begin through his collection, we can see why these Proverbs and Psalms had such an impact on him. You may get a glimpse of Hezekiah’s heart, if you read them through his eyes.

On Thursday we are confronted with a proverb that goes against current popular teachings.

He who turns away his ear from listening to the Law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 29:9)

How many times do we hear the ungodly eulogized or glorified merely because they said a prayer or used God’s name? Many will teach that God hears every prayer and answers each one? That teaching totally contradicts the words of Proverbs 29:9. God listens to the prayers of the obedient and the one who cries out in true repentance! Those who turn their backs and refuse to walk in His ways, yet say flowery prayers to make themselves feel better do not impress Him.

On Friday we cover some familiar territory. Who hasn’t heard a Mother’s Day message preached using Proverbs 31:10-31 as the text. These verses take on greater significance if we see them written in the Hebrew language. Each verse begins with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet starting with the first and ending with the last. This amazing passage is truly the “A” to “Z” of womanhood and God’s model of a Bride. To understand this from a spiritual perspective is to get a glimpse of the heart of Christ and His desire for a wife!

So much to see! So much to learn! Take your time and explore the passages. Enjoy the journey!!!