Devotions

why and where

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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why and where

Psalm 42:9-10 (JDV)

Psalm 42:9 I will say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk around in darkness because of the enemy’s oppression?”

Psalm 42:10 My rivals [1] taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they are saying to me, “Where is your God?”

why and where

The psalmist remembers times when he felt the Lord’s presence – times when everything was just right. But those times seem to have receded into the background of the past. All he sees now is his problems. He wakes in the middle of the night and cannot sleep because a new problem presents itself which does not have the resources to solve.

And all the while he wonders if he will ever get back to where he was. God seems to have forgotten him, and his rivals keep pointing that out, so it is hard for him to ignore it.

The “why” question is a guilt producer. The assumption behind the question is that there is something I have done that has changed my relationship with God.

The answer to the “why” question is that our God is faithful to his children. He will never leave us or forsake us.

The “where” question builds upon that guilt. The assumption behind it is that if I can only go somewhere else, do something else, or get back to where I once was then my problems would be solved.

The answer to the “where” question is that our God is faithful to his children. He will never leave us or forsake us. Sometimes we leave him, and we need to return to him in repentance and faith. Other times, we go through tough times to refine us, and God is always present with us in those times, like a potter shaping the clay.

Lord, help us to work through the “why” and “where” questions, and emerge with a confident, mature trust in you.

________________

1צָרָר = rival. Psalm 42:10; 69:19.

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waterfalls and waves

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

time lapse photography of waterfalls during sunset

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waterfalls and waves

Psalm 42:7-8 (JDV)

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have swept over me.

Psalm 42:8 Yahveh will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night – a prayer to the God of my life.

waterfalls and waves

As I write this, I remember living in a small village in New England, beside a river. That river could be reduced to a tiny brook one day, but be a raging flood the next. Many times I thought that the river would overflow its banks in the night, and my family would be swept away without our even knowing what was happening. Such was the power of the flowing water.

The psalmist pictured the faithful love of God as waterfalls and waves. They are majestic, yet massive. The most memorable thing about them is that they are always there, just flowing. Day and night, the psalmist will remember that God’s faithful covenant love is there with him, just like the flowing water.

Lord, thank you for your faithful love.

Posted in dependence upon God, faithfulness, relationship with God | Tagged Psalm 42 | Leave a comment

not even close

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

scenic view of snow capped mountains during night

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not even close

Psalm 42:6 (JDV)

My throat is melting away; that is why I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

not even close

I’ve lived in a number of places in the world which the locals call “God’s country.” They cannot image it getting any better than where they are. John Denver was at least a little closer to the truth when he sang about West Virginia being “almost heaven.”

The psalmist was in a place that only reminded him of what he had lost. He tried to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence all around him in the mountains of Hermon and Mizar, and it was hard. He was used to worshiping God at Jerusalem, of the joys of Mount Zion.

Where he was he could not call “almost heaven.” It was not even close. But he had to get his mind off his location and circumstances and remember that God is everywhere, and he never changes.

Lord, thank you that no matter where we are, you are with us. We want to feast upon your abundance, and warm ourselves on your power – right here, right now.

Posted in discernment, presence of God, worship | Tagged Psalm 42 | Leave a comment

things are bad, but

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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things are bad, but

Psalm 42:5 (JDV)

Why, my throat, are you melting away?¹ Why are you in such uproar? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

things are bad, but

Things are bad. Is that reason to give up? Of course not. Nothing can be so bad that it cannot get better. He is our Savior and our God, so there is every reason to put our hope in him, trusting that his blessings will come, and we will still praise him.

Lord, we acknowledge that things are bad, but you are good. We will praise you now for who you are, and we will still be praising you when things get better.

______________________

¹ שׁיח = melt away. Psalm 42:5-6; 43:56.

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Posted in future, praise, worship | Tagged Psalm 42 | 1 Comment

memories of worship

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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memories of worship

Psalm 42:4 (JDV)

I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I used to walk with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful shouts and thankfulness.

memories of worship

When people keep asking the psalmist where God is, his mind goes to the past. He remembers worship so spectacular and so joyful that he did not need to ask where God was. He knew that his God was there, 100% present in the moment.

We need to cultivate worship experiences like that. There will certainly be times in our lives when the circumstances test our trust in the presence and care of God. At such times, we need memories like this – memories that rush us back into the eternal reality that God is always 100% here.

Lord, build in us a repository of worship.

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getting to the stream

Posted on February 3, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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getting to the stream

Psalm 42:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 42:1¹ Like a deer longing for flowing streams, that’s how I long for you, God.

Psalm 42:2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and see God’s face?

Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”

getting to the stream

I have hiked over a thousand miles, and I have encountered numerous deer. They like to hang out at the flowing streams, because they also travel many miles every day. God puts the streams where they need to be, but the deer cannot just lie down and cry out for God to give them water. They have to go to the streams.

The psalmist is like that too. He cannot just lie in his bed and cry out for God to come to him. Everyone around him is wondering where his God is. If he cannot find God where he is, he has to keep traveling until he meets him. That is why he is asking “When can I come and see God’s face?”

As small children, we learn that if we yell for mom or dad they will come, but as we mature, we learn that it is not really respectful for us to keep doing that. Instead, we should look for our parents if we need them. The same is true with our Father in the sky. By his grace, he is usually available when we call out in prayer. But, as we mature as his children, there will be times when he expects us to come to him.
Lord, we thirst for your presence. Show us how to get to where you are!

___________________

¹ superscription: “For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.”

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Caesar’s household

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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Caesar’s household

Philippians 4:21-23 (JDV)

Philippians 4:21 Greet every devotee in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

Philippians 4:22 All the devotees send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

Philippians 4:23 The favor of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your breath.

Caesar’s household

Paul concludes his letter to the congregations in Philippi with a greeting from all the devotees in the congregations where he is being detained. Whatever purpose the Adversary might have had for keeping Paul out of the way, it does not seem to be working. He is still very much connected to the work of spreading the gospel, and to the people committed to Christ.

Whatever mission God wants you to be doing, he will find a way for you to do it. If there are impediments, do not worry about them. God has a purpose for you, and you will accomplish it. Even Caesar’s army cannot keep you from winning Caesar’s household.

Lord, we trust you to use us to accomplish your purpose, no matter what.

God will supply

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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God will supply

Philippians 4:15-20 (JDV)

Philippians 4:15 And you Philippians know that when we first¹ started sharing the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no congregation partnered with me in the word about giving and receiving except you alone.

Philippians 4:16 You see, even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.

Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing when people share the word through you.

Philippians 4:18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:20 Now to our God and Father be glory for ages² and ages. Amen.

God will supply

Verse 19 of today’s text is another one that is often abused and misrepresented. It is one of those “promises from God” that people regularly quote (even in their prayers) as if saying the words themselves will make them come true.

The truth is, this assurance from Paul is given to the Philippian church, and the reason Paul can confidently say what he said about them is that they supported his missionary work financially, even when many other churches did not. They took care of the needs of the team God sent with his gospel message. Of course God would supply all of their needs.

Is it wrong to claim this verse as a promise from God? Check your check stubs.

Lord, make us a people who consistently support your missions work.

1ἀρχή = first.

2αἰών = age.

able to cope

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

silhouette of person standing near camping tent

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able to cope

Philippians 4:10-14 (JDV)

Philippians 4:10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
Philippians 4:11 I don’t say this due to my need, because I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.
Philippians 4:12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content – whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
Philippians 4:13 I am able to cope with all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:14 On the other hand, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

able to cope

The prosperity gospel folks have so abused this text that it will take a nuanced translation to rescue it from their grasp. Paul is not encouraging people to think big and aim high. He is not arrogantly claiming to be able to do anything. He is a missionary, and he is thanking the Philippian congregations for supporting him financially. They partnered with him during his time of great need — even hunger at times. There were years when Paul was not able to support himself financially because he was imprisoned. During those years he depended completely on the help visitors and coworkers sent by congregations like those in Philippi.

There had been years where Paul had a successful ministry among the congregations because he was free to concentrate on his teaching and encouragement while at the same time providing for his own needs through his bivocational ministry of tent-making.

Because God has taught him contentment and trust, and because of the help God gave him through his supporters, Paul was able to cope with anything.

Lord, give us the spiritual strength that will help us to cope — to be content in times of plenty and times of hunger.

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unlocking joy

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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unlocking joy

Philippians 4:4-9 (JDV)

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:5 Let your restraint be known to every human. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

unlocking joy

We don’t always feel joyful. How can we rejoice always? Is it even possible? Sometimes we feel like being joyful, but it is like the joy is locked up inside us, and we cannot free it.

Paul’s advice for the Philippians is not a generic joy, but a specific, particular joy. Paul told them to rejoice in the Lord always. How do we unlock this kind of joy? Here are some guidelines:

Joy in the Lord is not ecstatic, unbridled emotion. It is joy characterized by restraint.
Joy in the Lord comes from hearts and minds guarded by peace.
Joy in the Lord comes from dwelling on morally excellent and praiseworthy things.
Joy in the Lord comes from following the good example of spiritual leaders.

Lord, help us to live right, so that we can be joyful always.

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