Drawing Near to God

“‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” –James 4:6-8, 10 (ESV.  Read James 4:1-12).

James gives much practical advice for the Christian in how to conduct a godly life.  How to draw near to God is a theme throughout his epistle.  He spares no words in instructing his readers about living a life of faith and dedication to God.  His advice is that we are to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only” (1:22-25). He warns us against the sin of gossip, reminding us that the tongue is a little member of our physical makeup but can wreak havoc in stirring up trouble (3:1-12).  At the outset of his epistle, he reminds us that trials of various kinds can be expected in the Christian life.  Just because we are followers of God in no way insures that the road will be easy or the burden light.  But permeating the teaching of James is the assurance that God is near and ready to answer, to give strength in weakness and to walk with us through all trials of life.

Today’s focal passage begins with James quoting from Proverbs 3:34: “Toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He gives favor.”  From the Septuagint, this would have been a familiar teaching for Jewish Christians.  And from a practical nature, as well as the admonition from another familiar proverb, Christians should know that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Drawing near to God involves a definite abeyance of an individual’s haughtiness and sense of self-sufficiency.  Humility is at the heart of drawing near to God.  It is recognition that we need a higher Power to guide and direct us, to be submissive to and to trust.  And just when we are ready to rely on God, the devil, that deceiver and tempter, will be present to tell us we do not have to rely on God, that we can, indeed, succeed on our own as we follow paths of least resistance.  Yet God is persistent and keeps urging us to ‘draw near’ to Him.  As James stated in 4:6, it is God who ‘gives more grace.’  And it is this gift of unmerited favor as we deliberately draw near to Him that strengthens us and gives us renewed determination to follow God.

Drawing near to God involves first, submitting to God.  This is a term with military connotation and means to get into one’s proper rank and position and follow the chain of command.  And then drawing near to God involves the worshiper’s humility before God.  Sometimes you may have heard someone voice a prayer such as this:  “Make me (us) humble, God.”  Humility must begin in the heart of the worshiper by confession of sins and turning from them—and certainly the sin of pride.  The worshiper must become humble of his/her own volition, an action of stripping self away and seeking cleansing and restoration.  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, ESV).  The end results of drawing near to God are that our search for holiness and peace will be rewarded as He promises, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17, ESV).

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, that the spiritual exercise of drawing near to You cleanses, refreshes and strengthens us, for now and for all eternity.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

The Lord Hears the Righteous

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.  The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” –Psalm 34:15-19 (ESV).

Here in Psalm 34  is heartening news for those of us who have faithfully turned toward to Lord and prayed earnestly during this “40 Days Unite in Prayer” period for our country.  The epigraph of Psalm 34 states that it is a psalm of David when he ‘changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he (David) went away.’  Historically, the period was when David wandered about as a fugitive, after he had been anointed by Samuel to be King of Israel to follow Saul.  Saul became extremely jealous of the young David, and the fact that he was successful in battle.  The people sang: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (I Samel 21:11b).  David went alone to the priest Ahimelech in Nob.  The priest reprimanded David because he had come alone, with no bodyguards to protect him.  He was hungry and wanted bread, but the priest had none except for the bread set apart as holy for the religious ceremonies, the bread of the Presence.  This was given to David, along with the sword that had belonged to Goliath the Philistine whom David had slain with his slingshot and a stone.  From Ahimelech the priest David went next to Achish the King of Gath.  Another name for this king seems to have been Abimelech.  Achish might have been a title for a tribal ruler, and Abimelech his given name.  There David pretended to be mad, acting like a demented person.  The result was that he was not harmed and he soon left the presence of Achish (Abimelech) and went on to another place to hide out from Saul, all the time drawing people into his band of protectors until it numbered well over 400 people.  The whole psalm is an acrostic poem extolling God for His protection over David.

What messages does Psalm 34:15-19 have for us today?  The verses declare with assurance that God cares for those who are faithful to Him.  Great assurance lies in this declaration:  “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:17-18).

A full-page paid advertisement appeared in the Sunday, October 21, 2012 Wall Street Journal.  It featured a recent picture of the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, almost 94 years of age, holding in his hand the Bible.  His message to Americans stated:

            The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren, and this great nation is crucial.  As I approach my 94^th birthday, I realize this election could be my last.  I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who have their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.  I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman.  Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God” –Billy Graham

Prayer.  Lord, keep us alert and discerning for last-minute transactions that may be a part of government operations and policies but not be according to Your will and Your way.  May we heed the good advice of the Rev. Graham and discern those who stand for biblical principles in their political leanings.  At this crucial time in our nation, Lord, may we stand firmly in the gap and hold steadfastly to what is righteous.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Facing Challenges

“I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears…Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”  -Psalm 34:4, 19 (ESV).

This is a Psalm attributed to David. The introduction explains the occasion for which it was written:  “Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech.”  The incident was recorded in I Samuel 21:13 when David, running away from angry King Saul, was about to be detained by King Achish of Gath.  David feigned madness.  He made marks on the door of the gate and let his spittle run down.  The king told the people he did not need another madman.  David was released and hid out in the cave at Adullam.  It seems that Abimelech and Achish were both names used for the king of Gath in the land of the Philistines.  It was a narrow escape for David.  However, scholars argue that the introduction might have been erroneously added later and that this may not be a Psalm of David since it has characteristics of later wisdom literature. In the Psalm, the author gives God due credit for taking away his fears and delivering him from his afflictions. Psalm 34 is a poem written in acrostic form, using the Hebrew alphabet to begin each verse.  But David  (or the author) did not follow through with all the letters, omitting the Hebrew “w” and having the last verse start with the Hebrew “p”.  I can identify with the poet, for I, too, like to express thoughts in poetic form.  My pattern, when I do write in acrostic form, is not to follow through on letters of the alphabet,as David and other Old Testament writers did on occasion, but to select a word and use the letters in order in an acrostic.  For example, “Facing Challenges”:

            Following God does not preclude problems.

            Around us all the time are mountains high

            Calling us to exercise our best intentions,

            Inviting us to trust Him and fully rely

            Night and day upon His strength and wisdom

            Going on by faith and not by sight.

            Calling on Him in all circumstances

            Has all the characteristics of seeking light

            Amidst the darkness that surrounds our way.

            Looking for His Help always available,

            Leaving our burdens at His feet we press on,

            Engaging in prayer and gaining strength anew.

            Nothing should distract us from the goals

            God leads us to see and strive toward gladly,

            Ever mindful to give Him glory in our souls,

            Secure whatever comes of weal or woes.

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for challenges and problems.  They strengthen us and help us rely on Your power to overcome.  May we seek You daily and know the blessings of deliverance from fears and cowering.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.