The Blessing Cycle

"Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. ⁶ Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. ⁷ God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him."

Psalm 67:5-7

In our Bible study last night at church, we discussed how the psalmist illustrated how God's blessing of the earth leads to the praise and worship of God who will bless His people.  It is what I termed the "blessing cycle" of God that is continuous.  God blesses all people because He is good, and when His people praise Him God's blessing is multiplied so people shall fear Him to the ends of the earth.

After God created the heavens and earth and established His divine order in the world, the water cycle is a means of watering the earth and providing for the needs of all living things.  Water on the earth evaporates by the heat of the sun, condenses in clouds, falls to the earth in precipitation, and gathers in streams, lakes and the ocean.  At all times this cycle is at work throughout the globe without beginning or end.  As the earth speeds along on its tireless circuit around the sun as it moves through our galaxy, so the water cycle perpetuates like clockwork by God's power continuously.

The basic concept of the water cycle parallels the words of the psalmist who began the song by confidently asking God for mercy and blessing even as farmers pray for rain to fall on parched fields.  When rain does fall, consider all the drops of rain that fall upon lawns, gardens, and are gathered in gutters and are funnelled into rainwater tanks for future use.  There are many more raindrops that fall in the streets, footpaths and carparks that sweep away down storm drains to the sea.  Sometimes the downpour can be so great our rainwater tanks and dams fill and water spills over.  But none of those drops are lost, for they are gathered and in time evaporate to drop down again.

So it is with blessings from God:  He showers them liberally upon all people, and those who fear Him praise Him for great and glorious things He has done.  David said because of God his "cup runs over" and this is true concerning God's blessings which exceed our capacity to receive or acknowledge fully.  Having been thus blessed by God, it results in the praise of God who is blessed beyond measure.  God then rains more blessing upon us than we can contain day after day.  Our lives are sustained by the water cycle God upholds to provide water, and being blessed by God moves us to praise Him continuously.  Because we are blessed by God we can have confidence like the psalmist we will be blessed now and forever.

May our hearts sing forth as David's did in Psalm 103:1-5:  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  Hasn't God been good to us?  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Consider God's Creation

When we are awe-inspired by seeing something beautiful, majestic and breathtaking, in that moment we have no complaints or criticisms.  I have been on walks with windswept trees, waterfalls and amazing rock formations which cannot be adequately captured with panoramic photos.  The cry of birds prompted me to stop walking to observe them soaring high overhead.  The wonders of God's creation reveal themselves in the bush as well as near home.  In the latter weeks of summer, every day I awakened to find several fresh cicada exoskeletons perched on the bricks of our house and garage.  It is fascinating how these insects remain silent underground for years, crawl to a vertical surface, emerge from their exoskeleton, fly away and make their noisy summer music in the trees.  One can only marvel over the design and behaviour of living things--and God who created them.

Today I read part of God's words to Job which involved a string of questions that immediately went beyond Job's understanding.  The implication is God not only knew what Job did not and could not know, but God can do everything Job could never do and imagine doing.  There are innumerable creatures God has made which are capable of doing thing humans cannot do, and thus we marvel over them.  We are amazed by their beauty, behaviour, instincts and will to survive.  Documentaries are made to reveal unique traits of plants and animals we never dreamed possible because they are foreign to our experience.  We are captivated by the power of an ox, the speed of a cheetah, and fear the venom of asps.  Observing living things in this world survive, grow, communicate, seek a mate and care for their young inspires and impresses us.  We marvel how creatures could be so perfectly and wonderfully made without criticism of them.

God asked Job, "Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?...¹⁹ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?...²⁶ Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?"  (Job 39:13, 19, 26 KJV)  God mentioned animals to Job children can identify, and as a child it would be thrilling to see a peacock in person.  To find a peacock's feather would be special treasure for a kid because of its bright colour, large size and lightness.  Many a valiant man has fled from galloping horses that charged him due to their size and strength.  During my last visit to the States I was impressed by the size of a hawk perched on a power pole which was much larger than doves or pigeons commonly seen in the area.  No child criticises a peacock for not being orange; no one scoffs that thoroughbreds are slow or pathetic and claims we can see better or fly higher than a hawk--that we could somehow improve of God's designs.  These are creatures that far excel us in plumage, size and speed, and we praise them without complaint.

Man who does not fault birds for bright plumage or mocks horses for being heavily muscled ironically finds it easy to fault, criticise and mock God who made them.  Job had seen peacocks, horses and hawks, but it was God how gave peacocks wings, horses strength and hawks wisdom to soar in the heaves.  The logic is unescapable:  since Job could never do what God does wonderfully and perfectly, who was he to think God was ignorant of anything or incapable of doing everything?  The wisdom and glory of God seen in nature and the animal kingdom is plainly seen by mankind, and even tiny ants can instruct us in how to live well.  All that we love and marvel over in nature and take pleasure in, all of creation that stuns us with beauty that leaves us speechless without complaint or critique ought to be ascribed to God who is perfect in all His ways.  Who is man to question God or accuse Him of wrong when He has given us life, is wisdom for us and does all well? 

All for Christ's Honour

I watched a show where a character aspired to be a "man of the people," one revered and well-remembered by the masses.  The irony was, the villain was a narcissist who did not love or care for anyone at all besides himself.  Others were only a means to achieve and receive what he wanted and felt entitled to.  It is a strange thing to desire honour from people he deemed disposable.  It also flies in the face of logic for God's people to serve in the hope of receiving honour from men when our lives are to be lived for God's honour.  It should not matter to us that our names be known or remembered, long as Jesus Christ is honoured through our lives.  A child of God can be content to be anonymous if it means God is made famous.

King Saul is a solid example of one chosen and anointed by God who became quite a somebody in his own esteem, and as a consequence he cared more about His own honour than God's.  When he was confronted for disobeying the prophet Samuel and offering sacrifices he had no right to offer, he brazenly remarked in 1 Samuel 15:30:  "Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honour me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."  For Saul, confession of sin before Samuel was merely saying what he believed Samuel wanted to hear so he would comply with Saul's request.  He had no desire to worship God in public or private, but doing so was a means by which Saul could receive honour from men.  See how pride led to Saul being central and desirous of the spotlight rather than giving glory to God with sincere humility, contrition and repentance.

The apostle John wrote concerning Jewish rulers in Jesus' day in John 12:42-43:  "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  To be put out of the synagogue and excommunicated from fellowship was a greater concern for these rulers than acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  John provided insight into their character, that they "...loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  They valued and cherished the honour they received from people more than "Well done, good and faithful servant!" spoken to them by the mouth of God.  Another way to read this is they preferred men praising them more than the privilege of praising God themselves.  Perhaps they ignored the consequences Jesus warned in Matthew 10:32-33:  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

See how pride, love of man's praise and desire for honour can corrupt any good man does and undermine our integrity!  The worship of God can be thus polluted, service of God made to serve man's selfish ends, and motivation to good works can be driven by greed for honour.  Titus 1:15-16 reads, "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."  How we need the Holy Spirit to give us pure hearts, for in our flesh no good thing dwells.  It is by faith in Jesus sinners are born again and made new creations, and Jesus cleanses us from sin and works to purify our minds and conscience with His word.  God has created us to do good works and ordained we walk in them for the praise of His glory.  As the song goes, "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness."  May all God's people be those who boldly profess faith in Christ and by our works honour Him.

Nehemiah's Godly Character

Nehemiah is a person I highly respect and admire in the Bible because he feared God, was bold to take action for the glory of God and His people, and he was diligent to seek God--even in emotionally charged situations.  One such situation occurred when Nehemiah was appraised of how Jews were indebted and enslaved to one another in their fight for survival and had no means of paying interested charged them.  It was one thing to be enslaved or oppressed by enemies, but by their own people?  Nehemiah couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Nehemiah was incensed when he heard of the oppression taking place in Israel in Nehemiah 5:6-7:  "And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. ⁷ After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, "Each of you is exacting usury from his brother." So I called a great assembly against them."  Rather than reacting and flying into a rage, Nehemiah's anger led him to think seriously of the correct course of action.  After careful consideration, he rebuked the nobles and rulers--a difficult thing to do when they were brethren he respected and cared for.

Rarely was Nehemiah guilty of making rash or impulsive responses--even when he was angry or upset.  This was Nehemiah's approach when he first heard the people of Jerusalem were suffering, afflicted and the gates were burned with fire.  Nehemiah 1:4 reads, "So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."  Nehemiah was so moved he mourned for days, and he fasted and prayed to God about the situation.  Though his position in a king's court allowed him access to a ruler with great power and authority, he brought his concerns before the most high God of Israel by confiding in Him alone.

When King Artaxerxes noticed Nehemiah was sad and asked him what was troubling him, Nehemiah explained the sad condition of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people.  Nehemiah 2:4 reads, "Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven."  Seeking the LORD and waiting on God's guidance was Nehemiah's inclination, even as God designed our bodies with natural reflexes.  Nehemiah did not take days to give his answer in this case, but he was circumspect to seek the LORD in prayer.  Our mistake can be to give serious thought to a problem but neglect prayer; we can spend time praying yet decide what is a good course of action without receiving clear guidance from God.

Nehemiah provides an example of one who took time to give serious thought to what angered him, who fasted and prayed when he was mournful, and made His request before the LORD God before seeking help from a king.  He was a man who responded in a godly manner rather than reacting according to strong emotions.  Nehemiah feared God, and this led to a cultivation of character made possible by the Holy Spirit in those who wait on the LORD to this day.

New Man Strong

I used to watch boxing in my younger days, and I always enjoyed predicting who would win.  Both fighters talked a big pre-match game, but one of them would end up being the loser--sometimes in mere seconds.  What I observed is the fighter who appeared more heavily muscled often tired more quickly than the other.  This led me to conclude there can be a fighter who works out in the gym to look cut and fit, while others grow lean and strong by training and boxing.  More often than not, the fighter with better endurance was able to focus their strength with sound technique after the more ripped fighter was winded with fatigue.

Today as I chipped away at an old stump, it dawned on me that working is the best exercise because it produces multiple benefits.  There are many people who "work out" today for personal health, yet there is not necessarily any "work" accomplished.  People sweat by running on a treadmill or climbing a stair-stepper but do not go anywhere; they lift weights yet do not move anything from here to there.  The weights are set back on the rack, and the benefit of this kind of workout is a temporary strain of the body that builds muscle or burns fat--but the benefits are limited to a body that is perishing.  It is fine to exercise our bodies to improve and maintain physical health, yet how much better to remove a stump, dig a trench or build a wall at the same time!

When I worked in a trade, there were older fellows I called "old man strong."  While young men spent hours a week in the gym working towards shredded abs or bigger biceps, men in the trade worked on the tools for their living and survival.  These old men could wrangle wooden 12-foot ladders like a stepstool because they learned to control the weight and had mastery of balance and leverage by long experience.  Many a strapping young man was humbled by an inability to work with the endurance, speed, dexterity and strength of old timers who were strong by building physical strength through doing real work--not with the aid of a pool, treadmill, bike or a gym membership.  I believe there is are spiritual parallels in these observations.

Even as some people work out to improve their physique for themselves or others can see, spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible or going to church can be for show.  Paul said he did not run the race God set before him aimlessly, nor was he as like a boxer who only punched the air.  He compared his discipline in labouring to do God's will as a runner sprints towards the finish line and a boxer who spent hours on the speed bag, heavy bag, and absorbed blows to strengthen his body to win (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  If we will be fruitful for Christ's sake, we must abide in the Vine Jesus and seek to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Better than being spiritual body-builders who flex to impress judges or fellow contestants, we ought to plough up the fallow ground of our hearts, remove the stumps of unbelief and clear the ground of sin that springs up like thornbushes with repentance.

Having been born again by Jesus, we are to become "new man strong" by working out our own salvation as new creations by reliance on our LORD as Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-16:  "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."  Knowing we are God's workmanship, we are to do all things without complaining and disputing and hold fast the word of life.  As we discipline ourselves to practice such things as we follow Christ's example, our labour in doing God's will shall not be in vain.

The Christian's Work

Our local shopping centre recently had a visit from a local member of parliament, and volunteers were out early putting up signs to advertise the one-hour event.  I even had someone come to the door with her flier that touted what the local MP was doing to "fight" for better mobile phone coverage in our suburb.  The repetition of militant phrases of "fighting" for residents and promises to "keep fighting" if elected again struck me as rather odd as a representative of a party that boasts the majority government at a local and federal level.  I would much prefer the Labour party (or any party for that matter!) to faithfully work for the good of the citizens and residents rather than fighting.

God's people have the assurance of Scripture the battle is the LORD's, and I trust Him to help us more than an arm of flesh, political party or politician (2 Chron. 32:8).  Secular government generally operates without acknowledgement of God, His wisdom or ways, and ironically atheistic government positions itself to be a godlike entity people are encouraged to trust to act in their best interests, to provide for their needs, to protect and "fight" against injustice.  Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD, those who look to God for their provision of daily bread, shelter, help and peace--in the life that now is, and in the life God provides for eternity.

When Jesus was criticised for doing what some considered "work" under the Mosaic Law, He corrected their understanding in John 5:17:  "...My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  God has always been at work to accomplished His plans and purposes concerning all created things and humankind, and Jesus worked as well.  This statement angered the Jewish rulers because they rightly viewed it as Jesus making a claim of equality with God, since He called God His Father.  Jesus taught those who are of His kingdom ought to put their hand to the plough without looking back, for we are called to be God's workmen who need not be ashamed (Luke 9:62; 2 Timothy 2:15).  Doing good works is a purpose of our salvation as it is written in Ephesians 2:10:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

While soldiers engaged in warfare provide good illustrations and insights concerning our walk of faith in Jesus, I find the workman concept to be even more useful and practical.  The example Jesus provided in person as He walked and taught in Israel was not taking vengeance on enemies or "fighting" anyone but that of a faithful friend, a farmer, beast of burden, a labourer in the field who worked while it remained day.  If we only exert our efforts in fighting we may never edify or build each other up in faith in God.  Since the battle is the LORD's and Jesus has claimed the victory, we do well to set our minds to work to trust, obey and follow Jesus as the people in Nehemiah's day banded together to built the wall (Nehemiah 4:6).  We do well to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."