Give God No Rest

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, ⁷ and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

Isaiah 62:6-7

These verses remind me of the great love God has for the Jewish nation and Jerusalem.  Watchmen were set on the walls to provide early recognision of enemy attack, but God's people were called to look to Him.  Unless the LORD guards the city the watchmen watch in vain.  God allowed Jerusalem to fall before the Babylonians and Romans, yet even now those who fear God ought to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  God directed His faithful watchers to intercede on behalf of Jerusalem, to "give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."  It is amazing our great God who promises to provide rest for our souls says concerning our prayers for the establishment of His kingdom in Israel to command, "Give me no rest."

God's will and the fulfilment of His plans do not depend on man.  It is not like the sheer volume of prayers moves God's timetable, but those who fear the LORD will be moved by Him in pray in due time.  Prayer does not bend God to our will, but the Holy Spirit enables us to pray according to God's will.  Jesus spoke often of the importance of persistence in prayer.  He gave an example of man who had an unexpected visitor, and persistently knocked at his friend's door late at night asking for bread to feed his guest.  Jesus said in Luke 11:8-9, "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. ⁹  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."  If we are evil and give good gifts to our children, how much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who give Him no rest in asking Him?

Another memorable example Jesus gave was in the parable of the unjust judge.  Luke 18:1-7 reads, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ²  saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. ³  Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' ⁴  And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵  yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " ⁶  Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷  And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?"  The unjust judge did not care for widow or even justice, but saw fit to avenge the woman because of her persistence:  how much more will God aid His own children who cry out to Him?

When our souls are troubled, let us draw near to Jesus Christ in faith and find rest for our souls.  Concerning our cares, trials, and troubles let us give God no rest, remembering to intercede for Jerusalem and others according to God's Word.  Do not lose heart nor be weary in doing good.  Keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and the LORD will open a way to rest and perfect peace.

Random Acts of Kindness?

Yesterday I saw a heartwarming video of a man whose co-workers pooled funds to buy him a car.  He was genuinely touched by the blessing and expressed how grateful and thankful he was.  The one who shared the post on social media praised the virtue of "random acts of kindness" and how they can be instrumental in changing lives for the better.  I believe I know what is meant by the phrase "random acts of kindness," that without a special occasion people would unexpectedly do something to benefit someone else without strings attached.

When I reflected upon the gracious gift of a vehicle, there was nothing at all "random" about this act of kindness at all!  Generous co-workers saw someone in need and purposely put thought and sacrifice into action to help him.  They considered what car would be best suited for his needs.  They even bought insurance to make sure he was not out of pocket.  He even was given money for petrol!  Everything about this act of kindness was intentional - albeit unexpected by the receiver.  The point to be considered is no act of kindness is random:  kindness is only kindness when there is an intentional, joyful giver and a receiver.

The 1828 Webster's dictionary defines "kindness" as, "good will; benevolence; the temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; kindness ever accompanies love."  There would be no kindness in this world without the God who created man in His image.  He is the One who has been purposefully kind to us.  Paul wrote to Titus of man's sin and need for salvation and how God met our need through Jesus Christ in Titus 3:4-5, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..."  God has demonstrated His kindness to all people by offering redemption and eternal life through faith in Jesus.  It would be tremendous to receive the gift of a vehicle, but it pales in comparison to the gift of God through Jesus.

Since Christians are receivers of God's kindness, we ought to be vessels through whom God pours His kindness in practical ways upon others.  We are not kind to find favour with men but to bring glory to God.  Man's kindness and generosity has limits, but God's is infinitely greater and completely unexpected.  There is nothing random about God's kindness!

Concluding with Praise

Before going to bed recently I have been reading through the Psalms.  I always try to take note of the brief explanation provided before each Psalm.  It struck me how many Psalms were inspired during troubling times.  In situations when might write in a journal to vent, post our status on social media for sympathy, or call the police to respond to an emergency, David wrote songs of praise to God.  Selah - think upon this!  These passages flow with worship, seeking God, and praise.  Though troubles may have moved David to write, he did not remain troubled because of His glorious God.

• Psalm 3 was written "when David fled from Absalom his son."  He concluded in Psalm 3:8, "Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah"
• Psalm 7 was what David sang unto to the LORD "concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite" - and they were not kind words.  The last verse of this Psalm?  Psalm 7:17 reads, "I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."
• Psalm 34 was written when David "changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed."  David feared for his life in this occasion!  He finished the song concluding of God's grace in Psalm 34:22:  "The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned."
• Psalm 52 was penned after "Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech."  This resulted in the slaughter of the priests in Nob, and David freely took the blame for this incident upon himself to Abiathar in 1 Samuel 22, the son of the slain high priest who escaped with the ephod,  He ended Psalm 52 with verse 9:  "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. ⁹  I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good."
• Psalm 54 was in response to David being betrayed by the Ziphims who "said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?"  He wrote in Psalm 54:6-7:  "I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good. ⁷  For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies."

May all our troubles, like many David endured, move us to praise and glorify God for His goodness towards us.  David was quick to bring his petitions of deliverance before God, but his praise of God is evidence he trusted and believed God would preserve and help him.  Thank the LORD for His faithfulness to us and may our lives be a testimony of His praise and worship forever.

Trust God (and His Plan)

God called and enabled Moses to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt.  After Moses returned to Egypt armed with three miraculous signs which confirmed God's promise of deliverance, the people believed and worshipped the LORD.  They were convinced of God's power and rejoiced He had visited His people.  Any day now they would be free!

The Hebrews were all for freedom from bondage.  There was one looming problem however:  Pharaoh was not.  He was not at all impressed when Moses appeared before him and scorned his God.  He was incensed anyone would even suggest the idea of the Hebrews leaving their tasks for a day!  He accused the people of idleness, refused to provide straw for bricks, and told the taskmasters to kept the production quota the same.  The people worked feverishly, trying to gather up stubble and make enough bricks to meet Pharaoh's demand.  When they failed, they were beaten.  They felt cheated, trapped in an impossible cycle.  The people complained about this treatment to Moses:  what sort of deliverance was this?  In their mind Moses was killing them, not saving them!

Exodus 5:22-23 describes the response of Moses:  "So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³  For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all."  Moses agreed with the assessment of the people.  They hadn't signed up for such trouble!  They expected God would miraculously and quickly bring them out of Egypt as He promised them.  What they didn't understand at the time was God's promised deliverance involved a process.  Perhaps they assumed because of God's great power He would save them quickly without a struggle.  But it would prove to be a fight waged within their own hearts and minds:  would they continue to trust God and the wisdom of His plan through the process, or would they lose heart and give place to fear and doubt?

The decision to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour also results in opposition and renewed aggression by all which held us captive in sin.  This spiritual and largely inner battle will continue to occur throughout our earthly pilgrimage.  In choosing to obey God the results may seem disastrous and we think, "I didn't sign up for this!  Why doesn't God just do it?  Why does it have to be so painful and impossible?"  If we want deliverance and salvation, we must submit to God's process and plan.  He will continue to be faithful and with every temptation will make a way of escape so we will be able to bear it.  Moses nor the Hebrews could deliver themselves, and God would reveal His power over His enemies and His protection and provision for His people as time wore on.  Slowly Pharaoh's resolve crumbled, and the faith of God's people grew exponentially.

Allow me to conclude with a quote from an address I read by Spurgeon titled, "On Returning to the Renovated Tabernacle:"

"My friends, beloved of my soul, more dear than ever as years roll on, I do not ask trouble for any of you; but if there be no other way of renovating your spirits, you may on your own account cheerfully welcome the severest trials, when sent by heaven, to visit your house.  Come they will, whether we welcome them or no, for the promise is sure to all the seed, "In the world ye shall have tribulation."  Let us most devoutly praise God that he does not consult our whims, or our fancies, as to how he should deal with us; we have a Father who does not spare the rod for our crying, knowing better than we do what is good for us.  He does not ask us in which path we will go; he directs our steps according to his own wisdom, and not according to our folly.  Surely we poor shortsighted creatures can even now feel that it is good for us to have infallible wisdom to direct us, and that it is our duty to give up our unbelief, and all our questionings, and submit ourselves absolutely to the will of the unerring Father.  All our misery springs out of our self-will.  Self-love is the nest out of which the hornets fly in their armies; would to God it were utterly destroyed.  If self-will were slain, sorrow would lose its sting.  The daily cross in itself is not heavy - as Jesus' yoke, it is easy; but self-will makes our shoulders raw, and then the cross becomes very heavy to bear." (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's works as published in his monthly magazine The sword and the trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. Print. pg. 321.)