Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this beautiful morning, on the last day of November, 2007. Praise the Lord for His many gifts, including the gift of music. Last night we, together with many friends from the church, had the high privilege of attending the Michael W. Smith Christmas concert at the Arena. It was amazing, exalted, and beautiful beyond description. Michael W. Smith was joined by the Katinas, a group of five brothers from American Samoa whose giftedvoices blended in tight harmonies. Also joining them was Melinda Doolittle, whose small name belies her enormous vocal talent. The live orchestra added depth and beauty to the concert. Wow! This is one of the highlights of the worship celebration of Jesus, our Savior, at Christmas.
Another highlight for me will be the Downtown Singers accompanied by the Binghamton Philharmonic in their presentation of "The Messiah". This will be the 25th anniversary performance of "The Messiah" by the Downtown Singers. It will be presented at the Forum on December 21 and 22. If anyone living around here would like to attend, please let me know. Our friend Alan Crabb is the conductor of this program.
Another yearly highlight for us is the opportunity to attend the Christmas Extravaganza at Radio City Music Hall. We have chartered a bus to attend this event. We will be departing in the early hours of Monday morning (in 3 days). For those who will be participating in this trip, we plan to leave by 6 AM from the church lot at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott. There will be a breakfast stop after the Delaware Water Gap. The bus will arrive in Manhattan at approximately 9:30. The group will be dropped off at Bryant Park, located at 6th Avenue and 42nd Street for free time. The performance of the Christmas Spectacular will be at 5 PM. The bus will leave the city at 7:15. There will be a stop at Six Brothers Restaurant for dinner, arriving back at 128 Maple Drive by 11:15 PM. Jim Holmes will be in charge of the tour. His cell phone # is 607-765-3577.
Christmas is all about the celebration and worship. Our highest priority as Christians is to give glory to God, to exalt Him by giving Him worship. Psalm 24 is one of the Advent Psalms. In Psalms 24, we find that David outlines for us some very important aspects of what our approach to worship should be. It is believed by most scholars, that this psalm of David was written not long after David had captured the city of Jerusalem. David’s desire was to build a religious and political center for his kingdom and Jerusalem was to be it. David wanted to establish a permanent place of worship for God. The ark of the covenant had been placed in the house of Obededom the Gittite and God was blessing his house (2 Sam. 6:10-17). However David desired to bring the ark to Jerusalem and set it up upon the Mountain of Zion and so he does. The ark is placed upon the “holy hill”. After the ark is set in it’s place, the question is raised, “who can ascend to the hill of the Lord?” to worship. In other words, what are the conditions to approach the Lord of Hosts in worship? Here David shares the conditions for the approach of worship.
David asks in verse 3, “who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” The Hebrew word is the word `alah {aw-law’} which means to go up as to meet or visit with. Who can meet with God? Who can come before Him in worship? David answers this question by saying “he that has clean hands and a pure heart”.
The hands are often used in scripture to represent what we do. When the priests were set apart to be a priest, scripture tells us that the blood of a ram was placed upon his right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot (Exodus 29:20) signifying that the priest was separate and what he heard, and what he did, and where he went, were to all be done remembering that he was holy.
David is saying that what we do is important. One of the problems of the Old Testament was that people would often do cruel things to one another, such as robbing from one another, or and then go to the house of the Lord and offer their worship, acting as if nothing was wrong. God was not pleased with such worship.
Remember that the Hebrew word for ascend meant to go up to met. To go to God’s holy hill to meet with Him in worship. However, in Mal. 3:5, God is going to meet with the worshippers who abuse their brothers, not in worship, but in judgment. God was not happy with what the worshippers were doing. In essence, they were not in a right relationship with Him.
It is important to understand that what we do, our conduct, or conversation as it is often found in the NT, will affect our worship. Here’s why this is important. Worship certainly involves activity. We lift our hands, we sing, we pray, we give loud exclamations of praise and all of these things are certainly “manifestations” of worship. However, worship, while involving actions, is first and foremost a function of the heart. We can sing until we are blue in the face, we can shout until the rafters shake, but if it is not from the heart, it is not worship. You can sing, and not truly worship, you can clap your hands, or lift them up, and not truly worship, you can pray, or speak in tongues, and not truly worship. Worship must come from a pure heart.
Remember that worship begins before we ever get here. . So often we are guilty of having all the “actions” of worship, but never really worship simply because somewhere, somehow, we are not in a right relationship with God.
The only way to have a right relationship with God is through His Son Jesus Christ. The only way our hands can be cleansed, and our hearts made pure is through the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe it is important that we remember that we are worshipping a Holy God. Notice what David calls the place before the presence of the Lord in verse 3. The question is asked, “Who shall stand in His holy place?” In the Hebrew it reads ba-maqown qodeshu. There are two words to notice, first maqowm {maw-kome’}standing place, and next, qodesh {ko’-desh} apartness, sacredness, holiness. David is asking “who can stand in the standing place of holiness?” He is reminding his readers that to be in the presence of God is to be in a place of holiness.
In Exodus 3, when the Lord drew Moses to Himself at the burning bush, Moses was reminded that he was on holy ground. In Exodus 27: 9-18, we find that God gave Moses the specifics on the court of the tabernacle (worship center). On the north and south sides, there was to be a linen fence of about 150 feet in length and on the east and west side, it was to be around 75 feet in length. It was to be made out of fine twisted linen. The tabernacle was to be surrounded by a fence made basically of white sheets. When I first read this, I thought to my self, what good is that? A knife would cut the linen into. But then the Lord showed me, it wasn’t to keep people out for God desires that we enter in before Him in worship, but rather, it was to remind the worshipper that he was no longer standing on common We need to remember that we are standing before the very presence of a holy God, we are in His house, standing in His presence, on Holy Ground. Our minds need to be on Him. He deserves our respectful reverence.
Satan loves for us to allow our minds to wander, he will do anything to keep our mind off the Lord. Remember that to stand in God’s holy hill is to stand in His presence and He deserves all of our attention. The old English word for worship was a combination of two words, worth and ship. To worship means that we declare to God how worthy He is for all that He has done for us.
We are told that God inhabits the praises of His people.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
God lives in an environment of praise, so to make Him feel at home, we need to praise Him. Here’s the heart of the manner, God wants to fellowship with His kids. He wants to be a part of our “worship” services. He wants you to experience His presence.
Notice in verses 7-10, that there is a reference to the gates being lifted up. The Hebrew word is the word nasa which means to lift up, or carry away, to be swept away. Many Biblical scholars believe that David is speaking prophetically of the time that the ark of the covenant would be carried into the Temple built by Solomon, that the gates of the Temple would literally be swept away by the glory of the Lord. Others see the reference to the gates of the city of Jerusalem being swept open before the ark of God as David brings it to the city of Zion, to be placed on the Holy Hill.
I could not help but think as I read this, of how the Lord desires our fellowship and worship. He desires that the gates (heart) of our temple (body) be swept away before His great glory so that He can enter in. As great as the Lord is, He allows us the response of opening up our hearts to Him, so that He can enter in. What A mighty God we serve!
In Him,
Brown
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-29-07
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for the wonderful Advent Season which we are about to enter. It is a wonderful blessing to end the year through Advent Season at Christmas, and then to enter the new year following the Star of Bethlehem. Praise the Lord for the way our Lord, who is mighty and merciful, has orchestrated the wonderful plan of redemption and demonstrated that great love through Christmas in sending His own Son, Jesus.
The reading for the first Sunday of Advent is from Isaiah 2. It is an invitation that reads, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." It is the Lord's desire and design for all of us that the Advent and Christmas Season should be a high moment in our lives. It is my prayer that somehow the Lord would lift us from the valleys of life and place our feet upon His mountain, where we may behold His glory and catch a glimpse of His majesty and splendor. Psalm 126 is one of 15 psalms grouped together in the Psalter which all bear the designation “a psalm of ascents.” The word “ascents” is a noun form of a verb meaning “to go up,” and it alludes to the idea of “going up to Jerusalem,” since you approached Jerusalem from lower countryside. You never went DOWN to Jerusalem, you always went UP to Jerusalem. And, according the Law of Moses, all the men of Israel were to go up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. There was a hymnody for these festal seasons, just as we have hymns for Christmas. And, they were the “going up psalms,” the psalms you sang when you were in caravans, traveling across Israel or Judea toward Jerusalem. So, Psalm 126 is one of those going-up psalms, and it clearly dates from after the time when Israel went into the Babylonian Captivity. In fact, it is looks back in time to that event.
The first advent mentioned in Psalm 126 is contained in the first three verses. It was the advent of God’s promises of redemption. Those promises were just about all the people had left of their religious heritage as they were held in slavery in Babylon. Their was no temple worship. There was, most likely, next to no worship at all. During those 70 years, those who remembered Jerusalem told their children about a land the children had never seen. Jerusalem was no more real to the children of the exile than a fable, or a story of the past. The only thing left to them was God’s promise to redeem his people out of slavery and to restore them to their home and to restore them to His worship.
That event is what opens the words of Psalm 126. “1 When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.”
“Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ “ And, so, finally the reality of the Lord’s blessing on them ceases to feel like a dream, and instead becomes a dream come true, so that they confess “ 3 The LORD indeed has done great things for us, and we are glad.”
Now this Psalm has the same quality as so many of our Christmas carols: it looks back at a previous, glorious advent of God’s blessing. And, it also looks forward to a fuller, more complete and decisive advent of God’s redemption. That looking forward to a second advent is contained in verse 4:
“ 4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.”
What’s this all about? After recounting their joy when God brought back the captivity of Zion, why are they asking God to do the same thing again? The singers of the Psalm, as they would go up to Jerusalem for the feasts, would look backward at the time when God began his promised redemption; and at the same time they looked forward the time when that redemption would be complete.
Indeed, the metaphor used in this Psalm indicates that they had some sort of idea what the second advent would look like when it arrived. The “streams of the south” are desert lands. Except for their being topographical features of the desert, they look no different that the rest of the desert on higher ground. It’s all dirt, rocks, and scattered scrubby cactus and thorn bushes. That is, until the rain comes. And, suddenly the desert blooms. What was formerly arid and uniformly tan and grey in color is now wet and filled with blossoms everywhere. Green shoots are pushing themselves out of the ground at every place. That is the KIND of thing that the singers of this psalm are looking forward to – a completion of God’s redemption in the future which results in something lush, riotously luxuriant, and fabulously rich with color and life.
And, the opening words of Psalm 126 have become for Christians one of the most fitting exclamations of their understanding of what God did in sending his Son into the world to die for sinners. And, what began solely in the song of Mary is now sung by millions upon millions of the redeemed around the world this time of year – and it joins the voices of those who sang Psalm 126 for centuries before Christ was born – when God brought back the captivity of Zion, when God entered the world to redeem it from sin and death, we were like those who dreamed. The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad!”
But, just as the singers of Psalm 126 looked forward to a second advent of God’s redemption, one that would be like a desert exploding into blossom, so too do Christians at the season of advent look forward to the second advent, when Jesus shall make all things new. “ For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”
This is not the only prophecy of the new heavens and earth in Scripture, of course. But, it is one of the more familiar. The mention of the lamb and wolf dwelling together, or the lion eating grass like an ox – surely this has a dream-like quality about it.
And, meanwhile, here we are, between these two advents – the one where God first came into the world as a man, and the one where that man, Jesus Christ, will return back to the earth with glory and slendour.
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The time between the advents, according to this Psalm, is marked by two features. One of them is sorrow, weeping, and tears. The path between the First Advent and the Second Advent is a time of sowing seed, and that process we are told is a sorrowful one. It is costly and that costliness is painful.
But all these sorrowful things are like seed sown in the ground. Those who sow such things shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. We know that our Lord, kept all his promises concerning the first advent. He will most certainly keep all his promises concerning the second advent.
Standing on His promises.
Brown
Praise the Lord for the wonderful Advent Season which we are about to enter. It is a wonderful blessing to end the year through Advent Season at Christmas, and then to enter the new year following the Star of Bethlehem. Praise the Lord for the way our Lord, who is mighty and merciful, has orchestrated the wonderful plan of redemption and demonstrated that great love through Christmas in sending His own Son, Jesus.
The reading for the first Sunday of Advent is from Isaiah 2. It is an invitation that reads, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." It is the Lord's desire and design for all of us that the Advent and Christmas Season should be a high moment in our lives. It is my prayer that somehow the Lord would lift us from the valleys of life and place our feet upon His mountain, where we may behold His glory and catch a glimpse of His majesty and splendor. Psalm 126 is one of 15 psalms grouped together in the Psalter which all bear the designation “a psalm of ascents.” The word “ascents” is a noun form of a verb meaning “to go up,” and it alludes to the idea of “going up to Jerusalem,” since you approached Jerusalem from lower countryside. You never went DOWN to Jerusalem, you always went UP to Jerusalem. And, according the Law of Moses, all the men of Israel were to go up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. There was a hymnody for these festal seasons, just as we have hymns for Christmas. And, they were the “going up psalms,” the psalms you sang when you were in caravans, traveling across Israel or Judea toward Jerusalem. So, Psalm 126 is one of those going-up psalms, and it clearly dates from after the time when Israel went into the Babylonian Captivity. In fact, it is looks back in time to that event.
The first advent mentioned in Psalm 126 is contained in the first three verses. It was the advent of God’s promises of redemption. Those promises were just about all the people had left of their religious heritage as they were held in slavery in Babylon. Their was no temple worship. There was, most likely, next to no worship at all. During those 70 years, those who remembered Jerusalem told their children about a land the children had never seen. Jerusalem was no more real to the children of the exile than a fable, or a story of the past. The only thing left to them was God’s promise to redeem his people out of slavery and to restore them to their home and to restore them to His worship.
That event is what opens the words of Psalm 126. “1 When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.”
“Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ “ And, so, finally the reality of the Lord’s blessing on them ceases to feel like a dream, and instead becomes a dream come true, so that they confess “ 3 The LORD indeed has done great things for us, and we are glad.”
Now this Psalm has the same quality as so many of our Christmas carols: it looks back at a previous, glorious advent of God’s blessing. And, it also looks forward to a fuller, more complete and decisive advent of God’s redemption. That looking forward to a second advent is contained in verse 4:
“ 4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.”
What’s this all about? After recounting their joy when God brought back the captivity of Zion, why are they asking God to do the same thing again? The singers of the Psalm, as they would go up to Jerusalem for the feasts, would look backward at the time when God began his promised redemption; and at the same time they looked forward the time when that redemption would be complete.
Indeed, the metaphor used in this Psalm indicates that they had some sort of idea what the second advent would look like when it arrived. The “streams of the south” are desert lands. Except for their being topographical features of the desert, they look no different that the rest of the desert on higher ground. It’s all dirt, rocks, and scattered scrubby cactus and thorn bushes. That is, until the rain comes. And, suddenly the desert blooms. What was formerly arid and uniformly tan and grey in color is now wet and filled with blossoms everywhere. Green shoots are pushing themselves out of the ground at every place. That is the KIND of thing that the singers of this psalm are looking forward to – a completion of God’s redemption in the future which results in something lush, riotously luxuriant, and fabulously rich with color and life.
And, the opening words of Psalm 126 have become for Christians one of the most fitting exclamations of their understanding of what God did in sending his Son into the world to die for sinners. And, what began solely in the song of Mary is now sung by millions upon millions of the redeemed around the world this time of year – and it joins the voices of those who sang Psalm 126 for centuries before Christ was born – when God brought back the captivity of Zion, when God entered the world to redeem it from sin and death, we were like those who dreamed. The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad!”
But, just as the singers of Psalm 126 looked forward to a second advent of God’s redemption, one that would be like a desert exploding into blossom, so too do Christians at the season of advent look forward to the second advent, when Jesus shall make all things new. “ For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”
This is not the only prophecy of the new heavens and earth in Scripture, of course. But, it is one of the more familiar. The mention of the lamb and wolf dwelling together, or the lion eating grass like an ox – surely this has a dream-like quality about it.
And, meanwhile, here we are, between these two advents – the one where God first came into the world as a man, and the one where that man, Jesus Christ, will return back to the earth with glory and slendour.
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
The time between the advents, according to this Psalm, is marked by two features. One of them is sorrow, weeping, and tears. The path between the First Advent and the Second Advent is a time of sowing seed, and that process we are told is a sorrowful one. It is costly and that costliness is painful.
But all these sorrowful things are like seed sown in the ground. Those who sow such things shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. We know that our Lord, kept all his promises concerning the first advent. He will most certainly keep all his promises concerning the second advent.
Standing on His promises.
Brown
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-28-07
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day. We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with Janice, Jeremy, Micah and Simeon in Boston. This was our first Thanksgiving away from home in many years. We returned back home the Friday after Thanksgiving to join Andy, Sunita, and Laureen, who came from Washington, D.C., and Jess and Tom who came from Philadelphia. We had a second celebration all together on Saturday, here in NY. Sunita and Andy returned back on Sunday. Jess and Tom went back yesterday and Laureen is on her way back today. We're getting ready for the first Sunday in Advent. What an honor and privilege to worship the Living Lord. We're excited about the Advent season and Christmas. May the Lord make us instruments of His peace and His joy as we share about Christ with others who are outside the fold. Let's continue to pray that the Lord make their hearts tender toward the things of the Lord. May He make our hearts full of zeal and urgency, that we share eagerly about Christ's coming and all it means to us. I spend some of my time talking to people who don’t go to church. I’ve heard all the flimsy excuses people give for not attending worship. One I hear a lot is, “There are too many hypocrites”. Author Philip Yancey said he was turned off by hypocrisy in the church until a thought occurred to him: “What would my church look like if every member were just like me?” He decided to concentrate on his own spirituality, and not worry about others. Other excuses: “I’m too busy”, “It’s the only day I can sleep in”, or “I had a bad experience in church so I don’t go anymore”. For this last one, I usually reply that I had a bad experience in a restaurant once, so I don’t eat out anymore! It’s a ridiculous argument—find another “restaurant”, but don’t go hungry!
While I try to encourage people to return to church, I find I have to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to convince them of the one reason to attend church, which is God. The word “worship” comes from an old English word “worthship”, meaning that God is worthy; He deserves our praise. Worship is our response to all God is and says and does. When we really believe God deserves our worship, nothing will keep us away from church. It’s simply a matter of priorities. Worship has been described as “the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life” (Barth).
Some people seem to have a bargain with God, a contract-faith: “I’ll follow God if He treats me well.” (meaning when life doesn’t fit my expectations, I give up on God). In worship we learn to respond to the ups and downs of life. We discover that faith means trusting in God even when life doesn’t make much sense. Others think that church is a place to be entertained (self-centered religion)—if it’s enjoyable, they’ll come…but at the end of the “show”, the only applause that matters comes from God.
Why is David glad when he’s told, “Let’s go to the house of God” (vs 1)? He knows that he will find his true spiritual family there. He knows that He will learn more about how life really works; he knows he’ll gain strength for the days ahead. Nothing’s going to keep him from worship. How can we know a person’s priorities? By what that person does willingly and joyfully.
Worship is not described here as an individual act. We do not live in isolation—we are part of something larger. Faith isn’t purely internal; it has to be lived in community. My body ought to be available to the Body of Christ! Paul Tournier wrote, “There are two things we cannot do alone—one is to be married and the other is to be a Christian.” We need each other. Some people come to church to be left alone, to be spectators; we need to participate in what is going on in worship. We’re not the audience when we come to church—God is the audience. When we leave, we shouldn’t be asking, “What did I get out of church?”, but rather, “Was God pleased by my worship?” There are many ways to worship the Lord, when we gather in His house; though styles of worship vary, we come to church to encounter and exalt the Lord God.
In ancient Israel, Jerusalem was the exclusive place to worship. A Bible scholar said that whenever he visited Jerusalem he felt like he was standing at the very center of the world. We have a special affection for where we were born and raised; we feel patriotic regard for our nation’s capitol. But no sentiment can equal the thrill that Jews and Christians feel for the holy city of Jerusalem. When I visit Jerusalem, I am in awe of the antiquity and spiritual significance of this city.Jerusalem is described in vs 3 as “a city that is closely compacted together”. In Jerusalem the twelve tribes of Israel came together in unity (vs 4). The city is more than architecture—it is people living together. David is describing the architecture of the city to make a point—the stones of the city fit together harmoniously, making it the place to go when life seems to be falling apart. Without worship, something is missing; we are incomplete, unfinished. We find direction and purpose for our journey when we come to the house of the Lord.
Some people accuse faith of being a “crutch”, something for weak people who can’t make it on their own. Self-sufficient, self-satisfied people find false comfort in what they think is secure; eventually they realize that what they’re trusting in isn’t enough. My faith is in God’s word—not the Dow Jones Industrial Average. One thing about a crutch—it helps keep you from falling. Faith is indeed a crutch—and it works! It gives us needed support. However, church has little to offer to those who refuse to admit their need.
David adds that the tribes gather to “praise the name of the Lord” (vs 4). Augustine wrote that “A Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.” Praise is the appropriate response to God’s goodness. Sometimes we don’t feel like praising. Our emotions too often govern us—yet the Bible is clear that God wants our worship whether we feel like it or not. When we discipline ourselves to faithful worship we will discover how our faith is increased and our relationship with God is being nurtured.
Verse 5 explains that in Jerusalem stood “thrones for judgment”. The word for “judgment” means a clear, decisive word by which things are set right. In a world filled with uncertainty, we come to church to be informed, to hear a decisive, authoritative word; we come to hear: “Thus saith the Lord.” Church is a place to find forgiveness. It’s not a place where we’re condemned but a place where we can find what to do about our guilt. Some churches appear very judgmental; they seem to specialize in making people feel bad…every church should be a place of healing. Sin is the problem, and the blood of Christ is the solution. Sin separates us from God, but Christ offers to be our bridge to life!
On our prayer lists we need to include verse 6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. Recent bombing raids in Israel were in retaliation for terrorist attacks. Until the attack on our nation, no place has been in more need of prayer. The word peace, “shalom”, means wholeness. “Jerusalem” ironically means “city of peace”. We find peace by the work of God within. God’s peace gives us a calm assurance that we belong to Him, and are living according to His plan. When we find peace with God, we can then live at peace with others. By Jerusalem’s reliance on God, David is realizing that the strength of the city is not measured by economic indicators or military superiority—it comes from God.
Then there’s the matter of fellowship: “To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be glory! To dwell below with saints we know…that’s another story.” Part of being in the Body of Christ means loving the unlovable. David declares in vs 8, “For the sake of my brothers and friends I will say ‘Peace be within you’.” My presence in church tells others that God is important in my life and that they are important to me as well.
We who know Christ as our Savior will one day journey to what the author of Hebrews calls our “heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (12:24). The book of Revelation describes this “new Jerusalem” as the perfect fulfillment of the City of God.
We’ve seen what religious extremism and cultic fanaticism can do—the Taliban shows its hatred for God by murdering innocent people in God’s Name. It’s been said, “When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything” (Chesterton). Those who reject the Truth embrace lies, and it shows in their actions.
“Worship does not satisfy our hunger for God—it whets our appetite. Our need for God is not taken care of by engaging in worship—it deepens. It overflows the hour and permeates the week.” -Eugene Peterson
In Christ,
Brown
While I try to encourage people to return to church, I find I have to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to convince them of the one reason to attend church, which is God. The word “worship” comes from an old English word “worthship”, meaning that God is worthy; He deserves our praise. Worship is our response to all God is and says and does. When we really believe God deserves our worship, nothing will keep us away from church. It’s simply a matter of priorities. Worship has been described as “the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life” (Barth).
Some people seem to have a bargain with God, a contract-faith: “I’ll follow God if He treats me well.” (meaning when life doesn’t fit my expectations, I give up on God). In worship we learn to respond to the ups and downs of life. We discover that faith means trusting in God even when life doesn’t make much sense. Others think that church is a place to be entertained (self-centered religion)—if it’s enjoyable, they’ll come…but at the end of the “show”, the only applause that matters comes from God.
Why is David glad when he’s told, “Let’s go to the house of God” (vs 1)? He knows that he will find his true spiritual family there. He knows that He will learn more about how life really works; he knows he’ll gain strength for the days ahead. Nothing’s going to keep him from worship. How can we know a person’s priorities? By what that person does willingly and joyfully.
Worship is not described here as an individual act. We do not live in isolation—we are part of something larger. Faith isn’t purely internal; it has to be lived in community. My body ought to be available to the Body of Christ! Paul Tournier wrote, “There are two things we cannot do alone—one is to be married and the other is to be a Christian.” We need each other. Some people come to church to be left alone, to be spectators; we need to participate in what is going on in worship. We’re not the audience when we come to church—God is the audience. When we leave, we shouldn’t be asking, “What did I get out of church?”, but rather, “Was God pleased by my worship?” There are many ways to worship the Lord, when we gather in His house; though styles of worship vary, we come to church to encounter and exalt the Lord God.
In ancient Israel, Jerusalem was the exclusive place to worship. A Bible scholar said that whenever he visited Jerusalem he felt like he was standing at the very center of the world. We have a special affection for where we were born and raised; we feel patriotic regard for our nation’s capitol. But no sentiment can equal the thrill that Jews and Christians feel for the holy city of Jerusalem. When I visit Jerusalem, I am in awe of the antiquity and spiritual significance of this city.Jerusalem is described in vs 3 as “a city that is closely compacted together”. In Jerusalem the twelve tribes of Israel came together in unity (vs 4). The city is more than architecture—it is people living together. David is describing the architecture of the city to make a point—the stones of the city fit together harmoniously, making it the place to go when life seems to be falling apart. Without worship, something is missing; we are incomplete, unfinished. We find direction and purpose for our journey when we come to the house of the Lord.
Some people accuse faith of being a “crutch”, something for weak people who can’t make it on their own. Self-sufficient, self-satisfied people find false comfort in what they think is secure; eventually they realize that what they’re trusting in isn’t enough. My faith is in God’s word—not the Dow Jones Industrial Average. One thing about a crutch—it helps keep you from falling. Faith is indeed a crutch—and it works! It gives us needed support. However, church has little to offer to those who refuse to admit their need.
David adds that the tribes gather to “praise the name of the Lord” (vs 4). Augustine wrote that “A Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.” Praise is the appropriate response to God’s goodness. Sometimes we don’t feel like praising. Our emotions too often govern us—yet the Bible is clear that God wants our worship whether we feel like it or not. When we discipline ourselves to faithful worship we will discover how our faith is increased and our relationship with God is being nurtured.
Verse 5 explains that in Jerusalem stood “thrones for judgment”. The word for “judgment” means a clear, decisive word by which things are set right. In a world filled with uncertainty, we come to church to be informed, to hear a decisive, authoritative word; we come to hear: “Thus saith the Lord.” Church is a place to find forgiveness. It’s not a place where we’re condemned but a place where we can find what to do about our guilt. Some churches appear very judgmental; they seem to specialize in making people feel bad…every church should be a place of healing. Sin is the problem, and the blood of Christ is the solution. Sin separates us from God, but Christ offers to be our bridge to life!
On our prayer lists we need to include verse 6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. Recent bombing raids in Israel were in retaliation for terrorist attacks. Until the attack on our nation, no place has been in more need of prayer. The word peace, “shalom”, means wholeness. “Jerusalem” ironically means “city of peace”. We find peace by the work of God within. God’s peace gives us a calm assurance that we belong to Him, and are living according to His plan. When we find peace with God, we can then live at peace with others. By Jerusalem’s reliance on God, David is realizing that the strength of the city is not measured by economic indicators or military superiority—it comes from God.
Then there’s the matter of fellowship: “To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be glory! To dwell below with saints we know…that’s another story.” Part of being in the Body of Christ means loving the unlovable. David declares in vs 8, “For the sake of my brothers and friends I will say ‘Peace be within you’.” My presence in church tells others that God is important in my life and that they are important to me as well.
We who know Christ as our Savior will one day journey to what the author of Hebrews calls our “heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God” (12:24). The book of Revelation describes this “new Jerusalem” as the perfect fulfillment of the City of God.
We’ve seen what religious extremism and cultic fanaticism can do—the Taliban shows its hatred for God by murdering innocent people in God’s Name. It’s been said, “When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything” (Chesterton). Those who reject the Truth embrace lies, and it shows in their actions.
“Worship does not satisfy our hunger for God—it whets our appetite. Our need for God is not taken care of by engaging in worship—it deepens. It overflows the hour and permeates the week.” -Eugene Peterson
In Christ,
Brown
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Brown's Daily Word 11-27-07
Dear friends,
Once again it is time, as we enter the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we anticipate and celebrate joyfully the birth of our Lord and Savior. We would like to invite you to join us in sharing the opportunity to bless the children of Orissa, India. As many of you know, we support two children's homes in the State of Orissa. Currently there are 130 children living there. We would like to give them a gift of new clothing, including an outfit of school clothing and a sweater. We also desire to provide for each of them a special Christmas meal. Because of the devaluation of the American dollar in world currency, it will take approximately $25 per child. If any additional funds come in we will provide blankets for some fifteen lepers and their families.
I would like invite you to share in this ministry of blessing. You can make your checks payable to Union Center United Methodist Church. On the memo line should be "India Children". Your gift can be sent to me at 131 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY 13760.
Thank you for caring, sharing, and praying. May our Lord and Savior, the Christ of Christmas, bless you with His abundant joy.
In Him,
Brown
" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."Isaiah 9:6-7
Once again it is time, as we enter the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we anticipate and celebrate joyfully the birth of our Lord and Savior. We would like to invite you to join us in sharing the opportunity to bless the children of Orissa, India. As many of you know, we support two children's homes in the State of Orissa. Currently there are 130 children living there. We would like to give them a gift of new clothing, including an outfit of school clothing and a sweater. We also desire to provide for each of them a special Christmas meal. Because of the devaluation of the American dollar in world currency, it will take approximately $25 per child. If any additional funds come in we will provide blankets for some fifteen lepers and their families.
I would like invite you to share in this ministry of blessing. You can make your checks payable to Union Center United Methodist Church. On the memo line should be "India Children". Your gift can be sent to me at 131 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY 13760.
Thank you for caring, sharing, and praying. May our Lord and Savior, the Christ of Christmas, bless you with His abundant joy.
In Him,
Brown
" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."Isaiah 9:6-7
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