Or as in Numbers 32:23, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Attempting to conceal sin never works. Eventually, it is revealed and the longer we try and hide it, the more it negatively affects us. Keep short accounts. Be quick to confess and repent. Likewise, be quick to forgive others.
This beautiful verse describes our place in the Father’s heart as His people. Take special note that we are “his own possession.” In other words, He made us for Himself. We are His. And we belong to HIm in order to “proclaim the excellencies” of Christ, the One who brought us out of “darkness into marvelous light.” Augustine reflected on this saying, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee.”
What we invest in our 401Ks for retirement does not have guaranteed returns. But what we invest in the Kingdom is guaranteed by God. More than that, when we trust Jesus for salvation, we ourselves are “being guarded” by God’s power until His return. As C.T. Studd said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. For those who know “Bible Drill,” it is near the center (excluding notes and concordance), which is helpful. It is an acrostic, with each stanza beginning with one of the 22 Hebrew letters in the alphabet (aleph, beth, gimel…). It uses many synonyms to describe God’s Word and is a celebration and praise of it. Above, you will notice it uses “statutes” and “word.” It seems appropriate that at the very center, the longest chapter in the Word, would be about, for, and in celebration of the Word.
The corollary to this might be stated “Exalt yourself and God will humble you.” Or as James said, “God opposes the proud, but give grace to the humble.” So, how do you “humble yourselves?” Here are 12 ways: 1) Confess your sin to God, 2) Acknowledge your sin to others, 3) Take wrong patiently, 4) Submit to authority, 5) Receive correction from others graciously, 6) Accept a lowly place, 7) Associate with people of lower state than you, 8 ) Choose to serve others, 9) Be quick to forgive, 10) Speak well of others, 11) Cultivate a grateful heart, and 12) Embrace the cross (These 12 ways to humble yourself are from http://billygraham.org/story/twelve-ways-to-humble-yourself/).
Learn to trust in the Lord finding a place of security in Him. Trust in man will always lead to disappointment. Dependence on human government (“princes” as in v.9) or other human systems is also not advised. Depend on God.
Usually when we see bones, we assume life is long past being possible. But Ezekiel had been following God long enough to at least hesitate in giving a human answer. He had learned something about God. Nothing is ever too dead for God to give it life. “Prophesy over those bones Zeke!” “Yes, Lord.”
Do you need wisdom or understanding? Ask God. Open your eyes to the Lord and His Word. He is a God who freely gives. He wants to reveal Himself to you. He will give wisdom and more… He will give Himself. In most situations that’s the wisdom we most need– that God is with us.
When a people lose their fear of the Lord and begin to lift their own judgments above His, that nation will not long survive. When the prophet Ezekiel preached, warning the people of Israel, they responded by accusing God of injustice rather than repenting themselves. Today, we often hear a biblically illiterate people accusing God of injustice, either as a way of questioning His existence or in response to the warnings of His preachers. Watch out, lest history repeat itself.
A rhetorical question that begs the answer, “None!” The Psalmist uses this question to intensify the praise of those who worship the Lord. It causes us to shout out in response, “None is like our God!!!” The Lord is here described as “seated on high,” showing His lofty position over and above creation. Yet, the following verses detail His interest in the “poor” and the “barren woman.” God is both transcendent and immanent. His position is higher than all, yet He stoops to help the least of these. Who is like Him?