Prior to the evening service there was that churning of our spirits in expectation as we met for intercessory prayer. The liberty of the prayer time spilled over into our worship once service began as needs were met and a completeness prevailed. We left knowing that, on this night, His will for the service was accomplished.
Message
A second reason came to me for the Maskil Psalms in preparing for this message. As you may recall when we started the session and the new focus I was unsure as to why the Lord was leading us this way. Then in preparing Psalm 78 the connection between the spirit of Elijah and the Maskil songs became evident in the need to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. Such turning of hearts would bring a generational unity in Christ reflected on the Last Days.
Another reason for this time of instruction came this week: Before David picked up his bow of bronze; he secured himself in the Lord. God became his refuge, his stronghold, his high tower (Frangipane, This Day we Fight, page 19). Thus, as we enter into greater spiritual warfare it is imperative that God be our refuge.
“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? -- the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Psalms 18:31-34).
Notice The past and present tense:
- equipped me—that He has given us everything we need
- made my way blameless—an understanding of grace
- made my feet like a deer—empowered me to the utmost
- set me secure on the heights—brought into His stronghold
- He trains my hands to war—then he prepares me
A third reason, and one that ultimately brings us full circle back to generational unity: We can be destroyed by ignorance,“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
This is especially important in light of the opening Psalm 78 in sharing with the next generation and the spirit of Elijah in turning the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children. Therefore, we should be again encouraged to know that through obedience we are striding just where the Spirit desires His spiritual warriors to march!
2 comments:
Once again I am amazed by God's ability to give us confirmation and strength through His word. There is no greater strength than the strength of God; and no greater peace than being in the refuge of God. I find that more and more true every day. In the revelation of that truth, God is also showing me the blessing I have to be "marching" with my fellow warriors at CH. The path we are now on is exciting and as we see God's continued work in our lives that excitement grows. It is my prayer that as we continue to march we will move only when God moves us and we will stay when He is still.
What he (Jody) said!
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