RESTORATION

Image result for clip art showing restoreRestoration is a major theme in Scripture.  The Psamist in 126 gives us the picture of the returning exiles from Babylon led by the Priest, Ezra.  This psalm is one which may have been sung on the way "up" to Jerusalem to begin the work and worship of the Lord. It is referred to as a song of ascents. I love the second and third verses for I can almost hear their laughter and their songs of joy as they are traveling.  They long to see the day when the rest of the exiles would be returning.  

Note their request in verses 4-6: "Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev (desert).  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."  For them, they have a yearning to see the land being sown, alive, and harvests coming forth.  They want to see Jerusalem alive again with the hustle and bustle of peoples.  The land around Jerusalem is very dry, and the land depends on the spring rains in order to have a fall harvest.  Perhaps even their weeping could be productive with the tears being like seeds sown in the land.  They expect to have a harvest of sheaves of wheat either from the spring rains or from their tears.  

Joel 2:6 reminds us also of a plea of the people to God requesting that HE Restore the years that the locusts have eaten.   Consider with me that not only is God the RESTORER of the broken, the wounded, and the contrite of heart, but HE is able to make all things new.  We have sown tears, Lord, would you cause our weepings to be productive as seeds with a harvest to Your glory in view?  Nothing is ever wasted with the Lord when it is FOR the Lord's glory.  Thank YOU for restoring laughter, joys, and the harvest of living more productive lives for YOU.  #IHAVETHREESONS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more