There is a Thing which is Better than Life

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psa 63:3 

A Voice from the Wilderness

David's expression is cryptic. What is better than life? Isn’t life an end in itself? Or is there more? According to David, there is more, and it’s God’s love, his steadfastness, or his faithfulness.

David’s God is a God of covenant, the God who keeps his word.

To the optimist, life is good, full stop. To the fatalist, life is good or bad according to what it hands you. To the atheist life is a shadow, and there’s nothing more.

What of the God believer? Solomon the preacher launches his homily with: “It is useless (vanity), useless, everything is useless.”

Then there is that verse in Isaiah which, still having life as its motif, launches:

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isa 40:6-8 

But David, speaking in poetic nuance, says God’s lovingkindness is better than life! And so, in a roundabout way, we come to learn that life is a matter of revelation, and not syntax.

And it is the sort of knowledge which prompts one to sing, every day, and wherever one is. David’s thirst found him in the wilderness, that place loved by God, for meeting his people.

Wilderness is a place of intense thirst, but even more of deep knowledge. So we have the treasury of David in the psalms. It is a bottle full of his tears, which God prepared for him, so that we, of this present age, might find comfort and patience. As it is written:

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Co 10:11  

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom 15:4  

Life and Thirst

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psa 63:1 

“O God.”

It just shoots from the lip: O God. As if it’s a child crying for help. What prompts the heart to skip a beat like that? Sorrow? Shock? Joy? Gladness? Doubt? Trust?

“Thou art my God.”

It is the testimony of history. Sometimes the testimony of the heart. It is what the saints have known, and what they have told us.  

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. Psa 44:1  

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. Psa 78:3  

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Psa 139:1  

“Early will I seek thee.”

I will do it the first thing, O God. You are my Father, my everything. You are my God. You will come first. My times are in thy hand.   

My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

My soul, my heart, my life. I want you, O God. where are you? “longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land”. My heart pants. I hunger for your love, I hunger for your mercy, O God…   

What is a desert place, and what is a dry land? It is the soul which is dry; it is the heart that is famished. It’s the language of the Spirit, the language redolent with memories of years…

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psa 23:1  

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psa 23:4  

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psa 27:1-6  

Even in a dry and thirsty land God still speaks. I shall not lack. And David was in a wilderness. And David’s sighs were beyond this life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa 16:11  

And this is the life which the saints have seen, and have declared, that here they are not citizens, but strangers. So the world does not understand them.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Heb 11:14-16  

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1Jn 5:11-12  

A Living Life, and a Dead Life

It is a mystery. This life.

It was created by God. It was “killed” by him (through the sin of man), and it was recreated by him. And now the believer lives by the power of the Spirit. The unbeliever is not alive to this power. And one day life will not be a mystery anymore.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. Joh 5:24-26 

The Thirst is Finished, and Yet it is Not

I can understand now why, at Pentecost, the first believers were thought drunk. Or why some thought Christ was mad. For revelation in God will always arouse a rapturous response in the heart. It’s the poetry of the heart. It is why some fear open confession about Christ. The fear of sounding foolish is very real.

Though it need not. There is no fear in love.

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psa 60:12  

And such is the truth, which sets a man free – free to go back home, free to sing, free to dance, and sometimes free to just sit quietly by the Father, and gaze. It’s the thirst caught in the throat. The thirst we shall know, when we arrive.

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14  

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1Jn 3:2  

What the Soul Knows Very Well

It is the intrusion of light against darkness. When it happens there’s no more fear.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Joh 8:12  

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because

there is no light in him. Joh 11:9-10  

David was surrounded by darkness, and yet how much light was about him!

David knew. David was at peace, though he was in the wilderness.

Where are you right now?

Are you worried?

Is there no light?

Hold onto him. He is faithful. Trust him.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psa 139:7-14 

God grant that he will give you a life which your soul will know very well.

This is My Prayer

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Mat 10:16  

The Christ of Love and not Contention

I have read why the gramophone needle gets stuck on one groove, and the reasons make an interesting study. And there is nothing as irritating as a record stuck on one line.

And so too can believers get stuck on one line, one theology, one idea, one thought, one doctrine, one …one… and one.

The Bible is not one doctrine, one method, but many.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1Co 12:3-7 

Now no one was as varied as Christ was in his methods. He had his “Woe” moments, and then he had his “Cheer up” moments. He had his “Miracle” moments” and then he had his “Come unto me” moments. He had his deep moments “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” and then he had his “Let not your heart be troubled” moments. It is not enough to exhaust his methods. Like God the Father was, so was God the Son. For me there is no comforting words as God’s in Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isa 41:10).  

The Reasons Why We get Stuck

Now a record player can get stuck on one line because of foreign objects, like dirt, or dust, or small specks of debris, so the writer says.

A believer too can be encumbered with what is like a foreign object, dirt, or small specks of dust.

A foreign object can be anything like a strange doctrine, or false prophecy. The dirt or small specks of dust might not even be known to the believer, but to the hearing ear they are a pain.

I have here in view the attacks on fellow believers, mostly Catholics, and about their past errors. Now I am not an apologist (or even expert) for the Catholic faith. But to keep harping time and again on one idea… they did, they killed, they…they…they…

It is true they did. But it is equally true God forgives and forgets completely. Again, it is true that, even in their past errors, God was accomplishing his purpose.

Take the death of Jesus for example. It is easy to get stuck on the errors of Jewish leaders, it is easy to hate them perpetually, it is easy to see only Judas... But is that the spirit of scripture? Is that the whole counsel of God?

And Christ at the cross prayed, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

God forgives and forgets completely. Can’t we? Are we more righteous than God? “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” (Job 11:7).  

Is God done with the Catholic for good? Have they no hope? Has God done with Israel for good, because they killed Jesus?

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Rom 9:15-18  

Again, it is written:

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? Rom 11:11-12  

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Rom 11:15-21  

Know Your Enemy

So, the writer of the gramophone continues: Now a record player can get stuck on one line because of dirt, or dust, or small specks of debris. But a simple cleaning with a brush can resolve the issue.

Have you tried the brush of prayer?

For the believer, the debris might be anger, jealousy, bitterness, or simply hate, that visceral monster beloved of the devil and us...

Who is your enemy?

And what did Christ teach about our enemies?

Have we worshipped God in truth and spirit?

Then you can love… I can love… we can love.

As it is written:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing…1Co 13:1-3 

Charity never faileth. Rather love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things. 

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1Co 13:9-13  

Know Your Heart

A damaged record is another cause for repetition. The damage may be in scratches, which can obstruct the stylus, causing it to repeat.

There’s such a thing as a damaged heart, an angry heart, or a bitter heart.

Theology (the knowledge of God) can get damaged through our peculiar stubbornness, our prejudices, our fears, our past baggage…causing us to repeat one line over and over again. And that can irritate just as a record stuck on one groove.

A damaged record may need to be replaced. But who can replace a damaged heart? The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).  

That was the question, and he followed it with the answer: “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jer 17:10).  

Only God can change a damaged heart. Can you, or can I allow him to do that?

And in Psalm 19 David says,

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psa 19:12-13  

In Hebrew 4 we read about the searching power of God’s word.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Heb 4:12-13  

The word of God is that blunt. Can you and I accept its brutal honesty? Again, David writes in Psalm 139.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 139:23-24  

And in 2Co 13 Paul writes:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2Co 13:5 

And in Hebrews 6 the writer says:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. Heb 6:1-3   

The Heart Can be Repaired

We can contribute to the repair of our damaged heart by reading (and practicing) the whole counsel of God, especially paying close attention to those verses which we don’t like much, or which don’t align with our theology.

We are human. And we are prone to bursts of atavistic stubbornness. In such times remember the grace of God…

Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Mat 7:1-3  

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Mat 5:46-47  

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Mat 7:12  

Know Your Theology

Another reason for a stuck record is a misaligned stylus or tonearm. If it’s worn out or dirty, then it will cause repetition. And cleaning the stylus with a brush, says the writer, can resolve the issue.

A simple thing as a prayer said in truth and spirit can resolve the matter for the believer.

The fourth issue, says the book, is tonearm and turntable issues. These can occur because of misaligned or misadjusted tonearm settings, or a sticking tonearm. And the solution is placing the turntable on a level stable surface.

Now what is a tonearm and turntable issue for a believer? I think one’s theology can be faulty, even fatal. The question is: Would one be bold enough to change it? Can one accept to be taught something new, or the correct way, as Apollos accepted the change?

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 

This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. Act 18:24-28 

I can be taught. They can be taught. Can you be taught? Can you change your theology, so long held, so long cherished, so long…so long…so long?

And John in finishing writing his book said:

This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. Joh 21:24-25  

And the world is still discovering this to be the truth. Try it. I have tried it. And man, it is not enough. There is just so much, and so much, and so much to learn. It is the time that is short.

Yes, my turntable may have issues. Would I be bold enough to accept to be corrected?

Let’s go over again on those trouble shooting steps:

Clean the record (the heart).

Inspect the record (the heart).

Clean the stylus (theology).

Adjust tonearm setting (loosen the heart, laugh, once in a while!).

Check for a foreign object (Watch and pray, for ye know not the hour: and in the Last Days…).

So, every day is a learning day, every second and every minute and hour. “Call unto me” says God, “and I will show you mighty things you do not know.”

Did I miss something? Have I learnt everything?

Dear God teach me those mighty things about yourself!

That I may know you in the inward parts, O God, and more important, that I might know myself, as you know me. Amen.

 

Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground. Rosa Parks

 

Random Thoughts

 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Php 4:8  

 

Stuck in Old Fashion Beauty

 

There are two types of beauties which have awed me since childhood. And they both have to do with women. One is the nun, and the other is the sight of a woman in a veil.

The nun, with her habit, and dress, and beauty, and intelligence, and the fact of her complete separation from the world, is something that makes my heart stir with conviction that the world is still a beautiful place. 

Not that I hate the modern woman. She is good, and might even grow better, but I think there is nothing that beats the ancient woman in simple pristine beauty. The modern woman overflows with many accessories, which, inadvertently, always robs a person of what is authentic.

Probably I am still old fashioned, but that again is a throwback at conventionalism, which, at heart, really means nothing, when you peel off the mask.

For who decides this is fashion and that is not? Is it man or is it God? Well, if it is a mere man like me, why can’t I also be a fashion setter? Fashion is a malleable thing, but then who is the world?

You see he is not a person, but a movement, or a tradition, but a movement or tradition is an ambiguous term.

So, these things disturbed me as a child. I felt the tenuous nature of it all, the falsity, the lack of solidness. It is like darkness, which approaches at night but fades in the morning. Or like a dream, which, after you wake up, it’s gone.

I felt that way, but I was a child.

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 1Pe 3:1-6  

 

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1Co 13:9-13  

 

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom 12:18  

 

The Real, and the Unreal

 

Yet the heart craved something more. I felt there was something more. I felt restless.

The world made me believe many things. It overloaded my young mind. The world urged me, it compelled me, and that sense turned me rebellious…

One thing stands memorable. It was my first flame. She was as beautiful as an artist can appreciate beauty. But I didn’t like her hair. It wasn’t natural, and I told her. I wanted her to remain in her natural hair, but she said I was jealous, because I feared other men would love her!

Needless to say, I lost her, but I think I lost her on principal.

It was I who was going to live with her, but she chose to hear the voice of the world. And the world is a powerful thing, invincible, tenacious, superfluous…

Scripture calls it “the prince of the air”. Elsewhere it speaks of principalities.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:11-12  

And all these are terms which reflect on the world. The world was beautiful once, because God created it, and he saw that it was very good.

There in the day of Adam, in the pristinely dawn of the morning. But sin entered, and sin altered everything up to this day.

What was beautiful once the world called ugly, and what was ugly once the world called beautiful.

The nun to me represented the recalcitrance which is beautiful. I loved that conviction. She stands in stark contrast to the world, something fluid, opaque, meaningless, and her something solid, something true, and the other something false.

And that for me, even as a child, I understood that truth is inviolable, unassailable – because it is the truth of God.

A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psa 15:1-5  

 

Staying Fixed!

 

I thank God I felt the way I felt. I thank him I still feel the way I feel.

There is something intrinsic in the air, and again there is something which is very unreal.

My heart refuses to juggle these principals.

And I didn’t even know God then!

So, quite deliberately, and progressively, God has made himself known to me.

I wanted something. I was sure of something. And, in the end, God did not disappoint. Father, you showed me yourself!

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 

Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Psa 57:7-10

 

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psa 107:8-9  

 

God grant that your restlessness may bring you at last at home. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Act 17:28). 

We are all prodigals, and we never know it until we are broke, and in far country.

 

From Ash to Beauty

Beauty must not always be subjective, it can be a road to what is true.

In poetry we struggle with words, but it is not a vain struggle. Just as there is no child who is vain. There is no labour which is vain.

Right now, it might not hold much meaning, but it always does, later. God grant that we shall not miss it, when it arrives.