“Who is this King? Please, I really don’t have time for such things,” might be the attitude of your heart this morning.
Perhaps you have suffered loss. Perhaps the last year has ended and left you…fearful, or full of doubt and uncertainty. Yes, when one is hit with a ‘ton of bricks’ that often this world throws our way, there is bruising and pain! Yes, there is.
But God!…Never-the-less-God! Haven’t you heard?
“Who is this King of Glory?” (Ps. 24:8). I can’t see Him in this frantic paced, pressure-filled life that this world has to offer. I can’t see Him through the sickness, through the loneliness, through the pain… “Who is this King of Glory?” These might be your thoughts.
Imagine hearing in the distant hills the sound of a song, no instruments, just melody and words: “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ol’ way, and Who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord, show me the way.” (Alison Krauss, As I Went Down To the River).
“Oh sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…””O brothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…” “Oh fathers, let’s go down, let’s go down, won’t you come on down?…” “Oh mothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…”
“But, I am not close to God right now…I don’t know if I even want to come…’who is this King anyway? Is there really a King of Glory?'” Could these be your thoughts.
Sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers…hear the word of the Lord; ‘as I went down to river to pray, studying about that good ‘ol way,’ …“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”(Ps. 24:3,4). “STOP right there! STOP right there!” You may say, “Who has clean hands and a pure heart?” Not me! And most likely not you!”
Yes, this is true. And the sword gets even sharper, I mean, God’s word speaks: “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?…He…Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully…” (Psalm 24:4).
‘Well, then, that’s impossible! No one can arise to the ‘hill of the LORD!’
And again,I agree. It is impossible…with man that is. That’s why the Great Physician didn’t come for the healthy, but for the sick. That’s why the Good Shepherd came to lead ‘sheep’. That’s why the word reminds us of a truth that brings healing, a truth that brings hope, a truth that restores life, God’s word says, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26).
Even if you ‘don’t believe it all’ if you even have a little faith, even as small as a mustard seed, (which I heard was one of the smallest of seeds,) God tells us through His Son, Jesus who took off His Robe and all His Majesty in heaven to ‘come down’ to the river on earth here for us, “…for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you…” (Matthew 18:20). Can you give an ear to the song in the background? Can you hear the invitation to ‘all’, even ‘all the children of the world, red brown yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…’ Can you hear the song?
“Oh sinners, let’s go down,let’s go down, come on down. Oh sinners let’s go down, down to the river to pray.”(Alison Krauss, As I Went Down to the River). COME, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7-9).
If you’ve got a closed gate over your heart, ask God to give you the willingness to ‘open the gates!’Give Him your filthy clothes, He will give you His Robe. Give him your eyes, lift them up to His face. He’s giving you a crown.
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the king of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:10).
Selah “The Lord says, “You are my servants, I have chosen you, and I have not turned against you. So don’t worry, because I am with you.”Isaiah 41:10.
Selah “Comfort, Comfort my people, speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem. Tell them that their time of warfare is ended…This is a voice of a man who calls out: “Prepare in the desert the way of the Lord. Make the road in the dry lands straight for our God…” Isaiah 40 1-3.
Selah “I will feed my flock and lead them to rest, says the Lord God. I will search for the lost. I will bring back those that were scattered. I will put bandages on those that were hurt. I will make the weak strong…
So I will save my flock. they will not hurt anymore…
Selah “I will break the bars of their captivity.
And I will save them from the power of those who made them slaves. They will not be led captive…again.”
Ezekiel 34:15,16,22,27.
“Who is this King of glory?” “He is ready to rescue. He is ready to resurrect life and beauty and hope. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in…”(Ps. 24:7). And for all who believe and receive, “He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Ps. 24:5).
Yes! He gives us His robe of righteousness and He let’s us follow Him through those everlasting doors where we will be with Him and in fellowship with His people, forever! Amen! “Oh sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, won’t you come on down? Oh sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray…”
Month: January 2015
This is my prayer, this is my poem…
Holy Father of heaven and earth, draw us Your children near. We busy ourselves and move so fast – that at times we don’t lend You our ear.
So, our feet get on moving, moving ever so fast and just like the Pilgrim in the old Classic story, we ever so slightly go off the path.
But God, we had no idea that we’d run into ‘Giant Despair’! Yet, in the seemingly hopeless situation- You are still there.
Immanuel, You are called; God with us, we are told, and reminded each year as the carols ring old.
Christmas has come, and Christmas has gone and there is no denying Your gentle touch of grace – my heart is stirred and encouraged that there is no mountain too high or valley too low that You Lord won’t help us to face.
So, in this new year, my heavenly Father, may I take some time to ‘hallow’ Your Name – not just now, but each new day, yes, each and every day, the same. Slow me down in the morning to give You my ear, to glean from Your wisdom, to know where to steer. And in the evening, will You help me gather the courage, sufficient courage to pray a hard prayer:
“O search me O God, and know me through. Test me and know – even my thoughts, I ask You. Is my heart hard as a stone? Then please make it flesh. Lead me O LORD in Your mercy and forgiveness.””Search me O God!” this is what I pray. “Lead me in Your love, in Your ‘self-less’ Way.”
And when I wake on each ‘morrow-morn’- may I humble myself to receive what You say.
Oh, and how thankful I can start each new day remembering Your stead-fast love never ceases and Your mercies never end! It’s Your kindness that leads us to repentance O LORD. Satan wants us to believe You are hard and demanding with a frown on Your face –
but it’s not true – I can see You smile, as step – by – step we each run our race!
So, Lord Jesus, I don’t know what this year will bring, but I pray that You search me and lead me and fill me with Your song. That no matter what happens, I surrender to trust You…to trust You with my cares, because You are mine and to You, the King of the Universe, I belong!
Thank You dear Jesus, even the mess that I am, that by believing in You, You’ve covered me in Your blood and called me Your Friend, but not only that, Your Bride I will be and I really can’t wait – I look to the heavens and wait with great joy, knowing that that’s where my home really is, in heaven with You , for all e-ter-ni-ty!
But as for today… I am Your prisoner Lord! But I am so free, freer than ever before and I’m given each hour here on this earth to point others to You and tell them that You love them and that You have a plan-a plan that is good and not one that brings harm.
A plan with a future and hope for all who believe. And You’ve given me hope that all will receive! “Today, today!” that is what I hear from You my Great Shepherd. So I follow close to Your feet and ask that You keep me from wandering. Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it…
let me hear Your love song to me, each day… in Your word.
This is my prayer, this is my poem. Dear Jesus, until the day… that You call me home.
I love you, I love you, I love you again, my Jesus my Savior, to You I pray, Amen!
a mama remembers, birth…
Today is New Years day. The beginning of so much. So in this past year, I would pray, and I would write what I felt God was impressing on my heart. So today, I share the post that was most read, written on Sept. 10, 2014, the day on which, many years before, my dear Chris was born: