Bible Pathways - July 13, 2008
July 13
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Want to take a 40 year trip? Travel with God's people as they relive their desert wanderings. They confess their sins, including: lusted (106:14), murmured (106:25), mingled among the heathen (106:35), shed innocent blood (106:38). Finally, they praise God for their deliverance (Note 107:19-20). There is a refrain in vss 8,15, 21,31.
The magnificence of Israel's history was not the result of her heroes, priests, or prophets, but rather it was the fulfillment of God's Word (Genesis 12:7). Accordingly, all failures which were written in their history, all losses, defeats in battle, famines, and exiles were to be seen as consequences of disobedience to His Word: They believed not His Word (Psalm 106:24).
It is significant that the psalmist said: He sent His Word, and healed them (107:20) rather than: "The Lord healed them." It simply means there is nothing of this world that will sustain one's spiritual nature and nothing in it will satisfy the hungering and thirsting of the soul. His Word alone is the infallible healer of all sufferings and sorrows. There is no other reliable source of counsel for the inner conflicts that seek to control our minds and emotions.
He sent His Word — Yes, the same Word by which the heavens were made (33:6) and our lives brought into a spiritual relationship with Him. His Word is Jesus come in the flesh as well as His Written Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). His Written Word, when believed and acted upon, is the means God has chosen to supply and satisfy every need through Jesus the Living Word (Philippians 4:19).
God teaches us the necessity of faith in His Word and its unlimited resources. As our Lord often said: All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). Experience has taught us that most of us are prone to view our problems based on our human abilities. But, throughout the Bible, we are taught the absolute necessity of relying on God's Word to reveal His will for every problem and every situation — without exception. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, we obtain the insight to guide us to fulfill all His promises.
The disciple whose faith brings answers to prayer has recognized the inseparable link that unites God's promises and His commands to be obeyed. To the extent of our submission to His commands we are able to trust God in prayer to fulfill His promises.
This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him (I John 5:14-15).
Thought for Today:
Learning to be obedient to God's Word must be the sincere desire of every Christian.
Christ Revealed:
As the One who maketh the storm a calm (Psalm 107:29). When Jesus calmed the storm, His awestruck disciples exclaimed: What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! (Matthew 8:27). Jesus offers to calm the storms of our lives and give us His peace (John 14:27).
Word Studies:
106:20 similitude =b> likeness; 106:29 inventions =b> deeds, acts; 106:30 stayed =b> stopped, checked; 107:11 contemned =b> despised, spurned.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Official: Rep. Rob Bishop (UT) • Country: Vanuatu (189,000) a group of 12 large islands southwest of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific • Major languages: English and French • Religious freedom • 78% Protestant; 17% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that you will sanctify the Lord God in your heart (I Peter 3:15).
Optional Reading: 1 Timothy 4
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Corinthians 4:9
