Job 22:21-22 Acquaint now thyself with him; and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
Oh mih dearest Friends, aren’t those beautiful sentiments? But before we get into them, I want to…well I’m actually getting into them, but through song. The other morning, after writing the Bit, I was listening to some rocking reggae riddims on the t.v, and three songs struck me as being quite relevant to our faith. I don’t know who sang them all, or have all the words, but what I have is sufficient for me to paint a bright picture of how our faith should effectively operate. And the first song, a skanking reggae, says: ‘One God Alone!’ The living truth my Friends! And the chorus enlightens: ‘One God Alone; Me nuh take that light. One God Alone; Make the devil take flight. One God Alone; Me nuh take Him for joke. One God Alone; the same God that guides my heart.’ Those might not be the exact words mih Friends, but they’re certainly the meaning the song conveys. And when we add Burning Spear’s scintillating music and his gruff voice: ‘Glory be to Jah. We are moving in the right direction. We are saying all the truthful things. One Creation!’ It just fits like a hand and glove! And how we going to do all that mih breddren? Of course with a nice lover’s rock tune; ‘Oh LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ For sure mih people; ‘LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ Oh mih Friends, do you feel the fire, the enthusiasm, the can’t wait feeling to get out there and testify on God’s behalf? I hope so, cause the ole fella surely feels that way. The music just does that for him. (smile) There’s One God mih people, whom we must take seriously; the only worthwhile adversary of evildoers, whom we must praise and glorify while doing His oh so important work that’s anointed in LOVE! Selah! And though Job’s buddy, Eliphaz was wrongly accusing him of much sin against our One God, he had the right idea: ‘Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.’ That’s gospel mih people! To have peace and thrive in this crazy, violent, greedy, godless world, one must be securely connected to the Most High God Jehovah. That dynamic prophet Isaiah declared it centuries ago. ‘Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.’ (Isa.27:5-6) And Bruh David said: ‘The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps.34:10) While the Sons of Korah sang: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12)Oh mih Friends, yuh know how many people suffering in this mish mash world today, who lack peace and good things happening in their lives? It’s in the billions! Why? Because they’re not acquainted with the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And until they do, they’ll never have continuous peace or goodness. And it’s our job to get out there and acquaint them with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that most wonderful person who died for us all, including those who don’t know Him. And they won’t get that good news until we communicate it to them, and say with heartfelt sincerity; ‘Receive, I pray thee, the law (instruction) from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.’ Ah my people, acquainting ourselves with God is fine, but that’s only the introductory lesson. To really have lifelong peace, we need to hear His Word, and then write it diligently in our very beings. We see this with Job, who, even after his horrendous problems, could still say with faith and confidence: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.’ (Job 23:10-12) Oh Friends, that’s how we’ve got to see and proclaim our eternal and everlasting God, even in the midst of the most tragic circumstances, for He sees all and knows all, and will judge us by the rightness of our hearts, regardless of how our outward actions might appear. That was the most patient of men. Now hear the wisest one; Solomon. ‘For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler (shield) to them that walk uprightly.’ (Prov.2:6-7) Now listen to the man after God’s own heart, Bruh David, and you’ll understand why the Lord referred to him thus. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes…I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches…I will delight myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy word.’ (Ps.119:11-12,14,16) Yes my people, to have everlasting peace and success, we must first acquaint ourselves with the One Mighty God, Jehovah, then delve into His Word, like one hungry for food, write His rules in our innermost parts, then keep them to the best of our ability. We’ll always make mistakes; that’s the nature of the beast, but our God knows that and has made provision for it through repentance, forgiveness and mercy. So my Friends in Christ, let’s all renew our acquaintance with Him today nuh. Let’s brush up on our knowledge of His law, then go out into the crazy world and do what needs to be done; spread His Holy Word. It’s the calling of our Faith. Much LOVE!…One God Alone…Glorify Him…let LOVE lead the way…
Oh mih dearest Friends, aren’t those beautiful sentiments? But before we get into them, I want to…well I’m actually getting into them, but through song. The other morning, after writing the Bit, I was listening to some rocking reggae riddims on the t.v, and three songs struck me as being quite relevant to our faith. I don’t know who sang them all, or have all the words, but what I have is sufficient for me to paint a bright picture of how our faith should effectively operate. And the first song, a skanking reggae, says: ‘One God Alone!’ The living truth my Friends! And the chorus enlightens: ‘One God Alone; Me nuh take that light. One God Alone; Make the devil take flight. One God Alone; Me nuh take Him for joke. One God Alone; the same God that guides my heart.’ Those might not be the exact words mih Friends, but they’re certainly the meaning the song conveys. And when we add Burning Spear’s scintillating music and his gruff voice: ‘Glory be to Jah. We are moving in the right direction. We are saying all the truthful things. One Creation!’ It just fits like a hand and glove! And how we going to do all that mih breddren? Of course with a nice lover’s rock tune; ‘Oh LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ For sure mih people; ‘LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ Oh mih Friends, do you feel the fire, the enthusiasm, the can’t wait feeling to get out there and testify on God’s behalf? I hope so, cause the ole fella surely feels that way. The music just does that for him. (smile) There’s One God mih people, whom we must take seriously; the only worthwhile adversary of evildoers, whom we must praise and glorify while doing His oh so important work that’s anointed in LOVE! Selah! And though Job’s buddy, Eliphaz was wrongly accusing him of much sin against our One God, he had the right idea: ‘Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.’ That’s gospel mih people! To have peace and thrive in this crazy, violent, greedy, godless world, one must be securely connected to the Most High God Jehovah. That dynamic prophet Isaiah declared it centuries ago. ‘Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.’ (Isa.27:5-6) And Bruh David said: ‘The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps.34:10) While the Sons of Korah sang: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12)Oh mih Friends, yuh know how many people suffering in this mish mash world today, who lack peace and good things happening in their lives? It’s in the billions! Why? Because they’re not acquainted with the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And until they do, they’ll never have continuous peace or goodness. And it’s our job to get out there and acquaint them with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that most wonderful person who died for us all, including those who don’t know Him. And they won’t get that good news until we communicate it to them, and say with heartfelt sincerity; ‘Receive, I pray thee, the law (instruction) from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.’ Ah my people, acquainting ourselves with God is fine, but that’s only the introductory lesson. To really have lifelong peace, we need to hear His Word, and then write it diligently in our very beings. We see this with Job, who, even after his horrendous problems, could still say with faith and confidence: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.’ (Job 23:10-12) Oh Friends, that’s how we’ve got to see and proclaim our eternal and everlasting God, even in the midst of the most tragic circumstances, for He sees all and knows all, and will judge us by the rightness of our hearts, regardless of how our outward actions might appear. That was the most patient of men. Now hear the wisest one; Solomon. ‘For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler (shield) to them that walk uprightly.’ (Prov.2:6-7) Now listen to the man after God’s own heart, Bruh David, and you’ll understand why the Lord referred to him thus. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes…I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches…I will delight myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy word.’ (Ps.119:11-12,14,16) Yes my people, to have everlasting peace and success, we must first acquaint ourselves with the One Mighty God, Jehovah, then delve into His Word, like one hungry for food, write His rules in our innermost parts, then keep them to the best of our ability. We’ll always make mistakes; that’s the nature of the beast, but our God knows that and has made provision for it through repentance, forgiveness and mercy. So my Friends in Christ, let’s all renew our acquaintance with Him today nuh. Let’s brush up on our knowledge of His law, then go out into the crazy world and do what needs to be done; spread His Holy Word. It’s the calling of our Faith. Much LOVE!…One God Alone…Glorify Him…let LOVE lead the way…
SCRIP-BITS 