Psalm 71:20 Thou which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
And how are my beautiful Friends in Christ today? I hope these few words (smile) find all of you in tip top shape, consistently walking and talking with our Heavenly Father, as He desires us to do. Before we get into the Bit, I have a quote to share, which pertains to us all. ‘A positive, responsible person does not forget the harm which may have been done because of earlier ignorance, thoughtlessness or emotional limitations.’ So says Lewis F. Presnall. And what does he mean? Basically two things: with maturity comes wisdom; we remember the wrong caused by our youthful misdemeanours and will know better than to make the same mistakes again. That same maturity will also enable us to let go of any wrongs that were done to us. That’s why they say time heals all wounds, and most of us forgive those who long ago wronged us for whatever reason. Unfortunately though, many of us are still not able to offer that same forgiveness to ourselves for the youthful wrongs we committed. And that’s not a very good thing to do to my Friends. The same way we forgive others, we ought to forgive ourselves. That brings up another sore topic; that where we petition the Lord for forgiveness, then never accept it, and keep on feeling guilty. Friends, it’s like the law of offer and acceptance: if something is offered it must either be accepted or rejected, there can’t be any halfway measures. So if we ask for forgiveness and the Lord offers it, then it’s our duty to accept it and move on, leave the guilt behind. Otherwise the whole process is a waste of time since those negative actions restrict both our emotional and religious growth. If ‘unforgiveness’ is eating away at our souls, it means we can’t lead a positive life or have right communication with our God; both untenable situations for a believer. That brings us to our Bit from Psalm 71, which the scholars claim is the prayer of an elderly man threatened by his enemies. He begins by declaring his devotion and asking for guidance. ‘In thee O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion…For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.’ (Ps. 71:1,5) Then he pleads: ‘Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth.’ (Ps.71:9) After that he talks about his enemies coming against him and also of his lifelong devotion to the Lord. And I like how he says: ‘ Now also when I’m old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.’ (Ps.71:18) Yes my people, what a most worthy objective! Right now I pray that same prayer for all us ole geezers, in Jesus Name. Amen! It’s so refreshing, for though he’s old and feeble, he still wants to work for the Lord, to show His majesty to the upcoming generations and inspire them to stand strong in His Name. Then he comes to our Bit. ‘Thou which hast showed me great and sore (severe) troubles;’ He admits that the Lord had a hand in some of the trials he’s undergone, either as a test of his faithfulness, or payment for his wrongdoing. The same thing happens to us all, my people; the Lord both tests and makes us pay for our wrongs, and sometimes we don’t know which is which. But as Bruh David declared: ‘Thou hast showed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of truth. Selah.’ (Ps.60:3-4) And that’s so true my brethren of our current times; we’re suffering for our wrongs, but we’ve also got a big flag to wave with His Word that’s representative of Total Truth. Our elderly psalmist concludes that though the Lord caused him to see some rough times, He ‘shalt quicken (revive) me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.’ Oh what steadfast and outstanding faith he displays my Friends! It’s a level of mature faith to which we should all aspire, especially in dark times like we’re now experiencing. It’s like Hosea says: ‘Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind (bandage) us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.’ (Hos.6:1-2) And our elderly psalmist, knowing this, continues to declare the goodness of God he expects. ‘Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.’ (Ps.71:21) But with great expectations on God’s part, he also knows his role, and promises to play it. ‘I will also praise thee with the psaltery (lute or lyre) even thy truth (faithfulness), O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.’ (Ps.71:22-24) Oh Friends, that’s the kind of attitude the Lord wants us to adopt, and the level of faith he wants us to come to. It’s basically a child-like faith; the way our children trust us to LOVE and care for them, not to do them harm. Although we may at times punish them for doing wrong, deep down they know we’ll never purposely harm or abuse them. It’s the same with our Heavenly Father my people. Whatever He allows to happen to us, He believes it’s for our good, and He’ll never, I repeat, NEVER, harm or do us wrong when we come to Him in faith. But as we keep stressing, just as there are two sides to a coin, there are two sides to our relationship with Him. He has His role to play; to bless us and keep us safe; but we also have ours; to walk in faith and patience with His Son Jesus. And we can’t expect God to pour out His favour and blessing on us if we don’t do our part of singing His praises, spreading His Word, and living a life that glorifies Him, even when we’re faced with serious earthly predicaments. That’s where the enormous power of His Spirit comes into play my Friends; when we’re in the darkest and most troubled of times. That’s why the darkest hour is the one that precedes the dawn. It can only get so dark, then it must change to light. And if we take His Word to heart, then we’d be able to say, like our elderly psalmist: ‘Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!’ (Ps.71:19) NOBODY is like unto our God, my Friends! So please, let’s remember that and stand strong, steadfast and true when the forces of evil and darkness come against us. Much LOVE!…the Spirit’s purpose…to uplift our faith…strengthen us in…perseverance, patience and prayer…
And how are my beautiful Friends in Christ today? I hope these few words (smile) find all of you in tip top shape, consistently walking and talking with our Heavenly Father, as He desires us to do. Before we get into the Bit, I have a quote to share, which pertains to us all. ‘A positive, responsible person does not forget the harm which may have been done because of earlier ignorance, thoughtlessness or emotional limitations.’ So says Lewis F. Presnall. And what does he mean? Basically two things: with maturity comes wisdom; we remember the wrong caused by our youthful misdemeanours and will know better than to make the same mistakes again. That same maturity will also enable us to let go of any wrongs that were done to us. That’s why they say time heals all wounds, and most of us forgive those who long ago wronged us for whatever reason. Unfortunately though, many of us are still not able to offer that same forgiveness to ourselves for the youthful wrongs we committed. And that’s not a very good thing to do to my Friends. The same way we forgive others, we ought to forgive ourselves. That brings up another sore topic; that where we petition the Lord for forgiveness, then never accept it, and keep on feeling guilty. Friends, it’s like the law of offer and acceptance: if something is offered it must either be accepted or rejected, there can’t be any halfway measures. So if we ask for forgiveness and the Lord offers it, then it’s our duty to accept it and move on, leave the guilt behind. Otherwise the whole process is a waste of time since those negative actions restrict both our emotional and religious growth. If ‘unforgiveness’ is eating away at our souls, it means we can’t lead a positive life or have right communication with our God; both untenable situations for a believer. That brings us to our Bit from Psalm 71, which the scholars claim is the prayer of an elderly man threatened by his enemies. He begins by declaring his devotion and asking for guidance. ‘In thee O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion…For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.’ (Ps. 71:1,5) Then he pleads: ‘Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth.’ (Ps.71:9) After that he talks about his enemies coming against him and also of his lifelong devotion to the Lord. And I like how he says: ‘ Now also when I’m old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.’ (Ps.71:18) Yes my people, what a most worthy objective! Right now I pray that same prayer for all us ole geezers, in Jesus Name. Amen! It’s so refreshing, for though he’s old and feeble, he still wants to work for the Lord, to show His majesty to the upcoming generations and inspire them to stand strong in His Name. Then he comes to our Bit. ‘Thou which hast showed me great and sore (severe) troubles;’ He admits that the Lord had a hand in some of the trials he’s undergone, either as a test of his faithfulness, or payment for his wrongdoing. The same thing happens to us all, my people; the Lord both tests and makes us pay for our wrongs, and sometimes we don’t know which is which. But as Bruh David declared: ‘Thou hast showed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of truth. Selah.’ (Ps.60:3-4) And that’s so true my brethren of our current times; we’re suffering for our wrongs, but we’ve also got a big flag to wave with His Word that’s representative of Total Truth. Our elderly psalmist concludes that though the Lord caused him to see some rough times, He ‘shalt quicken (revive) me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.’ Oh what steadfast and outstanding faith he displays my Friends! It’s a level of mature faith to which we should all aspire, especially in dark times like we’re now experiencing. It’s like Hosea says: ‘Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind (bandage) us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.’ (Hos.6:1-2) And our elderly psalmist, knowing this, continues to declare the goodness of God he expects. ‘Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.’ (Ps.71:21) But with great expectations on God’s part, he also knows his role, and promises to play it. ‘I will also praise thee with the psaltery (lute or lyre) even thy truth (faithfulness), O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.’ (Ps.71:22-24) Oh Friends, that’s the kind of attitude the Lord wants us to adopt, and the level of faith he wants us to come to. It’s basically a child-like faith; the way our children trust us to LOVE and care for them, not to do them harm. Although we may at times punish them for doing wrong, deep down they know we’ll never purposely harm or abuse them. It’s the same with our Heavenly Father my people. Whatever He allows to happen to us, He believes it’s for our good, and He’ll never, I repeat, NEVER, harm or do us wrong when we come to Him in faith. But as we keep stressing, just as there are two sides to a coin, there are two sides to our relationship with Him. He has His role to play; to bless us and keep us safe; but we also have ours; to walk in faith and patience with His Son Jesus. And we can’t expect God to pour out His favour and blessing on us if we don’t do our part of singing His praises, spreading His Word, and living a life that glorifies Him, even when we’re faced with serious earthly predicaments. That’s where the enormous power of His Spirit comes into play my Friends; when we’re in the darkest and most troubled of times. That’s why the darkest hour is the one that precedes the dawn. It can only get so dark, then it must change to light. And if we take His Word to heart, then we’d be able to say, like our elderly psalmist: ‘Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!’ (Ps.71:19) NOBODY is like unto our God, my Friends! So please, let’s remember that and stand strong, steadfast and true when the forces of evil and darkness come against us. Much LOVE!…the Spirit’s purpose…to uplift our faith…strengthen us in…perseverance, patience and prayer…
SCRIP-BITS 