Is 40 There is no God like Jehovah is repeated over and over in a praise song and may have been chosen from this passage in Isaiah. Truly God is unlike Buddhism, Islam, or any other idol gods. Isaiah asks the Israelites as they sin by worshiping idols: “To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him?” [Is 40:18]
The enemy of our souls has blinded our minds lest we see the glorious image of Jesus Christ. [2 Cor 4:4] Even today, we see churchgoers blinded by looking at Christ on a cross. Precious readers, Jesus is not on that cross, He is risen from the dead. Many say it helps me pray, and the question is how? How does looking at the crucified Christ help you to pray? Isaiah is asking that same question. How does looking and bowing to an idol help you believe more, pray more and honor God more? Malachi told the people: “you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction;” [Mal 2:8]
Where have I turned aside? Where has the enemy blinded me? I need to sing that praise song over and over to remind me there is no God like Jehovah!
Solomon has finished the temple and now takes time to praise God for who He is and what He is like. His love endures FOREVER, and forever is a very long time.
By His name, He is immutable; He is self-existent. Think of him with words of admiration, of love and lovingkindness, for that is His character. Do not only magnify the Lord because he is God; study his character and doings, and thus render intelligent, appreciative praise.” [C.H. Spurgeon]
He is the Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Yahweh, maker of heaven and earth! There is no one like him. Bow down and praise Him!
Isaiah 16 You may or may not remember that slogan from the 1980s, but a marketing idea at the phone company hit home and so began one step closer to the art of instant communication. Instead of waiting days for snail mail now, it is voice mail. The days of rotary phones are over. Now nearly everyone on the planet has a rechargeable cell phone. Now we use our phones to call, do our banking, and read instant messages, but nothing matches a friend’s sweet voice checking in on us. Even though we are more connected than ever before, we still need that personal one on one chat with a precious friend or family member.
In Isaiah 16, God’s heart sighed for the prodigal Moab. They had long ago walked away from Jehovah, but Jehovah had not walked away from them. Yes, they brought this problem on themselves due to their pride and idol worship, yet even in that, God reminds the Israelites to do what He would do: Hide the outcasts from those seeking their demise and do not betray the fugitive. God is saying remember to demonstrate the attribute of compassion to those who are suffering.
Who is in your circle of acquaintances or friends who need that special touch today?
As the Lord has compassion on us, so we are to have compassion for others. It goes both ways, for you never know when you may be facing difficulty and need that special touch.
In Matthew 18, Jesus took time to quell the bickering of the disciples using the illustration of a child’s humility. He also gave them a stern warning to not be a stumbling block for ones who are new in their faith or just beginning to grow. Today we meet a man who long ago faced this same struggle. The musician and seer Asaph wisely teaches us how to handle temptations to be a stumbling block which is one of the enemy’s tools. This is one of the wisdom psalms from which we learn practical points of life.
Asaph begins with extolling God for His goodness and purity of motives. But, he is struggling as he sees those who are wicked who are prosperous, proud, and popular. We too face that struggle when we look about us rather than looking at God. Asaph personalizes his struggles with his perspective on life for us and in it teaches us some wise principles.
Life is not fair. Asaph as a paid religious worker in Temple worship just didn’t seem to cut it. It is not fair. Others are materially prosperous also are proud and pompous, while I am poor and suffer adversity. They lack for nothing and live life with a “God owes me this” mentality. I am a man of integrity and yet like Job or Joseph I am facing problems. Where is my material prosperity God? Why do I face problems? If you are God why am I suffering? Today we see and hear the same refrain. It seems that this is a point that is ages old. The problem is failing to see life through the lens of the eternal perspective.
There are three keys we want to note: vs 3 “I envied” Envy is a sin that began in the Garden of Eden and is alive and well today. Secondly, notice how Asaph pondered what to do: 73:15 “If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers.” Translation: I would become a stumbling block! Today: How often do we share via prayer requests our struggles without considering what those might do to a young believer’s faith? Thirdly, 73:17 Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple, Asaph came to the sobering reality that first he harbored the sin of envy for which he needed cleansing. Secondly, Asaph pondered the consequences of being a stumbling block to others so wisely he sought the counsel of God. Lastly in God’s presence he saw the reality: We are here for one purpose: to behold His beauty and to worship Him in all of His fullness. I think Lazarus might have had that perspective right and the rich man had the “God owes me mentality” in Luke 16. In the end, who was really blessed? Asaph comes to this same conclusion.
There is a praise hymn which seems to sum up our thoughts for today: “In the presence of Jehovah, God Almighty, Prince of Peace, Troubles vanish, hearts are mended, in the Presence of the King. Through His love the Lord provided….
That is the key. It is in the presence of Jehovah we find all our answers to life’s problems.
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