Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

When someone is given to poor planning, plans for a day can change in a flash. They just did.

The Director for Portland Teen Challenge just showed up…so plans changed again right after the first sentence above. Among other things, I gave a little demonstration of the sawmill because he was interested. We may try to host their entire local gang here before the end of the summer.

Becki is on a run to Dallas at present to pick up 4 more grandkids. So, once again, she is not able to critique this composition.

Still no Bimbo. Whatever. You don’t have to feel obligated to engage in any intercessory prayer.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Here is a promise we can bank on—a truth to live by. At the same time it is important to recognize the exclusivity of the promise—“to all who call on him in truth”—to those who honestly seek Him at heart level with no ulterior agenda. That sounds like another description of a HEART AFTER GOD. The next verse adds the “fear” factor—“He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them” (145:19).

David is pumped in Psalm 145. The psalm is bursting with enthusiastic praise to the Most High. It’s like David can hardly keep himself from exploding. It views everything living as coming from Him and depending upon Him for everything. “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (145:15-16).

All you and I need do is determine whether or not we are a “living thing.” If we get it figured out that we are, and that we didn’t achieve that status on our own, then our course of obligation is set. We need to live to praise and serve our Maker.

But there is a measure of unavoidable sadness to cope with in dealing with the exclusivity of this arrangement. The psalmist touches on that idea when he says, “He has revealed his word to Jacob (seekers), his laws and decrees to Israel (finders). He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws” 147:19-20). The sadness is in recognizing that many (if not most) will miss out on the wonderful benefits of relationship with their Maker. Many (if not most) will live and die without ever finding LIFE and the Source thereof. They are so blinded by the deceitfulness of sin, selfishness, and Satan that they never get around to activate honestly seeking God.

If you are a seeker, don’t stop doing what you’re doing. “The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (147:11).