Silence or Indifference

Ps. 28:1  To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock; Do not be silent to me...

Have you ever had the opportunity to comfort or console someone just by being with them?  Being there but not speaking?  In those situations, absent of words, your presence is what shows that you care.

At times we feel, as David must have, like God has turned a deaf ear to us or that He isn't going to answer (speak to) us.  Or even worse, that He just doesn't care.  That's where we confuse silence with indifference.  Silence means you don't speak, indifference means you don't care.

There may be times when God doesn't speak, but there will NEVER be a time when He doesn't care.

He is always with us (Mt. 28:20).  He will never leave us or forsake us.  The very promise of His uninterrupted presence in our lives is proof that He ALWAYS cares.  Even when He is silent.  Don't confuse silence with indifference.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  There will NEVER be a time when God doesn't care. 

Entitled to Eat

Mk. 7:27-28  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she answered, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."

Jews and Gentiles.  Those who were God's children and those who were little dogs.  Those who were entitled to eat until full and those who were not.

The woman here who begged Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter was a Gentile.  As such, she was ineligible to receive God's covenant promises made to the Jews.  Yet because of her faith, Jesus responded by delivering her daughter.  No one who approached Him in faith was ever turned away or refused.  Most likely this encounter pointed toward the eventual "grafting in" (Rom. 11:17) of the Gentiles into God's kingdom.  Nevertheless, and even though she received a significant blessing, it was still only a crumb compared to the fullness of what was available to His children.

As God's children, now grafted in, we have an incredible privilege and blessing.  We are entitled to eat, to be filled and satisfied.  We needn't settle for crumbs or even morsels because we are given the whole loaf of bread.  So, are we seated at His table enjoying the bread that is the fullness of His presence, promises and provision?  Or are we scrounging around under the table like little dogs looking only for an occasional crumb?  God has an overwhelming and abundant supply available to all believers, to those having faith in Him.  Don't settle for crumbs.  We are entitled to eat!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Don't settle for crumbs when you are entitled to eat.

Our Shining Faces

2 Cor. 3:18  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, we are told (Exod. 34:30) that his face shone.  It literally shot out rays (horns) of light like the sun.  The Israelites realized that Moses had been in communion with God Himself.  Moses was being transformed into God's image just by being in His presence and his very countenance displayed God's glory.

After Moses spoke to the people, he veiled his face.  The glory of God visible on him may have been more than they could bear.  The Bible says the people were afraid, in awe perhaps being convicted by their own sin, making the veil necessary.  Or maybe he veiled his face concealing the decreasing brightness of it since we are not told it was of constant intensity.  The fading light was foreshadowing the old covenant of the law passing away (2 Cor. 3:13).

The veil created separation and it concealed.

Nevertheless, when we turn to the Lord, in repentance and faith, the veil is taken away (2 Cor. 3:14, 16).  Jesus Christ has taken away the veil of separation between God and us that our sin necessitated and that the law, the Ten Commandments, confirmed.  He took away the veil, revealing a new and everlasting covenant of mercy and grace.

Now having restored communion with God, we are being transformed, transfigured (2 Cor. 3:18) into His image, just as Moses was.  The glory of God, increasing in brightness, is being displayed (unveiled) in us for all to see our shining faces.  Let our light shine before men (Mt. 5:16)!

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Jesus took away the veil.

A Blessed House

Ps. 132:13-15  For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.  I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

After Uzzah was struck dead while helping to carry the ark of God, David was afraid to proceed any further with it toward Jerusalem.  We're told (1 Chron. 13:13) that David took the ark (God's presence) aside into the house of Obed-Edom where it remained for three months.  During that time, the Lord, because His presence was there, blessed Obed-Edom and all his household (1 Chron. 13:14).  Obed-Edom knew what it was like to have God dwell in his house instead of just visit it.  God's blessing and provision followed His presence.

David tells us here in Psalms that God has chosen Zion, symbolic of the church or more specifically us, for His home, His dwelling place.  Not just to visit, but as His resting place forever.  He promises to bless us and provide for us, to prosper us and make us successful.  His blessing and provision followed Him into our house just like it did into Obed-Edom's house.  Rejoice in knowing that we have a blessed house!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  God's blessing and provision follow His presence.