It's almost like a fairy tale these days to talk about a life of tranquility, stillness, peace, courage, fortitude, blessed Love and harmony.
From the rich to the poor, the bond & the free, the healthy & the sick, the wise & the ignorant; all are moved by one thing or the other: family issues, jobs, relationships, debt, day to day cares to name but a few.
I wonder, does it really have to be so?
I am reminded of a song way back in Sunday school, whose chorus goes like this:
I shall not; I shall not be moved,
I shall not; I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree, that is planted by the water side,
I shall not be moved.
I used to hear the same song in my teens at house fellowships and church at evening services.
Nowadays, well, I hardly hear it. Whatever happened, I don't know, what is clear however is that, a few people will sing that song and really mean it.
Question,....
Should you really be moved by anything at all? Really, should you?
Well, we'll find out shortly.
And we will start here,...
Prophet & King- David, is reckoned to be one of the greatest worshipers of God who ever lived, and doubtless so. His Psalms and hymns are effulgent with divine insight, blessedness and prophesy.
I was led to one of His Psalms and it really contained the answer to NEVER BEING MOVED.
Oh, what a relief!
Here is how King David began this Psalm:
LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
For a moment I paused, and like being there with the great King (in my mind of course), I asked; yeah, LORD, who really can?
Wouldn’t all your creation (created in your image and likeness) want to?
After all, Scripture tells us that in your presence is fullness of Joy and at your right hand are pleasures for ever more! Who wouldn’t want to have fullness of joy and pleasures forever more, Lord? Who?
What followed next in the words of this Psalm were even more awe inspiring, non esoteric and really did get me riveted.
Four verses loaded with insight, wisdom, understanding, blessedness, discretion, diligence, faithfulness, Love, courage, peace, harmony, fortitude, stillness, and fruit of the Spirit; followed next in the Psalm:
Let’s hear them, shall we?
Oh, yeah!
King David said; of him/her who shall abide in the LORD’s tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill and thus not be moved, is;
a. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness and speaketh the truth in his heart.
Pause a bit and read it again…,
Can you identify with that?
To walk uprightly and work righteousness, you will need the pure word of the Lord and trust in Him.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success” Joshua 1:8
Only be strong and courageous, with patient endurance and “In your patience possess ye your soul” Luke 21:19
About speaking truth; are you one with your word?
Are your words free from guile?
Can you confidently say like the psalmist said; “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee” Psalm 25:21.
Wouldn’t it be fitting and right to heed the words of Apostle Paul who said; “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one with another” Ephesians 4:25, and Apostle Peter who said….
“For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking no guile” 1Peter 3:10
Then here comes the next verse in the Psalm;
b. He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up reproach against his neighbour.
Here I am reminded of an old adage- words can build bridges and can also create walls. I wonder what your words have been doing lately.
Are they building people up, or are they destroying them & yourself?
Apostle Paul reminds us to; “Speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men” Titus 3:2 and to “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” Colossians 4:6
And concerning your neighbour…..
The Lord said; Love your neighbour as yourself.
These can be well acted out by embracing meekness, thus having a quiet disposition of spirit, joined with care neither to offend any man, nor be offended at anything one’s self.
And if we are to experience the special effects of meekness, we should never murmer against God, nor even against men, when anything falls out against our wishes, nor give way to anger, nor set ourselves up.
Do unto others what you would have them do unto you – that is the golden rule, isn’t it?
In the next verse of the Psalm, he says….
c. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but honoureth them that fear the Lord. He who sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.
Solomon in his proverbs admonishes us to “Be not envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction and their lips talk of mischief” Proverbs 24:1-2 and the…
Psalmist says; “Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: in whose hands is mischief and their right hand is full of bribes” Psalm 26:9-10.
As far as concerns you, live at peace with all men, however, it is your responsibility to ensure that you don’t keep company with the wicked. Always be sober & vigilant.
On the other hand, honouring those who have been appointed to instruct us in our spiritual walk is both a noble and wise thing to do; for they have the due responsibility of feeding the flock of God.
We ought to behave respectfully to them, and do all we can to be obedient to them.
It also serves well to honour our fellow brothers in the Lord who truly fear the Lord, for they too, will be a source of inspiration, guidance and encouragement in the faith.
And when it comes to our personal walk with the LORD, let us with patient endurance hold fast the faith, never relenting nor drawing back, ever increasing in the knowledge of God and run the race to obtain the imperishable crown of glory.
Let’s stick with Jesus; ‘come rain or sunshine’ He is the captain of your Soul, your Benefactor and most loving high priest.
I was challenged by this line that I read from one of the great instructors of the Christian faith; that - we must be ready to take with joy: reproach, persecution, suffering, and even death itself, for the sake of Christ.
That is what I would call swearing to your hurt and changing not!
Let’s not be apt to change our mind at our convenience with regard to our allegiance and union with Christ, we are called to deny ourselves and take up the cross daily and follow Him.
For without Him - Jesus, we can do, absolutely nothing.
Right,
The next verse of the Psalm says…
d. He that putteth not his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
In a spiritual sense, usury is really stealing – appropriating to yourself that which belongs to another.
Stealing is manifested in various forms; chief among them are:
Robbery, Theft, Fraud, sacrilege (appropriating to yourself what has been dedicated to God, or belongs to the church), Bribery, Eating bread of idleness (reaping where you have not sowed), and Extortion. Never be party to any of these.
Rather, embrace good faith in performing engagements, justice, mercy to the poor, self restraint, courage and sound judgment.
He then concludes the Psalm by saying: Of him who does the above a, b, c & d shall NEVER BE MOVED
Waw! Glory to God!
Here is the Psalm in its entirety: Psalm 15:1-5
LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh reproach against his neighbour
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall NEVER BE MOVED.
I don’t know about you, but this Psalm ‘took my breath away’ pheeew!
More so given the anarchy & restlessness so prevalent in these times in our generation today. The words of this Psalm come as ‘refreshing waters’ to a thirsty soul.
It befits it therefore for our consuming desire to be like that of David when he said; “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.
For in time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” Psalm 27:4-5
Let’s be diligent to hear & do (ACT) of God’s good pleasure and always set the LORD before us as the Psalmist says: “I have set theLORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” Psalm 16:8
God has inscribed His eternal truth upon the tablets of your heart, and in His ineffable compassion & grace and the boundless sea of His goodness & tender mercies, he will keep you as the apple of the eye, and hide you under the shadow of His wings.
And….
Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and: you will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Grace to you, God bless you and thanks for reading.
I hope you will choose to abide in the LORD’s tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill and stay grounded in there, never to be moved by anything at any time, place or season.
Peace & Love
Libs
