Underwood Unplugged

Here's a chapter I usually talk about at Weddings, thanks to the influence of Wes Hartzfeld and probably Roger Peugh.

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its workers labor in vain." Psalm 127.

Who are you living for?

Who are you "arranging your life" around?

Usually, it's yourself. Sometimes, it's your boss or your work. Sometimes, it's the person you're trying to impress.

But unless your work is centered in God's heart, you are clearly wasting your time. A very powerful message.

The other verse that jumps off the page goes like this...

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from Him."

A few thoughts about this...

- Yes, children are a great blessing!

- I think all couples who would like to have kids must realize that it happens ONLY in God's time and ONLY because He chooses to bless. NOT because we are little 'gods' who can have kids any time we want. We can't. Too many wonderful couples struggle with infertility and miscarriages that are painful reminders of this. We cannot create life on our own. God must bless.

- Unfortunately, some assume that a couple without children is 'cursed' rather than 'blessed.' While some of these couples do feel intense heartache, I don't think God views it as a curse. I don't think God is raining down judgment upon these couples. My wife and I have been one of those couples, losing our first child to miscarriage. That heartbreaking loss has opened the door for countless OTHER blessings in our lives.

- God does have other rewards and blessings to give out. Like a wonderful marriage that pulls together and deeper. Like couples who decide to adopt needy children or go into full-time missions. Like growing a heart that lets God build the house however He wants and being excited and content with God's "architecture" in your life.

After saying all of that, I know I am blessed to have kids like Allie and Luke. I do not take them for granted. Because of that, I am committed to being a husband and a father who builds our house on the foundation of loving and fearing God.

Psalm 128 gives both the blessing and description of someone who truly "fears the Lord."

Do you fear God?

Growing up, I wished there was a better word than "fear." "Fear" is commonly associated with things that shock, scare, or disgust us (see: Fear Factor).

But the Bible's definition of "fear"?

Reverence. Awe. Dependence. Humility. Obedience.

Psalm 128:1 - "Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways."

There it is. If I fear God, I'll do what He says. If I do what He says, I'll be blessed.

Much of this Psalm talks about what God's blessing could look like for you. Prosperity in your life. A healthy marriage. A strong legacy, possibly through your children.

What sort of blessing are you looking for from God? How would you like Him to respond on your behalf? Make things different?

Seems like that blessing is intimately tied to how much you really fear the Lord and do what He says.

I'm not sure I have personally been "oppressed." There might come a day like that in my life, but so far, I have been in the majority or in the 'accepted' class in society.

God has a special heart for the oppressed.

Throughout the Old Testament, we hear the Father's love for the 'alien, fatherless, and widow.'

God allowed his chosen people Israel to be oppressed, mostly because of their sin. But the oppression served to turn their hearts back toward Him.

Psalm 129 reveals a heart that turns to God in the midst of oppression. The people of Israel, asking God to take revenge on the oppressors - probably the empire of Babylon.

The writer wishes that the enemy would wither. That they would be turned back in shame.

On one hand, songs like this are essential to understanding the events and heart of Israel through some tremendous difficulties.

On the other hand, songs like this remind us that God is in charge of the oppressor and the oppressed. Ultimately, our goal should be to find God's blessing upon our lives. The previous Psalms (which I'll write about above) give more detail on God's blessing on us....

This afternoon, I finally finished the third book in the "Great Conversations" series by Ravi Zacharias. I already considered Ravi one of my favorite Christian authors, but this series has been... exceptional.

His first in this series, The Lotus and the Cross, portrays a fictional "what-if" type of conversation between Jesus and Buddha. The second volume, Sense and Sensuality, posed a conversation between Jesus and the English poet Oscar Wilde about living for pleasure.

This current book, The Lamb and the Fuhrer, is a conversation between Jesus and Adolph Hitler.

I thought the conversation would have something to do with grace and judgment. Could even Hitler, the most notoriously-evil leader of our time (or "all time"?) have found forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ? Could He escape God's judgment?

The book did go there, but focused most of its energies on Hitler's own life, beliefs, and self-delusions.

During his life, Hitler exalted himself as a "god" who meted out judgments based on his own philosophy or beliefs.

He believed that Germany - and more specifically, the Aryan race - was to be the superior race and rule over a powerful kingdom for a thousand years. He believed that anyone weak, diseased, or disabled, should be exposed of. To him, the Jews were an inferior, conniving group of people who should be wiped off the face of the earth.

Hitler told himself (and others) that His will would not be stopped. That he was the supreme leader, emperor, rule-maker, and decision-maker. It was all propaganda, deception, authoritarian rhetoric that millions of people bought into.

Hitler chose his own laws over God's. Hitler chose his own absolute judgment and lack of forgiveness over Christ's offer of redemption, forgiveness, and love. Hitler chose a facade of love for country over any form of genuine love.

Author Ravi Zacharias weaves a great, imaginary conversation between Jesus and Hitler, just several moments after Hitler's suicide. Ravi also introduces several people into the discussion - people who knew Hitler during his lifetime and stood as witnesses of the man's personality and (lack of) character.

As usual, Ravi goes back into some of the philosophies and ideas that influenced Hitler's own way of thought - naturalism, nihilism, Nietzsche, etc. Interesting to note the consequence of ideas as they take shape in the following generation. Hitler's life and legacy served a message to the world about what life is like when you remove God from the equation...

Or at least "try to remove God." God is still in control - before, during, and after the reigns of human rulers. He sets them up and also makes them fall.

Before reading this Psalm, I was all feeling guilty for not keeping up with my reading of the Psalms. Don't get me wrong, I have been reading, just not blogging. Life comes at you fast, or so the commercial (with Fabio) says.

Anyhow, so I was feeling guilty...

And here's Psalm 130 talking about forgiveness of sins.

"If God kept a record of sins, who could stand?"

The question is rhetorical, the answer is obvious - nobody could stand.

But God offers unfailing love. God offers complete forgiveness. God wants our souls to long for Him.

We often find ourselves waiting on God. Unanswered prayer. Unsure of His will. Distant from Him in our sins and personal guilt... But this man is pursuing God, persevering, waiting for God to give Him a response.

Does your soul long for God? Unfortunately, we don't long for God until we are completely "in the depths" of life's struggle or feeling the weight of our sins...

Ultimately, this song isn't about me, my sins, or my soul's longing for God.

It's about the God who loves to redeem and rescue us. The God with unfailing love for His peeps. Will my soul focus on myself, or on Him?

Is it me, or is it God?

This person I think I am.

These dreams I have for my life.

This definition of "success" or "fulfillment" in life.

Is it from me?

Or is it from God...

Even a full-pastor is not immune from these questions...

I want them to be from God...

How do I know if they are from God?

Regardless, can I be content with where God has me today? Can I quiet my heart, and place my hope in God - now and forevermore?

Yes.

Have you ever really looked at how much Jesus is in the Old Testament?

Psalm 132 is another easy evidence of that. Jesus, as a descendant of King David, is the fulfillment and triumph of many Old Testament passages.

Here's a song about God's promises to Israel... to David.

Here's a song about God's great love and desire to make Israel great.

Here's to a God who keeps his promises - and we reap some tremendous benefits.

Will we write songs like this about Him?

So, unity is like pouring oil on my head.

Sounds pretty disgusting.

Okay, so I'm supposed to read that it's a different kind of oil... with a different kind of purpose.

Psalm 133 connects with the Jewish religion, where "The oil of Aaron's anointing (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 21:10) saturated all the hair of his beard and ran down on his priestly robes, signifiying his total consecration to holy service." (note from NIV Study Bible)

So...

JUST LIKE a good dousing of oil gets Aaron ready to do some God-honoring things with his life and ministry...

UNITY between brothers is pretty awesome. It really is. The best friend of my entire life - and the best memories of my life as a Christian - have taken place in the context of united friends.

Maybe you don't realize how great unity is until you finally experience it.
Maybe you forget how precious unity is until you have to work hard to acheive it.
Maybe you aren't pursuing unity right now because you don't understand how much GOD loves to see it.

Acts 2:44 tells us that "All the believers were together and had everything in common."

They agreed on the majors. They focused their hearts on loving God and loving people.

And.. yeah... they were blessed. I don't know if oil was involved, but no one would question the power and excitement they shared together.

Shortest Psalm yet, Psalm 134.

Here's a song to remind us that all servants of the Lord should be the kind of people who love God, praise Him, and "minister by night."

That kind of servanthood brings blessing.

Do I 'minister by night' - when people aren't around? Or only when there's someone watching.

Do I 'lift up hands' - is my praise evident - to God when others are not around.

I must say that some of my best times of worship are when I'm by myself. In the car, in my office, at home with my family.

I also must say that reading these Psalms is a way of increasing my awareness and tendency to praise God throughout the day. I have a book by David Crowder called Praise Habit, which walks through some of the Psalms and gives reflections on a life of praise.

I just like the title - 'Praise habit.' It shouldn't be a Sunday-only thing. In fact, if it's a Sunday-only thing, it's probably not real.

Yep, that's me - a little behind on the journey through Psalms. During the next couple of days, I'll get caught up, starting on Psalm 135, a great praise to the God who responds.

Because of God's track record in helping Israel, He is worthy of trust.

Because of God's power and compassion, He is worthy of praise.

Because of verses like this...

"For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants" (Psalm 135:14)...

We have GOT to remember these things about the character of God.

He will stand up for His own. He will not let evil go unpunished.

Often, in this world, it seems like He actually does let evil go unpunished. People get away with horrible crimes. We all know that and probably have a story that would cry out for a better ending. ABC has such a show now, called InJustice. Though I have not seen it and do not want to, they seemed to begin the promotion of the show by highlighting stories where justice has not been served. It's common. It bothers us. It obviously doesn't seem right.

But God will deal with it. God will rescue the victims - those who turn to Him and love and fear Him.

God will ultimately punish evil - in this life or the next.