A View From The Sycamore Tree: The Word of Our God

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Word of Our God - Isaiah 40 part 2

"All flesh is like grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades,when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever."

(vs 6-8)

Q. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

There was a time when I despised the Word of God. I didn't like what it said about me. I didn't want what it said about God. I sought to tear down its character and authority so that it would have no right to rule over me. I believed that those who trusted in it and lived according to its precepts were fools and I wanted nothing more than to plant seeds of doubt in their hearts and minds regarding its reliability. A little over 20 years ago, I was at war with the Word. In God's merciful kindness I lost that battle and now find myself in love with the Word. "O, how I lovre Your Law (Ps 119:97). "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Ps 1:2). "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).

So what made the change in me? With William Cowper I must say"the Spirit breathes upon the Word and brings the truth to sight." The Spirit of God opened my eyes to suddenly see the Word of God for what it is. The Scriptures are not some mere contrivance of man's thoughts, they are the very word of the Living God. Thomas Watson has said that "the two testaments are the two lips by which God has spoken to us."

This morning as I meditate on these verses from Isaiah 40, which so wonderfully proclaim the eternal nature of God's Word - particularly in contrast to the fading and failing nature of the things of this world - my mind races to a dozen other passages that testify to this Book of books beauty and splendor.

He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. (Ex 31:18)

And the tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets. (Ex 32:16)

Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. (Dt 8:3)

Thy words are truth. (2 Sam 7:28)

The word of the LORD is tested. (2 Sam 22:31)

Thou didst give to them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. (Ne 9:13)

...Thine ordinances, by which if a man observes them he shall live. (Ne 9:29)

The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven time. (Ps 12:6)

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure making wise the simple, the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Ps 19:7-8)

Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should keep them diligently.... How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.... Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.... Thy testimonies are my delight, they have become my counselors..... All Thy commandments are faithful.... Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path.... Establish my footsteps in Thy word.....Thy word is very pure.... and Thy law is truth.... Thy testimonies are righteous forever.... and all Thy commadments are truth.... The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting. (Ps 119 select verses)

Every word of God is tested. (Pr 30:5)

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Mt 4:4)

Do not think that I cam to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-19)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. (Mt 24:35, Mk 13:31, Lk 21:33)

Thy word is truth. (Jn 17:17)

So, then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. (Rom 7:12)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Ti 3:16-17)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (Jm 1:25)

...the living and abiding word of God. (1 Pe 1:23)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Pe 1:20-21)

What a great treasure God has given us in His word. It contains all that is necessary for life and godliness (2 Pe 1:3). May it be our treasure and may our lives be found in accord with its teachings.

Meditating day and night,
Lori

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Here We Go!

This is a blog about the goodness and grace of God, even amidst the angst of autism.

So ... how did this whole thing start?

Well, I said I'd never do this but obviously here I am. After being challenged, encouraged, goaded and double dog dared, several years ago I began to blog.

Near the end of 2008, I found myself with renewed passion for God's Word, Kingdom, and people and I was stirred, through nothing other than the simple means of grace, to a hunger and thirsting for righteousness unlike any other time in my 20+ years as a Christian.

During that period, I began typing out the things that were striking me the most in my quiet time each morning. Honestly, I started because I wanted to have a written record that I could pass along to my children one day - lettered Ebenezers reminding them of how much their Mom loves God and His Word.

While doing that I found myself so excited on certain days that I began to email my musings to some of my girl friends, hoping to encourage them even as Christ was encouraging me. Many of those gals challenged me to put these things online in a blog form so others could have access to them. That's how this site started.

Now, to shoot really straight with you, that personal "revival" of mine has pendumatically ebbed and flowed over the course of the days, months and years since 2008. For a prolonged period after that initial renewing surge I actually found myself in an utterly antithetical place. God, in His wisdom, was pleased to grant me a substantial season in the dark dungeon of "doubting castle" - those days were some of the hardest of my life post-Jesus but were providentially ordained days ultimately used for my good and for my God's glory.

"Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come" by nothing but the amazing grace of an amazing God.

I've learned that even in the midst of the darkest of days there's just something about the light of God's Word that is powerful. The Scripture has been an anchor for me in the storm surge of life. Even when my eyes have seemed to be rather veiled and my vision somewhat dimmed, there has still been a re-focusing force that has risen when I have gazed long and hard upon the Word of God. Thus, even as a saint who struggles, I continue to write of my God, my Redeemer, His promises, and His truth.

I'm not always very regular at posting here because there are many more important duties in my life right now than blog uploads - ie. being wife, mom, housekeeper, cook, taxi service, chief bottle washer, and laundry lady - along with that music thing I do as a side gig! But, as time allows I'll be cutting and pasting from Joshua and Elizabeth's future journal gift and sharing some of it with you as well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Who's Doing This?

Lori Sealy is daily amazed at the grace of God in her life. Adopted as an infant and raised in an evangelical church, she rebelled against the things of Christ during high school and considered herself an atheist. Upon entering college, the God who ordains our steps ordained that her path would cross with several students who loved Christ and loved His Word. During that first year of college, she set out to destroy the faith of these young Christians. They set out to pray for her salvation.

Knowing that "faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ," six college students daily confronted her sin and challenged her with the truths of God's glorious Word. Their obedience in proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Christ bore fruit in August of 1988 when by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, she was adopted for the second time in her life - this time into the family of God.

Lori is now the wife of Phillip Sealy. They live in Sylva, North Carolina where Phillip has been called to plant a new church for the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) - Redeemer Church Sylva. The Sealys have two children Joshua (14) and Elizabeth (12). Lori and Joshua both live with autism.

In her spare time (what little there is) Lori masquerades as a part-time songwriter/singer and performs on a limited monthly basis. Lori's newest CD, "The Strife is Over," has recently released. Hard copies of it, along with her last release "Begone Unbelief", are available through CD Baby and Lori's own website. Digital downloads are available through iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon mp3!

Be sure to visit http://www.lorisealy.com/ to learn more!

Why the Sycamore Tree?

Zaccheus, the wee little man, wanted to see Jesus and so he climbed into the sycamore tree in order to get a good look. Lori, the wee little wife and mom, longs to see Jesus as well. I realize that the place where I will catch a true glimpse of Him is in the pages of His Word.

The Bible is my sycamore tree and I find myself longing more and more to climb up into its branches that I might see Christ more clearly. This blog is simply a record of what God is teaching me as I spend time in "the tree" of His glorious Word. If anyone reads it I'll be amazed; if anyone profits from it I'll be humbled; and if anything good is found in it Soli Deo Gloria!

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Word of Our God - Isaiah 40 part 2

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