Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
The response to uncomfortable, squirming, running humans s30e54 Ps139
How do people respond to the intimacy of an all-knowing God? Well, they squirm and run if Psalm 139 is any indication.
And how effective is the hiding? Totally ineffective. After using every trick in the book of darkness, speed and distance, we find a little tap on our shoulder of God saying, "I'm right here to lead and/or to hold." Squirm a bit with me for 7 minutes:
https://youtu.be/NePkRol0Nmc
The response to uncomfortable, squirming, running humans s30e54 Ps139
We are in the “you are known by God Psalm 139.”
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me. *****
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. .
The one thing you are definitely not is: HIDDEN.
You know my body Positions: siting standing lying
You know the path that was backwards, where I am currently, and you know now, in real time, where the path leads.
You know my future actions, and my future words, and the THOUGHTS that generate these words and actions, as the thoughts are the engine.
You know my words before they are spoken
Such thoughts are too wonderful for me. Code for You are blowing my mind
Code for scary? Too intimate. Too close for comfort.
IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT?
Is HIS knowledge of ME too close for comfort? Yes.
There is definitely an inclination to squirm out of this closeness.
If your proximity alert is going off here, you are not alone.
7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
Spirit: Capital S.
Pursued not just for examination, and for bare knowledge.
But for help. No matter where you are found, or where you go, you will need helpyour hand is upon. Your hand can lead. Your hand can hold
He offers this: even there, whereever, your right hand shall LEAD ME.
Your right hand shall HOLD ME.
Do you need to be HELD? Led? Absolutely.
Do you seen no matter if attempts are made at going FROM your Spirit/ fleeing from your preence. Ascending up, lying down…YOU ARE THERE
If I take the WiNGS OF THE MORNINGs and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me. And your right hand shall hold me.
Concept #1: Escaping God. There is an inclination. Adam and Even did this in the garden. Every man woman and child has like a two year old hidden behind the living room curtains. God asked Adam, WHERE ARE YOU ADAM, not because GOD didn’t know where he was, but because ADAM didn’t know where he wasmetaphorically. Adam was the lost one. God’s pursuit, and God’s question, just clarified his position.******
Why might we wish to flee from God: shame at previous violations of the relationship. Desire to live now without rules, boundaries. I love my sin too muc
Concept #2: Escaping God. There is an impossibility.
Up? Down? Dark?
The darkness is not dark to you. Who is the darkness dark to? US
How about Far away? If I take the wings of the morning and flee to the uttermost distance, here is what happens. I go all that way and then I feel your hand. Your holding hand. Your leading hand:, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
Even there. At the furthest, at the darkest, at the strongest inclination to flee, to hide,…There you are. No matter where I go, YOU are there…asking: where are you? Wher are you Adam? Where are you podcast listener? …Well, I have been trying to flee flee flee from you. Went as far as I knew how. Used every trick in the book:distance, speed, darkness and here we are . You are exactly right here. Your hand is upon me ready to lead and ready to hold.
I wonder what you have been doing with the knowledge, the intimate knowledge of God. Fleeing on the wings of the morning is a definite possiblitly.
How has it worked out? Where did you end up? With an intimate God, a proximal God being right there. Ready waiting to lead. Waiting to hold.
Let’s just say you could pick one today. Do you need the leading hand of God?
Do you desire the holding hand of God. This is how He can respond to our uncomfortable, squirming humans? For today: He offers To lead and to hold.