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
When trouble is “danger-close” God is “Shadow-close” Ps119 s30e62.
Soldiers when they are being overwhelmed by an enemy will sometimes call in an airstrike very near their position. It is called being “danger-close”.
Alternatively, we have a strong, faithful, loving God who is “shadow-close”
That I get to sing in recognition. I get to remember this. Not everybody enjoys this intimate fellowship with the Lord. Not everyone stands in the SHADOW of the Almighty. Listen please and watch:
https://youtu.be/pq7DW5f2bQE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNijvDWAn2Wv2KFun2AnvCAhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNijvDWAn2Wv2KFun2AnvCA
When trouble is “danger-close” God is “Shadow-close” Ps119 s30e62.
Soldiers when they are being overwhelmed by an enemy will call in an airstrike very near their position. It is called “danger-close”.
Alternatively, we have a strong, faithful, loving God who is “shadow-close”
That I get to sing in recognition. I get to remember this. Not everybody enjoys this intimate fellowship with the Lord. Not everyone stands in the SHADOW of the Almighty Ps 91. That idea we are carrying into these 2 stanzas of Ps 119
Waw
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise; .Pause #1 Six more times HESED is mentioned, praised.
God’s faithful response to a mostly unfaithful people. When we have a right to expect NOTHING from God and we get EVERYTHING. When God extends kindness to the ungrateful and the uncooperative.
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts. *****.Pause #2 here.
A narrow place is When the options are NARROW, limited. Choices are few and they are bad. Hemmed in in a bad way
But walking in a wide place, with possibilities before me.
In general, following God’s rules results in more options, better opportunities.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
#3.Thank you for being here today as we meditate. Read. Understand. Chew on.
Remember. Regurgitate. Respond. Gratefulness for the wide place you have for us. Appreciation in the recalling a characteristic of God—perhaps the favorite next to His love—His HESED.
It blows our mind that He is better than us in this way
Yes I respond: I lift my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.
Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope. #4Remember your word to your servant.. Because God is faithful, He doesn’t forget His word and promises. This is an exercise that we do.
It is essentially people, reminding God not to forget His word, which He cannot do, and reminding us to remember God remembering His law, which we cannot help but to do.****
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O Lord.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning. #5Your statutes have been my song. When?
In the house of my sojourning. I have a house. A residence. Where?
In sojourning. In “not being home”. Sojourning is specifically wandering. Citizenshipless, at least here. Being a citizen of another country.
While I am in this world. Soujourning. A man from a different country. Better place. Meantime, I am going to make my “house”, my residence with You.
Your Word is an abode for me when I wander these days
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.
Your name I will remember in the night.
Are you occasionally sleepless in the wee hours? Have I got a God for You!
If you are stuck in the terrors of the night, when passions are undisciplined
Not everybody enjoys this intimate fellowship with the Lord. Everybody has trouble that is danger close. NOT everybody has a God who is SHADOW CLOSE. Not everyone stands in the SHADOW of the Almighty Ps 91. Not everyone gets the favor of being “shadow-close”.
Response: THIS BLESSING HAS FALLEN TO ME. What blessing? Protection. Plan for otherwise unbridled passions. Defensive strategy . Promise of a future.
That I have kept your precepts
That I get to have this life with You. Wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars, erfect health, relational peace.
That I get to sing in recognition. I get to remember this.
This is our comfort in our affliction. We are shadow-close when life’s trouble is danger-close..
This blessing has fallen to us. Let us not take it for granted. God is near, just read about it in Ps119. Start there. Get your head around it. Get your heart around it. This blessing has fallen to us. We best act like it. I will make it my song today.