Hidden Treasure

Season 2 Episode 4 - Do you ever find your mind wandering when you hear someone reading a Bible verse that is very familiar to you?  Do you tend to gloss over the words when you are reading it, because you may unconsciously be thinking, "Yea, yea.  I know what this verse means"?  Well, I must confess that I sometimes find myself doing that.  In today's episode, I share what God sometimes nudges me to do in these moments.

 "Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, in what I hope are practical and meaningful ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

 “Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Blog by Seth Lewis:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers 3-month paid apprenticeships to unemployed young men.  These apprentices learn valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  The sale of the high-quality furniture they produce supports the ministry.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope" (podcast)
This is a 4-minute weekday podcast, where Joni shares stories of her life and biblical applications.  One of the world's longest living quadriplegics, God has used her courage, determination, faithfulness, and love to inspire and minister in amazing ways to people around the world.    
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free public domain resources (and many other resources for purchase), including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, devotionals, and maps.  You can simultaneously view multiple Bible translations, a dictionary, and a commentary.  
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

Recently, I was led to dive a little deeper into Psalm 139, a wonderful Psalm written by King David.  

I realized that my familiarity with this Psalm had caused my mind to begin to gloss over it whenever I read it or heard someone recite it.  When that happens to me with a familiar passage, God will sometimes nudge me to dig a little deeper, to find some additional nuggets of wisdom, encouragement, conviction, or guidance.  When I do that, the passage comes alive again… and that is exactly what the following verse says about Scripture:

Hebrews 4:12 NASB  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.

That is God’s desire:  for the Scriptures (the word of God) to be living and active in us!

So, I began to look for the hidden treasure in verse 5 of Psalm 139, which reads:

Psalms 139:5 NASB  You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

I asked God, “What does ‘enclosing me behind and before’ mean?”  I looked at the Hebrew words translated as “behind” and “before,” and found that their literal meaning is indeed referring to physical position.  So, the first point is that God is our physical protector, surrounding us on all sides with His presence.  Several other Bible translations, therefore, translate this as “encircle me” or “hem me in” to emphasize this all-around protection.

But the phrase “behind and before” can also refer to chronological position.  This is a reference to God’s knowledge of the past and the future, as noted in several commentaries.  The second point in this phrase is stated very well in The Passion Translation of this verse: 

Psalms 139:5a TPT  You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. 

So, putting these together, here is a summary of the first principle I learned from this verse:  God goes behind and before us, both physically and chronologically, to protect, comfort, and prepare us.

Then, I asked God what the second half of the verse means (“You have laid Your hand upon me”).  I began to look through various Bible translations, and found that several  translations emphasize the protection aspect of this phrase:

Psalms 139:5 CEV  and with Your powerful arm You protect me from every side.

Psalms 139:5b GNB  You protect me with Your power.

I then went to several Bible commentaries, and they agree:

• John Wesley said that this is referring to God using His hand to keep us in His sight and under His power.  
• F. B. Meyer said that God’s hand shields and protects us.

But wait!  There is more!  What is the best commentary on the Bible?  The Bible!  What can we learn from other Scriptures regarding the laying on of hands?  In addition to protection, the laying on of hands in Scripture is also a picture of bestowing love, healing, commission, and blessing.  Wow!  So, here is the second principle I learned from this verse: In addition to protection, God has laid His hand upon believers to give them love, healing, commission, and blessing!  Several Bible translations emphasize this aspect of the verse:

Psalms 139:5b NLT  You place Your hand of blessing on my head.

Psalms 139:5b TPT  With Your hand of love upon my life, You impart a blessing to me.

So, let’s include these hidden treasures of truth as we re-read the verse:

Psalms 139:5 NASB  You have enclosed me behind and before [both physically and chronologically, to protect, comfort, and prepare me], And laid Your hand upon me [to protect, love, heal, commission, and bless me].

How can we apply these treasures of truth in everyday life?  Here are a few examples:

• When I have baggage from my past that seems to be an insurmountable obstacle to experiencing peace, confidence, and victory in the present, I can remember the truth that God has “enclosed me behind and before” to bring healing from my past!
• When I feel inadequate to the challenges I face (in my family, at work, in school, etc.), I can remember the truth that God has laid His hand upon me, and blessed and commissioned me to accomplish great works on His behalf!

Wow!  God prepares me for the future, and protects me from the harm of my past.  He also provides physical protection for me, and has laid His hand of protection, love, healing, commission, and blessing upon me.  He is truly my loving, heavenly Father!

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”