Spiritual Dungeons
To you I will cry, YHWH my rock. Do not be silent to me, lest, if you are silent to me, I become like those who go down into the pit. Psalm 28:1
Pit – When God does not speak, I exist in a spiritual dungeon. It takes some deliberate concentration to discover this reality, hidden as it is behind the rat-race frenzy of the world’s quest for significance, but with a little prodding, the truth can be seen. When God is silent, creation is lost. Man does not live by bread alone. In fact, man cannot live by his own effort to produce regardless of his apparent success. He must have the word of God to survive. He must be confronted with God’s voice if he is to know himself. There must be an answer to his cry or he will find himself left in an empty cistern hewn from rock. If God does not speak, I will silently succumb to the grave.
The Bible declares that God speaks. In fact, our God creates all that is with the sound of His voice. He declares creation and it comes into being. God’s words are the hallmarks of His power. And yet, He need not shout His commands nor bellow His requests. In fact, after the howling of the storm, Elijah discovers that God is to be found in the silent voice (compare the word demamah in 1 Kings 19:12 with the same word in Job 4:16). All of my cries turn into God’s whispers. His silent voice is enough to revive me.
Why do I cry out to God? Why do I plead for His voice? I am alone, in the bottom of the well, imprisoned by my own existence, left to die the slow death of meaning attrition. Why do I need a word from God? Because only He knows why I live at all. Only He can lift me from the pit of my hopeless battle with myself. Only He can give me meaning beyond the walls that constrain me. I cry out because I know what it means to be trapped within. “Who will deliver me from the body of this death?” might have been David’s plea too. It is mine. It may be yours. Starvation of the soul is the pitiful condition of those who cannot hear God’s whisper after the storm.
It is an amazing and wonderful relief to discover that David’s psalm ends in jubilant praise for the God who does answer. He did not need to. Allow that thought to penetrate your hewn rock walls. God is under no moral, ethical or personal obligation to answer us. He chooses to, but not because we deserve His care. The great mystery of the Bible is that God meets us in our desperate battle with insane meaninglessness. The Biblical response to God’s act of sheer grace is the response of worship. It is awestruck expression of obedience to a God who makes us the object of His concern. The Bible is not an answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved (rescued)?” There is actually nothing I can do unless God first acts on my behalf. The Bible is an answer to the question “What does God demand of me?” How am I to live in front of a God who actually cares for me? Will I answer “Here I am?” Will I be ready to say “Your will not mine?” God hears my cry, but when He responds, I discover my plea has been converted into a question. It is the only question that really matters. It is the question that answers my cry.
Topical Index: cry, pit, silent, Psalm 28:1
Is there anyone reading this who hasn’t been drowning, and cried out with all of our being to God? How could we not? “To whom shall we go?” Except that He reached down, and pulled me up, I would not be here now. I remember this and marvel.
Me too, Gayle. I think we’ve all been there at some point, and perhaps more than once…That’s when we “know in our knower” that He is always there…
Color Commentary: Skip, I’d like a “word” with you. (lol!)- Today’s word is “pit”. Please do not forsake your calling and rush “headlong” into commentary. I know you have a story to tell as we each do. Each (and every) man has a “story to tell”. You know, I know, we know, there is a world within a single word. Every word of G-d is pure. Every day and over time, the words of the LORD will find their way into our lives, plant a seed and then bear fruit in our daily living. We do err, not knowing the Scriptures or the power of G-d. “The words I speak unto you, they are spirit (breath) and they are life,” Yeshua says. We need to know His words. When YHWH speaks, (and when we listen), something wonderful occurs. Life happens.
We (hungry sheep) are (daily) listening for His words. We need to know His words and then to “know” His words. A sower went out to sow.. precept upon precept.. line upon line.. “My word will not return empty”..-thus saith the LORD. Feed my sheep.. Sow the seed.. our part. Grow the seed- His part.
Leadership is influence. This website feeds many “hungry and thirsty” sheep. If you are found faithful in distributing the “bread of life,” G-d will absolutely, positively feed you. You will be fed with the “finest of wheat” from Bethlehem’s Bakery.
Joseph spent some time in a pit. He also spent some time a a prison. In the latter part of his life, he lived in a palace. G-d is able (and willing) to deliver. “Who shall deliver me?,” Paul asks.
My question to Paul is.. “who’s very name is “Deliverer?” For whosoever shall call upon the name (Hashem!) of the LORD, shall be (not might be) saved. (please notice the period at the end).
-knowing your labors are not in vain in the LORD.. (1 Corinthians 15.58)
Blessed is the man who walks in your favor.. who loves all Your words, and hides them like treasure, in the darkest place of his desperate heart.. they are a Light.. a strong, sure light..
Hi Carl…since your comments are sometimes esoteric, I’m not 100% certain I’m interpreting this one of Dec. 16, 2009 correctly, but it sounds like you’re saying that you would prefer Skip to write only with his “head knowledge” of Scripture and avoid the “personal touch” or, commentary, as you call it. Forgive me if I’m not understanding you correctly. Yes, “leadership IS influence” as you said, and Skip is clearly a leader. But, in my opinion, one thing that sets him apart from so many other leaders is not only his amazing knowledge of G-d’s word and his ability to explain it, but also, his willingness to share so much of his personal story. It’s that vulnerability that makes him more human, more approachable, more real. Skip’s “commentary” just might be the lure that gets someone to look twice at what he has to say about a personal G-d, scripture and the Hebraic worldview etc. (the really important stuff.) That was certainly the case for me. G’-d is a relational G-d, and Skip leads the way in modeling that for us, as well as teaching us about his “word.” By doing this, I would say he’s being OBEDIENT to his calling, not forsaking it!
Again, if I’ve misinterpreted your comment, my apologies.
God Bless…Judi
Hello Judy.. I’ll have to fire off a rapid reply since I am now “pressed by time” (must be what causes the wrinkles on my skin!). I too, enjoy very much the “personal touch” of Skip and his willingness to be open and transparent with his own failures and shortcomings. This post today is in reference to identify via the original language (in this case Hebrew) the word “pit.” What meaneth this? (as it is written!). There is tremendous value in “story”, but even more so in the very words of G-d. Each word has been carefully crafted by our Father and we must know each of these words. Why? “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of G-d.” Have you seen and do you know the power of a single word? Healing words, helpful words, Hallelujah words.. all contained within G-d’s blessing book. This is what Skip does best.. He reveals unto us, the very (original) words of YHWH. Day by day, precept upon precept and line upon line. This is how we learn. This is far from a slam on brother Skip.. he has blessed my life (our lives) tremendously- I have been a reader for several years now and this website is visited every single day. I have a “collection” of these words from the Word and they are exceedingly precious to me. Blessings to all.. the clock calls.. “in Him”.. carl
Thanks for the clarification Carl.
Have a blessed Christmas!!
Judi
Speaking of WORDS, this was one of the Quotes of the Day for today. I thought this community would especially appreciate this one:
“The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words.” – Philip K. Dick
http://www.qotd.org/
yes sister Gayle.. another affirmation we need to know His words more than ever. English is so ambiguous.
“Trunks” Tree trunks. Swimming trunks. Attic trunks. Elephant trunks. Car trunks. You know.. trunks.
Remember our former POTUS.. “it all depends on what the meaning of “is” is. Balderdash. (look that one up)
This ministry is both crucial and vital. If we are to live and walk by faith (YHWH’s instructions), and faith comes by our hearing (are you listening?) and hearing by what G-d says (His eternal words), then we must know His words. Are His words necessary? ( be assured- there is a roflol occuring in the background), -do you agree (in your spirit), -are you laughing also? Are His words necessary for our existence? Can we survive without hearing His words? Do we have any hope or life apart from what He has said?
Without faith it is impossible to please G-d. (Hebrews 11.6) I didn’t say it.. He did. Where does this “faith” come from? (now how did you know that?)- lol!- let’s say it together.. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17)
The wisdom of G-d, the ways of G-d, and the will of G-d are all contained within the words of G-d.
Yo, – -listen up.. “it is written!”
Hi Gayle,
Speaking of Phiilip K Dick, I haven’t read any of his books since the seventies, but a number of good movies have been based on his science fiction.
I thought the movie A Scanner Darkly was excellent.
Most folks have probably seen Blade Runner by now, and it was based on one of my favorite Dick novels called Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
Those guys over at Google must have read that book too, because they named their new cell phone after the Android.
References to Androids can also be found in Jewish mysticism; Ismael pointed that out me some time ago.
Gordon Lightfoot wrote a ballad of 29 men who knew they were going to die on-board the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald. With a November storm crashing in on them, overloaded, and hatches breaking they waited helplessly for what the next moment would bring them. Lightfoot asks the question, “Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the words turn the minutes to hours?” I feel this question in my gut. Yes, Gayle I too have had the experience of drowning and waiting for help; wondering in what seemed like hours, months, years for God’s love to rescue. He did, he has, and I believe.
My ‘mantra’ is simply, “God is good ALL the time, and ALL the time, God is good”–no matter WHAT is happening around me! May we all continue to be transformed by His Word into children who bring Him glory. I am thankful for Skip’s wisdom and insight as he daily reveals more words of life.