Hurricane Force
Deep calls to deep at the noise of Your cataracts; all Your waves and Your billows have gone over me. Psalm 42:7 (Hebrew text – translation Hebrew World)
Your – You’re waiting for the big one. Floating on the ocean, slipping over the little waves with relative ease, you wait for the one big thrill, the one that you can ride all the way to the beach. And then it comes. It’s enormous. Just as it starts to curl, you catch the lift and you’re up, on the board, screaming along the wall of water that propels you toward the shore. And bang! Something goes wrong. You’re thrown off the board and into the churning, boiling surf. Around and around it rolls you, thrashing you with its power, oblivious of your need for oxygen. It pounds you into the sand below, scraping your skin, bouncing you like a pebble under a fire hose. When you finally come out of it, you wonder how you could have survived. Welcome to David, the surfer King.
We all get rolled in life’s waves. We all are thrown against the bottom, struggling to free ourselves from the invisible chains of the water, gasping for breath. But we don’t all realize that these forces of nature belong to God. David reminds us that they are Your cataracts, Your waves, Your billows. David reminds us that deep calls to deep. His reminders send us right back to Genesis, “and darkness was on the face of the deep.” What does God do with tehom (the deep)? He creates order. The deep is not a supernatural enemy outside the creative order of our God. The deep is simply part of His creation, a part that He orders according to His purposes. Neither are the cataracts, the waves or the billows outside His sovereign control. They too are part of His purposeful order. When life rolls over me, I am not the victim of alien evil. I am experiencing the engineering of God. All those forces that slam me to the ground are still His! And He brings order out of the forces of the deep.
David and you and I might not understand why the waves crash over us. We might not be able to explain the thrashing we take today. But we know this: it’s no accident. God engineers the deep. Those waves are His waves. If my sight is limited only to the size of the wave and the threat of its curl, I will miss the most important surfing lesson. It’s His creation. David finds comfort in the fact that none of these threats are alien to the Lord. None of them can do anything more than obey the Master of the universe. Even if I am rolled in the surf, it is still His surf.
Far too often we think that the bad things we experience are somehow the results of our failures – our failure to be holy enough, our failure to be obedient, our failure to discern His will. We implicitly adopt that old heresy that God rewards the righteous with good things and punishes the wicked with bad things. We reject our trials as spiritual edification and treat them as leprous penalties. This kind of thinking makes us the center of the universe, even in our protestations of injustice. It is exactly the opposite of acknowledging that YHWH is the Sovereign King. As Job discovered, Sovereign Kings do not owe their subjects an explanation of the strategy and tactics of restoration.
David realized that even our afflictions are God’s messengers. Paul said, “You sent me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan.” Even the Enemy bows to the King. “If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there,” said the Psalmist. All that is needed to convert a trial to His trial is the addition of the letter Kaf to the end of the Hebrew noun. Kaf, the consonant that pictures an open hand, converts my myopic concern with myself to a recognition of His control. Perhaps it’s time to add Kaf to your troubles and realize that they are His too.
Topical Index: Your, kaf, troubles, sovereign, trials, Psalm 42:7
Dear community
I would appreciate if you will please pray for Skip and his travel to South Africa. The last I heard from him was that there were weather problems, delays and flights being cancelled between Orlando and Dallas. If so, it would make him late for his flight to London etc. and the domestic flight in South Africa as well. I haven’t had any news since.
I experience these problems as the practical “doing ” part of our faith considering yesterday and today’s Today’s Word. Yes, I say I believe in the One true YHWH, how? =( John 1:50 ..” you believe all this just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that!”)
“He remembers who we are, He hears our cries and NOW is the time to put the Kaf to our troubles and realise that they are His too.”
Thank you that I may ask this of you. Blessing to all.
Greetings from LONDON where I did arrive this afternoon, London time. Now I am waiting for the flight to J’berg. I feel good and am ready to get going. Thanks for the prayers. The flight that I would have missed had mechanical problems and we waited in Dallas another 2 hours, time enough to get my books and DVDs in baggage to the plane.
Hi Luzette,
Yes, I will pray that G-d delivers Skip safely and timely to his friends in South Africa.
And, may your time together be full of good teaching, new insights, laughter, fun and most of all, G-d’s blessings.
My best to all of you,
Judi
Thanks Luzette for letting us know of the situation. We will be praying! In His peace.
Today’s excellent word is about the Sovereignty of G-d. Simply (as I know how) put, – G-d is large and He is in charge. G-d is Sovereign. Jesus is LORD. Or if you prefer, and more accurately, “Yeshua is ADONAI.”
Please, “know” this:
LORD of every thought and action,
LORD to send, and LORD to stay,
LORD in speaking,writing,giving,
LORD in all things to obey,
LORD of all there is of me,
LORD of earth and heaven, we’ll see
LORD of today and eternity..
it’s not about me, it’s not about you, -but it is about us. “We” are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Simply put (as simple as I know how..)- “the LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
The marked difference is this: Not so much, “there is a God”, but to say it and know it (experientially) “my G-d.” To say with Thomas (the doubter) “My LORD and my G-d”. To confess with Rabbi Sha’ul, (also known as Paul, formerly known as Saul,- “but my G-d shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus” and then to wait, watch and see, (up close and personal)- “Providence occurs” lol!
Has G-d been good to you? A silly question to some, but one that needs review. After all, -it is true..- “the way we know our future is by looking at our past.” According to the “markers” of my life, and personally speaking, – (who else would I be speaking for?), -brothers, sisters, friends,- G-d has been good to me, and as it has been said, “far better than I deserve.” Scripturally speaking, (and that is a wonderful way to speak), our Bible (G-d’s book of instruction) tells us (when will we believe?)- “For the LORD is good, His “chesed” is everlasting, and His truth endures/remains forever.” (Psalm 100.5)
Today we may “go forth” in this “blessed assurance.” Is G-d good? Is YHWH Sovereign? Does G-d care? Is He compassionate? Is He merciful? What does the word of G-d tell us?
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, -how shall He not with Him, also freely/graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8.32)
Yes, G-d is good. How good? – we haven’t even scratched the surface. “For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a G-d besides You, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.” (Isaiah 64.4)
LOVED the word today!
I’ve heard that “darkness” is about evil. I resd in the Living Word that darkness is over the face of the deep, but does that mean evil exists there?!! One would think so if you look at how we react to it. At least I find that about myself. I’m still afraid of the “dark” after all these years. If I can’t see what’s going on, it troubles me, deeply, and I find fear knocking at my door. Often in those times, when I pray and study, I still can’t see (much less see God). Have you ever noticed how hard it is to fix something in the dark? The funny thing is that, mostly, I don’t have the resourses to fix it anyway even if I could see it. At least I would find some comfort in knowing what’s about to destroy me!! (ain’t THAT funny) This is what I’m learning.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness [was] under his feet.
Psa 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
Psa 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.
Darkness isn’t about evil, from our view, it’s where God is. We just aren’t able to “see” Him at the moment. But I find a pattern that goes like this: AND God said, “let there be light”. There’s that “hook” or the vav that fixes one to the other, like it fixes the sheets to the columns in the tabernacle. The 2 things become interdependant on each other to make a whole.
I can hear some things goin’ on, but it’s still pretty dark out there. However, considering these things. I bet ya this is gonna be good because Gods there. And I’m waiting!!
I’ve heard that “darkness” is about evil. I read in the Living Word that darkness is over the face of the deep, but does that mean evil exists there?!! One would think so if you look at how we react to it. At least I find that about myself. I’m still afraid of the “dark” after all these years. If I can’t see what’s going on, it troubles me, deeply, and I find fear knocking at my door. Often in those times, when I pray and study, I still can’t see (much less see God). Have you ever noticed how hard it is to fix something in the dark? The funny thing is that, mostly, I don’t have the resourses to fix it anyway even if I could see it. At least I would find some comfort in knowing what’s about to destroy me!! (ain’t THAT funny) This is what I’m learning.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness [was] under his feet.
Psa 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
Psa 18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.
Darkness isn’t about evil, from our view, it’s where God is. We just aren’t able to “see” Him at the moment. But I find a pattern that goes like this: AND God said, “let there be light”. There’s that “hook” or the vav that fixes one to the other, like it fixes the sheets to the columns in the tabernacle. The 2 things become interdependant on each other to make a whole.
I can hear some things goin’ on, but it’s still pretty dark out there. However, considering these things. I bet ya this is gonna be good because Gods there. And I’m waiting!!
I was listening to a speaker (at the Apostolic Awakening Summit several months ago), and he made this statement: God has plans before satan has problems. I thought that was a pretty awesome way to put it. I also really like the image of the open hand… just add the letter to our lives and remember that God has plans before our problems became problems. Great Word!
Thanks Skip! Enjoy South Africa!
Robert, light is that which reveals and Yeshua said, “I AM the light of the world.” Yeshua is the ONE who reveals YHWH to us. Our entire Bible is G-d’s “self-revelation” of Himself to us. This is true- He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. He is the ONE, (and the only ONE) who completes or fulfills or fills full the Torah. There is (only) one perfect person ever to have lived and His name is? Yes, David, “Who is this King of glory?” His name says it all: “YHWH is salvation” What did the heaven’s messenger say to His mother? “Thou shalt call His name-“YHWH is salvation.” “And whosoever (any and all) calls upon the name of the LORD- shall be saved.” What was Peter’s cry? very short, very “fervent!,” very effectual: “LORD (ADONAI) save me!”
What part does the tslav play in this “divine romance?” What about the cross of Christ? Why is this necessary? Why is the cross so critical? Why did Yeshua (willingly) lay down His life for His friends? Once again, David, we are lost in wonder, love and praise and cry out with you-
Who is this King of glory?” The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, -mighty to save. Thank you for the cross, LORD. Thank you for the price you paid.
Isn’t this Psalm 42:7?
I understand and am glad that everything in the created order is for His glory and His glory alone. Somehow, someway, He is able to work through all this complexity and confusion. It takes His wisdom to discern His ability to create order from chaos and look for serenity in the midst of the storm. During these times, He is our Peace-Shalom: For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, Ephesians 2:14
and Tsedeq-Righteousness:”In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6
Yes, this includes the deep, the hidden things, the treasure that lies obscured beneath the surface. I read recently (again but as though it were the first time!!) this Word of encouragement that somewhat ties a couple of loose strand together:
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things]. Isaiah 45:7
You are right about the verse and it’s been corrected now.
I love Is 45:3, “And I will give you the TREASURES of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.”
Yes, Cindy…Who could make such a provision except the mighty Elohim! Even without material wealth, our acceptance and agreement with Him in His plan for us, is truly a work that should be honored and treasured. If I can just press my way through my worldly vision, I may be able to see it as the good and perfect gift, special ordered from my Father. Knowing He controls and brings about ALL things, should bring the gift of comfort and assurance.