The 2^nd chapter of Proverbs is one of the most thought provoking in the entire book.  Meditate on the sequence of ‘ifs’ in the first 4 verses. “IF you receive my words … IF you call out for insight and … understanding …. IF you seek it like silver and search for it … then you will find …”   What will you find if you have tried to do this?  The answer in v.5 is, “then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” That is, experience a state of awe in your mind as you start to grasp the enormity of what the Creator must be in his existence and actions!  This is far different from an academic understanding of the nature of God, even from a scriptural perspective.  A truly seeking person must  develop “the knowledge of God,” that is, a knowing insight into what God is – it is ‘seeing’ and as a result possessing an overwhelming vision of  that which overwhelms normal human thinking.

When the LORD first spoke to Job, after all Job’s reasoning with his friends, God says, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” [38 v.2] It is the “knowledge” Solomon is speaking of in our Proverbs reading. Job confesses, “I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know … but now mine eye sees you” [42 v.3, 5] Notice how Paul expresses it; “having the eyes of our hearts enlightened that you may know …” [Eph. 1 v.18]   So, in our Proverbs chapter Solomon wants us to experience the awe of seeing God and then to be ready to grasp the relationship  we can have with God, as Job ultimately did!  

    We read “the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding … he is a shield to those who walk in integrity … watching over the way of his saints” [v.6,8]

So, if we seek in this way then “wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul”[v.10]; furthermore, “ … understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men (and women) of perverted speech … who rejoice in doing evil … who are devious in their ways.” [v.11-15].  Today we encounter such people more than ever, also those who have no spiritual strength to fight off these influences,  so we need to be conscious every day that our Lord is “watching over the way of his saints” looking for them to find more and more of “the knowledge of God.”   Reading and meditating on God’s word every day lays a foundation for that consciousness.

Chapters 13 & 14 that we read today in Luke’s Gospel repeat in several ways, the ‘picture’ that – following in the footsteps of Jesus requires a special perception on the meaning of our lives – the need to see it from God’s point of view.  But how many dedicate their minds to doing this, especially those who think they believe in Jesus?

The first step in doing this is a sense of awed humility.  How immeasurably great is the being that caused all that exists – to exist.  

Some of those listening to Jesus thought that all misfortunes were caused by God as a punishment for sin.  A tower had collapsed and killed 18 people and Jesus said, “those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think they were worse offenders than all the others … No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  [13 v,4,5]  We notice that he uses the word “perish” and not “asleep in Jesus” which is how the cessation of mortal life of true believers is described. (see 1 Thess. 4 v.13,14; John 11 v.11-13)

As Jesus “went on his way through towns and villages teaching … someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’” [v,22,23]   As always, Jesus does not give a straight  ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer. He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” [v.24].  This relates to the “broad way” which the masses find it easy to travel (see Matt 7 v.13). 

The time will come, we read in Luke, when they will “knock at the door saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’  Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence and you taught in our streets.’” [v.25,26]  The parallel to this in our days could be to say, ‘We had a Bible in our house and we did go to church most Sundays.’

In Ch. 14 we read the challenge of Jesus when “great crowds accompanied him, he turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes even his own life, he cannot be my disciple’”  [v.25,26] The Saviour sees our lives in two absolutes – love or hate – useful salt, or useless salt. (see v.34,35) A thing is either good and useful or it is of no value to our Lord, because it cannot be used in any effective way. So, will “those who are saved be few?”  

Verses 16 to 24 contain a fascinating parable Jesus spoke in response to a statement “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” [v.15]   This parable illustrates that those with the right attitude of mind are being sought for God’s kingdom – and the final request to the servants is, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” [v.23] There is good reason to see this as happening now with God’s word being available in every language; only last week we heard and saw Facebook images of a ‘Bible Week’ taking place in Africa and the Phillipines given mostly in their own language.

But the climax to all our thoughts is to turn the focus back on ourselves and ask, what am I doing so that I will be among the few that are saved?’ Having an awed sense of humility lays the foundation for this  and prayerful Bible reading and meditation is one of the greatest ways forward to increase the firmness with which we hold “the plough” [see Luke 9 v.62]

All three Psalms (145-147) and our chapter in Luke (12) today were greatly thought provoking; a great number of verses were very challenging – personally – to read.  Some people are sceptical of the statement, “the LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works” [Psa.145 v.17] cynically saying that if there is such a God who is all powerful, he should stop bad things from happening, especially to good people.

The verses which follow help us to correct our thinking from such ‘tunnel vision.’  They tell us, “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.  He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.  The LORD preserves all who love him …” [v.18-20] Look at the lives of those who really served God such as Paul, how true are these words of his life after he was converted. 

Some only call on God when circumstances in their life are getting desperate; but they have no ‘rock’ established in their minds as a firm foundation for an unshakeable belief in God.  They have not been calling “upon him in truth”?   How many do?  The next Psalm (146) tells us, “put not your trust in princes, in … man in whom there is no salvation.  When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans (thoughts) perish” [v.3,4] Yet how many are trying to find “princes,” leaders, they hope they can have confidence in!  They soon lose confidence in the leaders they elect.

Only those who genuinely love God and show that love in how they live their lives have a future beyond the grave.  In Luke we saw how Jesus told his disciples “do not be anxious about your life … what you will eat …nor be worried … instead seek his kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.” [v.22,29,31] They will be wonderfully “added” when his kingdom comes.  Finally, we noticed a special verse in the 147^th Psalm, “the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” [v.11]  May we all live so that our Lord takes pleasure in us. 

 We have quite a number of statements by Jesus that challenge our understanding in today’s 11^th chapter of Luke’s Gospel. We pondered the meaning of several parables, but their conclusions usually give us a vital clue.   Then we read that “as he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’”[v.27]

Jesus immediately responds by putting this into its true perspective.  Human beings are forever putting fellow humans up as statues, they need people they can look up to, especially when they are dead!  India is full of statues of Ghandi!   But many living people also love to be looked up to – it feeds their ego.  But note that the New Testament makes no mention of the mother of Jesus after Acts 1 v.14.  It was only human legends, written centuries later, that put her on a pedestal. 

But how did Jesus respond to the woman who ”raised her voice”?   We read, “But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it” [v.28]  Today people all over the world can “hear” the word of God by reading it in their own language, if they so desire.  

    It is obvious that the Old Testament, which Jesus repeatedly quotes, is an essential part of God’s message to human beings.   Hearing/reading “the word of God” is a wonderful blessing, it opens our eyes to the purpose of life – and of our own lives.  But we must take special note of his 3 final words – “and keep it.”

Finally, in v.23 we read an ominous point he made, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”   There is no neutral position!  Only those who are “with” Jesus have a sure and certain guide for their lives, they have a destination in view.  Those who think they can stand forever at the crossroads pondering which way to go are in danger of being run over!  Look at Ch. 13 v.5

Jesus spoke in parables, stories that were not necessarily factual because their purpose was to drive home some principle about God’s purpose in our lives. In Luke 10 we encounter some one sentence parables, perhaps we should call them phrases that are clearly symbolic of something literal.  He did many miracles in Capernaum and other cities. He makes a challenging statement, “If the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago ..” [v.13] 

Capernaum had been the scene of many miracles, but it did not spark a spirit of awe and wonder leading to humility and repentance! They pursued Christ for more mass feeding on loaves and fishes – and the Master lamented, when they found him on the other side of the lake, he told them, “you are seeking me not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the fill of the loaves.” [John 6 v.26]

This attitude leads Jesus to say, “… you Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?  You shall be brought down to Hades” [Luke 10 v.15]. What does this mean? This town had experienced a display of heavenly powers which it failed to humbly appreciate with heart-felt awe and humility.   God’s  reaction to their failure would result in them going “down to Hades”   That is “Hell” in the old A V Bible, the grave, in many modern versions. The fundamental meaning of “hell” was in times past a place or thing covered over – as in the word Hel-met.  Capernaum was covered over – for some 1700 years – until archaeologists uncovered its ruins.

In Luke 12 Jesus makes a most significant point; “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” [v.48]  The people of Capernaum failed this test, “much was given” to them in an abundant evidence of heavenly powers.  Jesus’ disciples are sent out on a successful preaching and healing mission and when they return – note what Jesus says! “I saw Satan like lightning fall from heaven” [10 v.18]. Again, obviously not to be understood literally!  

    We have seen the symbolic meaning of heaven!  This means that the adversaries (as the word satan means) of Jesus, those seeking his discredit and destruction, were “disarmed” by the demonstrations of heaven’s genuine power. The religious leaders should have been heaven’s representatives in leading the people, but they were continually discredited. 

    We await the days to come, convinced they are now near, when the earth will see widespread evidence of divine power on earth for, as we read in Hebrews 6 v.4, “the heavenly gift” in the time of the Apostles were “the powers of the age to come.”

We will see in Ch. 11 how Jesus ridicules their attempts to deny his heavenly powers [v.15-23], he ends by saying, “Whoever is not with me is against me..”  It is clear there is no neutral position to take when it comes to our personal relationship with Jesus.   Are you “for” or “against” Jesus?  Do not hesitate between “two opinions” – remember the lesson in 1 Kings 18 v.21.

Thinking upon our quote in Psalm 139 today brought to mind a conversation I had with the late Bro. David Caudery who recounted a picture from his childhood in Britain during WW2.. “I remember searchlights as a boy.  Beams of light would sweep across the sky from near where I lived.  They were searching for enemy planes, if they found one they would lock on to it and the gunners would try to shoot it down.  Anti-aircraft gunners were right near the house of my wife Fran (I did not know her then), it was a test of faith and her mother had a very firm faith and this gave “peace of mind” to her two children”. 

And so we were reminded of this by our reading of Psalm 139 today. “Oh LORD you have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up … you search out my path”  [v. 1-3].  But the Psalmist David realises that God’s power to “search” and to “see” extends far beyond what we do physically.  He writes, “you discern my thoughts from afar … even before a word is on my tongue …” [v.4]   

Young people today would describe as ‘awesome’  the thought that God knows our thoughts before we even put them into words.  That really is a searchlight on the mind.  We cannot limit the meaning to David personally, it applies to all who believe they have a relationship with God as David knew he did.  There is even more than this! David has an inspired perception of God’s all-embracing creative work!  We read, “For you formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … your eyes saw my unformed substance.” [v.13,14,16].

Today, clever men have unravelled most of the secrets of DNA and the human genome.  So how remarkable it is that David was inspired to write 3,000 years ago about his “unformed substance”, that is, his DNA.   

    Finally, note how the word ‘search’ occurs again at the climax of the Psalm, Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” [v.23,24]

As we look back on our lives do we recognise the times when God tested and tried us?  Do I, do you, fear to sense God’s searchlight on our thoughts? He does not “search” to shoot us down, but all of us have had times when we needed to be redirected.  We are straying off course and need to adjust our direction; or even abruptly halted in our tracks as happened to David on one occasion. Some have ignored God’s efforts to redirect them – to their prospect of “the way everlasting” in grave danger.  It was a heart-wrenching experience for David. We all want God to lead us “in the way everlasting” and his searching our hearts – is part of that leading but so many are not conscious enough of this.  Are you?

Today’s readings in Leviticus 25 contains instructions from the LORD as to how the nation was to function when they settled in the promised land. Laws were given to ensure they treated the land properly so that the soil continued to yield good  crops. They were to work the land for 6 years “but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD” [v,4]  This policy of ploughing a field for 6 years and letting it rest on the seventh made good sense.  The soil could rejuvenate. The word Sabbath means “rest.”

It is only in recent generations that farmers have been able to use lots of extra chemical fertilisers to increase land productivity: but they have sometimes made mistakes, and in trying to make the land too productive, some have ruined it. The chapter goes on to tell us that after 7 cycles of 7, making 49 years, the 50^th year was to be a Jubilee Year, a very special year when “each of you shall return to his property” [v.13].  God said, “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine.” [v.23]  

When they arrive in the promised land, as we will read in May, the land was divided by Joshua into territories for each tribe.  Each of these territories would then be divided again into the ownership of families within the tribe, and then again to heads of households.  If land was sold by an owner who became poor or had some urgent need, this would be only until the next Jubilee Year.   

    We read of various laws designed to help those who became poor.  It is summed up in v.46  “you shall not rule over one another ruthlessly” [v.46]  The law was very good, but the people frequently did not put it into practice very well.  God’s messages through the prophets sometimes address this failure.  In Isaiah we read, “Woe to those who join house to house and add field to field” [5 v.8]  

The whole spirit of capitalism as practiced in much of the world today is fundamentally unhealthy because it cultivates a spirit of greed in building up greater and greater possessions, disadvantaging others..  But God’s principle for Israel was, “the land is mine” – they were the tenants to whom he had let it out.   Surely the same will apply in the Kingdom of God, it is a principle all believers should bear in mind, for not only is the land God’s, those who take on the name of Christ must realize they are too!  Paul wrote,  “You are not our own, for you were bought with a price….your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God” [1 Cor. 6 v.19, 20]  Which reminds us of our thoughts yesterday.  

Psalm 132 provokes much personal thought.  “Remember, O LORD, in David’s favour, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed … I will not enter my house or get into my bed,  I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob” [v.1-5]  This strongly reminds us of the words of Jesus, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him” [John 14 v.23]

What a wonderful vision of the unseen!  Is it truly real?   We read Jesus’ words in Revelation, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him …” [3 v.20]  Do we read the Bible in a way that causes us to “hear”? Jesus seeks to make his abode in our heart!  Each of us should ask ourselves, how “comfortable” would Jesus be in our hearts?  We find such questions disturbing! But think; why do Jesus and his Father seek to come? Is it not to strengthen and shed light so that the “spirit of the living God” has its’ effect “on tablets of human hearts” [2 Cor. 3 v.3] – and a wonderful result of this is that the dark spots in our hearts disappear!

The opening statement in the Psalm “I will not (even) enter my house …” makes us think of both Abraham and David. With Abraham “the LORD brought him outside  and said, ‘Look toward heaven … “ [Gen.15 v.5] And surely David also looked toward heaven when, as a young man he was keeping the sheep.  An experience which resulted in Psalm 19; notice how it begins, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” 

So the first step in finding “a place for the LORD”, before we close our eyes in sleep each night, could be to go outside and look toward heaven and meditate. After that there are several appropriate Scriptures to meditate on as we prepare to close our eyes in peace for a night of rest.  In his 1^st letter the Apostle John makes the point, “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.” [1 John 3 v.24] 

Paul understood this, he told the Ephesians they were “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit”  [2 v.22], evidently a work in progress! He makes the point in Romans 8 “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (and daughters) of God” [v.14]. To really “find a place for the LORD” is a totally humbling experience and lays the foundation for really ‘living’ a true life “in Christ.”