As promised at the end of part 1, here's another example of failing to give honor. It is found in 2 Kings 2:23,24.
23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
Forty-two children called the man of God, the prophet Elisha, bald head and two She bears killed and devoured children. What’s the point? Honor is a very important value in the Kingdom of God. Elisha was a chosen prophet of God with great authority and vision. These children mocked him.
How many true prophets of God are there today? There are many who claim to hold the office of prophet, but there are not many who are true God gifted prophets. Those who are may seem strange in nature to others. How do you know if they are true or false prophets? You test the spirits as scripture tells us to do, but also, if they are true prophets, what they say will come to pass.
Many times these true prophets of God are mocked and rejected out of hand as kooks or weirdos. Be careful. By mocking them, you are mocking the Holy Spirit, and again what you sew you shall reap. Now the story above about Elisha is an old testament story and I would not be so bold as to imply the bears are gonna get ya. However, the point is that honor is shown to true servants of God who follow truth and are honorable to their calling.
In this Psalm 61, that we have been studying, David asks God for three things.
Lord hear me. Prayer is always available. No matter where you are. Prayer releases the provision of God as you declare who He is and what He has promised to you. Do you have a Son on drugs….Pray! Is your marriage falling apart….Pray! Are your finances in the tank….Pray! Is your health failing….Pray! Is your peace gone….Pray! I think you get the point.
God has already provided for all that you need (2 Peter 1:3). Now it’s up to us to release that provision and we do that through declaration of what is ours. It’s called prayer.
David said “Lord Hear Me”, but he also said, “Help Me”. David is King. He’s wealthy. He’s loved by his people. He has resources. An entire army at his disposal, yet he asks God to help him.
Have you ever done this? It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Or how much power you have. Or how much position you may have. God will neutralize it all so that you will rely on Him. If your resources exceed your vision for God, God will reduce your resources to your vision for Him.
Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. I didn’t say God is against you having money, or power, or position. What I’m saying is God is against those things having you. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and then…..Get my point?
Remember that Saul, who later was named Paul the Apostle, knew everything about the law and Jewish tradition. He could have easily ministered to the Jews on his own knowledge and strength. So what did God do? Sent him to preach to the Gentiles whom he knew nothing about. So he had to rely on God totally.
How about the story of Gideon. God whittled his force of men down from 32,000 to 300. Why? Because Gideon could have easily won the battle with 32,000 men. God wanted Gideon to rely on Him to do battle and win for him.
God will help you in your situation by allowing you to use your free moral agency, or free will and choice, to choose His ways when you don’t originally want to.
So now lets look at Jonah. He was instructed by God to go to Ninevah. He didn’t want to go to Ninevah. So he gets on a ship going in the opposite direction. Well, you know how that story turns out.
God does not force you to do it His way. He allows you to choose which sometimes puts you in a situation where you come around to choosing His way. You’ll want to do it His way when God shows you the futility of doing it your way.
Then David Says Hide Me. Lead me to the Rock That is Higher Than I. David’s in the desert (Judea). It’s hot. It’s desolate. The sun is like a blazing sword. Suddenly David sees a rock, a mountain. It casts a shadow covering cool water. This is a rock that is Higher Than I.
It is a type of Christ. It is a place of, comfort, relaxation, rest, shelter, peace, and joy. It is the Rock – – – Jesus Christ. The Rock of Ages. Our refuge. It is the Stone the Builders rejected.
He is the smitten rock. The rock at Horeb that Moses smote. It brought forth water. Jesus is the River of Living Water. He is sweeter than the bitterness in your life. He is the honey in the rock. Jesus is the sweetest Name I know. Jesus is the Light.
We need to quit crying about how dark it is in this old world, and shine forth. Jesus said we are salt and light. No one ever said turn on the darkness. They say turn on the light. Don’t curse the darkness. Turn on the light!
His Word is, the light of God, the living Truth, the bread of life, living water, the sword of the Spirit, the road map to victory, The Rock That is Higher Than I.
It’s sad to say that today, the church of Jesus Christ is not shining brighter. We are just becoming more accustomed to the darkness. It’s what happens when we sit in the darkness long enough by trying to please religion and legalism. By trying to live by the law rather than by the Spirit.
You get used to it. The traditions of men lull you into a sense of false security through shame management. If you can keep the rules and follow all the edicts of men, then you’ll be accepted by God. That is not what scripture teaches us. Just study the many teachings on this website and get set free from the tyranny of people and the tyranny of yourselves.
We have a destiny with the Rock. We can either be broken by falling upon it, or we can be ground to dust when it falls upon us. Jesus is the Rock That is Higher Than I.
I know what David was going through when He said “Lord Hear Me, Lord Help Me, and Lord Hide Me”. You may be going through the desert right now, and you need the Rock to provide shelter. To provide a high tower from the enemy. To cover you. He is the Rock that is higher. It’s your decision. Will you fall upon the rock, or will the rock fall upon you?
David said, I’m gonna live forever in your tabernacle. Your going to give me added years as rich and full as many generations packed into one. You have heard my vows to praise you every day, and you give me blessings reserved for those who reverence your name.
Oh Lord, send your loving kindness and truth to guard and watch over me that I may daily perform my vows. The vows to praise your name continually.
God wants to and will do the same thing for any and all of us. We can have the same confidence David had. That we will have long life. That we will live with the Lord forever. That He will provide us riches to the fullest. That He will send His loving kindness, grace and truth to guard and watch over us. John 1:17 says that the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
So, we get to praise Him continually. As I’ve said before, true worship is God’s people telling God He’s God. It’s praise that empowers us to perform what God has provided for us and placed within us. So remember, whenever you have need of Him, He truly is the ROCK THAT IS HIGHER! Grace and Peace.
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