Trivia:
In answer to yesterdays trivia, though KFC stores claim the rights of fame to be held in Kentucky, the claim should actually be given to all of the Southern US states.
Now for a new factoid; For all of you world travelers; Which European city is known as the "Eternal City"? Paris, France; Madrid, Spain; Athens, Greece; Rome, Italy?
Challenge:
Psalm 42:1-6 "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of yours?" 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you--even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar."
Before we begin to meditate on this Psalm there is an important background we must get ahold of in order to fully understand this Psalm. If you notice the instruction that is given as to who was to lead the Hebrew people in singing this praise song. The choir director of the Levites was to lead them in the singing of this Psalm.
Now you may be asking, Why, was this special instruction given, as to who was to lead this song, and why was it dedicated to the family of Korah? Well, in order to fully get the message of this song, we must go back to the time in which Korah and his followers (250 important leaders) rebelled against Moses.
The Jewish historians point us back to Numbers 16 to the first time when the people needed to find water in order to survive. Here Korah questioned Moses as to why they should follow him.
Look at verse 3 where they said, "What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of (us Levites) the Lord's people?" Notice Moses response in verse 4, "Moses ...fell face down on the ground. Then he said to them...,Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to Him and who is holy." In other words God will show us who they should follow.
The next morning after much preparation, God lead the people by splitting open the land and swallowing up all of those who rebelled against God's leaders as well as all of their possessions. However, later in 1 Chronicles 6:37 Korah's remaining family members who had refused to rebel were given the priviledge of composing. arranging, and performing the eleven Psalms that bear the heading "the sons of Korah". This is a reminder to us that God will carry us through times of tragedy if we give ourselves over to the surrender of His leadership in our lives.
By honoring the Lord, Korah's descendants became known, not for their ancestor's rebellion, but for the priviledge of leading His people in praise and adoration to God for His faithful working among His people as they learn the value of surrender to Him and His workings.
I hope this background will open our eyes to the deeper message of these next few chapters. When we face the potential loss of everything that we hold dear, including family, home, and survival, our focus needs to be "I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God ... I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!"
So what is Korah's family message ringing out to us today? From their wonderings and yes, even in their praise in the hopeless desert?
SO GO WITH GOD my dear child, for when everything in your life seems hopeless. When your eyes are constantly filled with tears, when the enemy says, " Bet you can't beat this, Where is this God of yours?"
When you are discouraged and heart sick, and sad, just Remember that time when all looked lost, then you learned to say "STOP, I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN GOD, I WILL AGAIN PRAISE HIM--MY SAVIOR AND MY GOD.
NOW, in the middle of this trial I bow to you dear Father and give my offering of incense and look to just how you will lead me through this insurmountable trial, just like you led Israel through the Red Sea. I follow behind your ark of the covenant, that physical reminder of your constant love and care for me and those who I hold dear.
Athens