HEAD(hed), (n.) 1. the top part of the human body or the front part of an animal where the eyes, nose, east and mouth are. "Your brain is in your head." DIBS(dibz), (n.) 2. a thick, sweet syrup made in countries of the East, especially the Middle East, from grape juice or dates. [Arabic "debs"]--World Book Dictionary, 1976.
Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...
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The LORD Sits Enthroned
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“But
the LORD sits enthroned forever; He has established His throne for
justice, and He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the
peoples with uprightness.” (Psalm 9:7-8)
Ever
play that game where you say a word over and over and over again until
it sounds like a different word,? The game involves a sort of a mind
trick where the repeated word seems to lose its meaning. Say the word
repeatedly until the mind sort of “clocks out” and the word sounds
foreign. Children at that moment laugh when they realize what happened. I
think this has happened with “forever.”
What
does “forever” mean? Well, the word as we know it has been around since
at least the late 17th century, combining the concept of “before” with
“at any time” or “always.” The Hebrew word is “o-lam” which carries the
idea of “hidden time, long” or simply “ancient.” So how long has the
LORD been enthroned? Since ancient hidden time.
How
long will He remain? Will He ever leave the throne? Look again at what
has been happening since ancient time: the LORD sits enthroned (“sits”
is present tense). Like His name, “I AM,” (present tense), here
translated “the LORD”. He is now sitting on His throne since before
ever. He’s not going to move.
Though
we’ve only mentioned it, let’s take a closer look at that on which the
present-tense, personal, covenant-making God sits. “Throne” means much
more than the exalted chair on which a regal sits. “Throne” carries the
idea of support, of that which is steadfast, strong and stable. We can
easily picture this in a chair but the best meaning says this is the
seat of law, the seat of statutes. Without going to the dictionary and
looking up “throne”, the Psalmist tells us this is the place of justice,
of judgment. The LORD dispenses justice from established law. He does
not make things up as He goes. He does not change His mind to fit
situations.
The
LORD sits on an established throne of justice judging the world with
righteousness. The people of the world, all nations are judged with
uprightness. Judgment is present-tense, not future. The LORD is at this
very moment passing down judgment from His ancient throne upon all
ethnicities. God determines what happens to people now and in the
future. The formula is simple: obedience brings blessing; disobedience
brings consequences. The LORD is not unjust to give any person what he
or she deserves. He is the same way with nations and governments as a
whole.
The LORD is on His throne and His reign is over all the earth. No nation is excluded from His rule or judgment.
“The Lord
is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:9-10)
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
