God’s Comforting Presence

October 31, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 63
Lesson Passage: Psalm 63

I believe that all of us experience times in our Christian walk when God’s presence seems distant. Sometimes this appears to happen as a result of our own behavior or even failure to act. At other times it seems to occur at the moment of indecision when we really want God to give us some clear directions. Whatever the time or occasion may be, we find ourselves groping for some tangible evidence of God’s presence with us. As we seek God, he always comes through for us. When he does, we are moved from concern and frustration to joy and excitement. It is exhilarating to go from longing and seeking to satisfaction and praise. How do we make that transition? One of the ways we transition from problems to praise is by meditating on God’s word. Meditation requires quiet time. We need a time and/or place where all of the distractions of this world can be tuned out so that we can just think and reflect on God’s goodness. Meditation allows us to reflect on God’s prior actions in our lives as well as on the promises in his word. Through meditation, we are somehow able to connect God’s promises with the anticipation of a brighter future. With such a wonderful gift of God through meditation, then meditation should be a regular activity in our day to day living. When should we meditate? For many of us, nighttime is the right time for meditation. In some cases, nighttime is the time when much of the activities that surround us in the day shut down. For certain, this would have been the case during the time of David. The wilderness of Judah was the setting for the occasion of the writing of this psalm. David was there in hiding from his enemy. While there, he was meditating on the comfort of God’s presence. Nighttime would have given David a temporary reprieve from pursuit by his enemy. While they would have rested in preparation for another day of search and destroy, David rested in the comfort of God’s presence through meditation. This is a very important lesson for us to learn. If we have become frustrated with our enemies, we can be assured that the fate of the enemies of the children of God is destruction. We are benefactors of God’s loving kindness towards us. God’s loving kindness is worthy of praise for it is greater than life itself because God’s reach is beyond even the grave. When God is our protector, who then should we fear? While our enemies seek strife, God’s children should meditate on the peace and tranquility of God’s sanctuary. Through meditation, God will cause us to think of the sanctuary while dwelling in the wilderness of life. With that, no matter where we find ourselves, we can rest in God’s comforting presence.


Robert C. Hudson
October 25, 2010

God’s Universal Reign

October 24, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 47
Lesson Passage: Psalm 47

I have never witnessed the coronation of a king. I believe that this is different than the inauguration of a president—which I have seen on television. The inauguration of a president places him in office for a fixed and very limited amount of time as prescribed by the constitution. If he is re-elected, the second inauguration places him in office for the second and final brief term. The service time of the president is seen as being the direct will of the people over whom he governs. The coronation of a king, on the other hand, presupposes that he is being crowned and recognized for a lifetime appointment on the throne. His reign continues throughout his lifetime. His reign is not a result of the will of the governed but it is seen as being divinely ordained. Psalm 47 allows the reader (or hearer) to have a unique vantage point. One actually witnesses the coronation of the eternal King here on earth. He is already acknowledged as the eternal King in heaven by all that are there. The inhabitants in the earth, up to this point, have not all acknowledged His kingship on earth but many pray for it daily (Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.). In Psalm 47, we visualize his passage down the parade route as spectators cheer from the sidelines. We know that this will be for our good and we celebrate with thanksgiving. Adoration and praise erupt as He approaches the dais. His reputation is acknowledged and the expectation of what He will do is vocally anticipated. Trumpets blast as He ascends the royal stairs. Singers lift their voices and belt out the notes in harmony and loud voices that ring throughout the earth and the heavens. Earthly rulers gather and acknowledge his lordship and bow in humble submission to the great King (a king over even them). Even those who do not know Him respond in deferred obeisance. On this day, every knee bows and every tongue confesses the King’s lordship. Then the King takes his rightful place on the throne of the earth. This is the place that Satan has occupied since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Satan has become the prince of this world but he will be overthrown and trumpets will blast and singers will sing forth their joy. As the King looks over the crowd that cannot be numbered for magnitude, then slowly those that are his will move through the crowd and gather at His feet. These are the feet that were seen by Moses and the elders of Israel at Mount Sinai when He wrapped himself in a thick cloud. With this view, we have looked pass all of the frustrations and disappointments of yesterday and the cares and stress of today. We have seen where tomorrow stops and eternity displaces time. God has been enthroned as world ruler and we have given witness to it through the prophetic eyes of the psalmist. God is greatly exalted!


Robert C. Hudson
October 12, 2010

God’s Safe Refuge

October 17, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 46:1 – 7
Lesson Passage: Psalm 46:1 – 7

refuge: shelter or protection from danger or distress; a means of resort for help in difficulty

When one walks in God’s favor, there is consolation in knowing that he is always there to assist in whatever the need may be. Surely, this psalm must have provided consolation for Israel for thousands of years. Israel’s history is one that shows a constant physical threat of annihilation by her enemies. Much of the history of national Israel shows her with rather difficult to defend borders because she does not occupy the original territory of the covenant which was outlined with naturally protected borders consisting of mountain ranges, deserts, vast seas, and bluffs at the Jordan River’s edge. In the absence of natural physical protection and enemies surrounding her, Israel’s security had to be dependent on the protection of God. The psalmist sets forth in this psalm the declaration that Israel’s protection is far superior to that of her enemies. God is Israel’s protection and protector. Israel does not have to send for God. He is always there in their midst and he is available to help them. The descendants of Korah offered their fellow countrymen reassuring words in the form of prophetic poetry. Although their enemies were many and visible, their helper, the Lord, was not physically visible but he was infinitely more powerful. No matter what happened physically—whether a shaking of the earth or raging of the seas—Israel could remain still and steadfast because her God had everything under control. Furthermore, God always provide for the place or city where he places his name. Eden was fruitful and well irrigated even before there was rain because of the rivers that flowed through it. For where a river flows, there is no need or dependence on seasonal rains. The river sustains the land where it flows. Likewise, New Jerusalem is sustained by a river that flows through her midst. This can very well be seen as the presence of the Spirit of God in the midst of the city. For the Holy Spirit does indeed refresh and make fruitful those he chooses to flow through. Where the Spirit of God flows, there is a continuous presence of God’s blessings; there is no need for God to rain down blessings from heaven when his Spirit is present to provide personal delivery. God shelters his children from the storms of life. Why stress out when God is available? Jesus said come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This sounds like a prescription for stress relief. If we take away that which is impossible to us, we can handle the possible. For those who are children of God, he handles that we cannot handle. In recent history, a hymnologist stated it another way: have you any rivers that you feel are uncrossable? Have you any mountains that you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things that are impossible and he will do what no other power can do. God is our refuge.

Robert C. Hudson
October 6, 2010

God’s Perfect Law

October 10, 2010

Background Scripture: Psalm 19
Lesson Passage: Psalm 19:7 – 14

What is it about God’s law that it so captivates us? For one thing, it is perfect. Until the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, man had not witnessed physical perfection in something. Man observes beauty, harmony, and balance in many occurrences throughout nature. But, no matter how beautiful, harmonious, or balanced a thing may be, the critic can always discover imperfection in it upon closer inspection. God’s law is not so. God’s law is perfect and it shows contrast with man’s inner nature. No matter how closely one may inspect or examine God’s law, all you will find is perfection. God’s law is a reflection of his holiness. How it affects us is easily experienced yet difficult to comprehend. God’s law instigates conversion in us. In other words, when we come into the knowledge of God’s law, we are convicted by it because we see that we have fallen short and our desire to be made complete motivates us to turn from our ways and turn to God in repentance. Besides God’s law, there is nothing else that will create a stir in us to cause such a life-changing reaction. The law of God is indeed a spiritual mirror that man looks into. The more perfect the mirror is, the truer will be the reflection it provides. The mirror does not add or detract from an object. It only reflects an image of what is before it. God’s law is a perfect mirror. Even those who are considered simple are made wise through the word of God. God’s word can give joy, fear, warnings, and the promise of reward for obedience. (If all of this is manifest through knowing and receiving just the word of God, how could we possibly bear to be in the very presence of God’s glory? We can barely contain ourselves as we examine his law; surely the presence of his glory or shining greatness would be unbearable to the natural or carnal man.) Our human limitations cause us to be ignorant of some of our own faults. Some faults are buried deep within us. God’s law is a revealer of secret faults. Paul said that he would not have known about the sin of covetousness except that the law of God revealed it. It was always there it was just not made manifest without the law. This passage of scripture reminds me of my own observation of physical mirrors. I know immediately when I have come before a mirror of superior quality. Strands of hair on the top and sides of my head that are out of place become evident to me. (I find certain ones that will absolutely not be tamed or manipulated to my desire no matter how I brush.) Likewise, I see the small pock marks, blemishes, and discolorations within my face. None of these things are new. They are always there. But with the right mirror and lighting, what is unnoticed—indeed almost invisible to the unaided eye—from day to day, become obvious and brought to the front and center of the stage. The mirror does not change me. It does not add or detract. What appears to be new is just made manifest by a superior mirror. God’s law does not make me a sinner nor does it change my ethical or moral behavior. In its perfection, God’s law gives a true reflection of what has always been there and sometimes it has been unnoticed from day to day as I observe myself in the mirrors of public opinion and peer comparison. Public opinion and peer comparison average the good with the bad and leads us to contentment with mediocrity. God’s law, however, is not an average of good and bad; neither does it compare one individual with another. God’s law is perfect.

Robert C. Hudson
September 22, 2010