Shade Tree Wisdom 7/24/08

Dolly so far as brought us just a smidgen of rain, but the storm did damage where it made land fall. However, they report the levees all held so there was no really major flooding. Water damage, of course, there usually is when rain comes in 6 and 8 inch bunches. But so far no life was lost because with our modern technology, we do have fair warning in plenty of time.

Loss of life usually comes only when someone disregards warnings or says they plan to ‘tough it out’ and ‘take their chances’. Then something happens and their plans go awry, and they lose the fight with mother N.

But that is that perverse human nature again, the one that God said was a “sinner from the beginning”, from birth. A biblical example of this are the children of Israel in Samuel’s time. When he was retiring and made his sons the judges, the people came with a complaint. They said, “Behold, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways, now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations.” 1 Sam. 8,5. [the people had a good cause to complain because the sons “turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment”] v.3. In other words, they were crooks.

But Samuel hesitated, and he prayed. Then the Lord said, let them do what they want, make a king, they haven’t rejected you, they’ve rejected Me.

So Samuel told them what having a king would be like, he would tax them, take their best lands, 10 percent of their crops, their young men and maidens to serve, and "You shall be his servants". V,17. What’s more, you will cry to God, and He won’t listen in that day.

But they got a king. Stubborn, “we know better” attitude, bold, selfish. Kind of describes the human race, doesn’t it?

Because there are many times when we do what is not right, even though we know what IS the right thing to do. We want our own way. We are stubborn, mule-headed, often really dense, and then we find we need help, desperately. And by God’s grace we always know where to turn – it is to Him who “died for us, and rose again that we might have life.”

It is at such time we can turn to Psalm 31, for example. “In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, let me never be ashamed, deliver me in thy righteousness. . .Thou art my rock, my fortress, therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me and guide me”. Ps 31, 1.3.

That gives me comfort. The words tell me what God does for us is because He is who He is, not for what we are or may have to offer. So we end with Ps. 34,8, “O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”

Now it’s sprinkling some again, and thank God for this moisture.

GPD 7/24/08