Psalm 81 ~ I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

Psalm 81

Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a  rule^{[just decree]} of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

The Ascension. You would think when Jesus died for us ~ He would have had a honeymoon period. We see almost immediately (opposite of what Jesus did for Peter, to immediately lift Peter up)  the disciples are fed, literally breakfast, by a risen Lord and begin to hide their flaws and to argue rights.

What will John receive? Is Peter really a lover of Jesus or a friend? When is Jesus going to haul the Romans out of Israel? That's about as rude gets. Really.

We fly right past that rudeness usually.

Recently, I participated in a Bible Study were Christians were told complaining is the broken eleventh commandment. Christians push away others by being whiners. I understand the principal, God did become fed up with the Children of Israel whining. However, What HE Really Did NOT Like ~ the failure to live for HIM ~ grab the Land ~ the point was to obtain the blessings ~ and instead they whined of giants inhabiting the land. Action was failed. He put up with A Whole Lot of Whining!

Complaining. I would remind the author of the study - enmity of the world is part of life. Life tends to want to eat everyone's lunch. Even the Son of God, risen from death!  Returning to the ones HE loved.

Could it be possible, we know what Jesus was thinking at the Ascension???

There is a right way and a wrong way to complain to Him. Unfortunately, mankind has not perfected this. I could pretend to say this was incorrect in the desert, but Jacob did this correctly by wrestling with HIM. I could say Paul knew only to ask three times.

Perhaps a more blessed way to pray? NO. Peter had this correct. He did not try to walk on water in his own righteousness again. He had seen his Hero, His Savior, return for him again. Once to reach IMMEDIATELY into the waters for Peter and the next to see Peter get his own hands wet to jump into the fray and make his way quickly to Jesus.

Peter, foolishly, complained he did philo Jesus. Jesus was looking for agape. Still is.

Peter did what mankind does - whine and hide.

Jesus did what God does - react with love and be patient. However, Jesus wasn't Peter's doormat. Jesus told Peter to open his mouth wide. And Peter understood, and was told, the road would be rocky, yet Peter again told Jesus - He has the Words of life. Honest Communication only comes with Honest... complaint. The give and take of forgiveness is an important thing God asks for in communication. He expects us to whine. The Scriptures are filled with people going to God transparently - to complain and tell HIM what they want, need or fret about.

He expects us to live for HIM. HE wants us to be That Centurion - Jesus found to be faithful -

And of course the question is - of course - a whine - HOW??? Like the Centurion Jesus was so pleased with. WE expect HIM to show up. To care about what we cast upon HIM. Yes, we are to be bringers of the Light, fishing - bringing men to Jesus Christ the Lord.

GOD expects us to

John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

Matthew 8:8-10
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.


And the results of those with great faith, believing in Jesus Christ the Lord, whom HE has sent...




The Scriptures plainly tell us again and again - expect the best - more promises will follow beyond our horizons... Never forgetting to Thank HIM for His blessings, knowing all through the Scriptures - God brings forth blessings in this life -  Hebrews 11:


faith, he was commended as righteous
he did not experience death
He rewards those who earnestly seek him
warned about things not yet seen
became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith
called to go to a place
By faith he made his home in the promised land
looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God
who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise

descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
blessed his children, and worshiped
spoke about future events
refused to be known as only a rich, powerful man
chose to be mistreated along with the people of God
looking ahead to his reward
not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible
By faith the people passed through impossible obstacles
By faith the walls of impossiblity fell
By faith a low dweller in life, disregarded, did the incorrect thing for the right reason and was chosen to be an ancestor of Jesus Christ the LORD.

faith conquered kingdoms
administered justice
gained what was promised
shut the mouths of lions
quenched the fury of the flames
escaped the edge of the sword
weakness was turned to strength
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies
received back their dead, raised to life again.!!!!!!
were all commended for their faith

And By Our Faith, we have to do the work of Jesus Christ believing they received HIS promises. We see Jesus return from the dead, but only in faith do we know these Children of the Most High God - received Hope - His Promises are for me. Faith - HE Will do what He promises. LOVE as vast as the universe for me. 

“That’s My King”, by Dr. S.M. Lockridge:

My King

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Amen!

Peter tells us Jesus has the Words of Life -
Jesus tells us something -

sovereign
limitless
enduringly strong
entirely sincere
eternally steadfast
immortally graceful
imperially powerful
impartially merciful

The greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son...

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.


John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.

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