Author: Calleen Hough

You only die once

I believe there are some people that think God doesn’t know what he is doing. They have spent a lot of time trying to figure things out and have decided that the world just doesn’t make sense. In Psalm 104, the Psalmist said, “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches” (Psalm 104:24).

The word translated wisdom, chokmâh (khok – maw´) means experience (2451). I don’t know if any of those people that think God doesn’t know what he’s doing have considered the possibility that God has done this before, created other worlds or universes besides ours, but it seems like there is a possibility that he has.

The place we call Heaven is a world in and of itself. It exists in another dimension and has a purpose that is not fully disclosed in the Bible. Since God is an eternal being, it is reasonable to assume that he exists in an eternal place. That place would not have been created by God, it coexists with him.

One of the aspects of experience that God does not possess is the ability to learn. God does not get smarter over time. He knew everything there was to know from the beginning. Even though God does not learn, I think he tries stuff. For example, when God parted the Red Sea, he had never done anything like that before, so he was in a way trying I out to see what it would be like, what effect it would have on the Israelites and Egyptians.

A lot of times, God only does things once. We sometimes refer to these kinds of things as miracles. They are not miracles because they are hard or impossible to repeat, they are miracles because they have never happened before and likely will never happen again.

An advantage that God had as the creator of the universe in which we live is that he got to create his own birthplace. I can’t imagine what God was thinking when he decided to become like one of his creatures, but it might have been that he wanted to try out being human. In addition to birth, as a man, God would also experience death. Since Jesus is referred to as God’s only begotten son (John 3:18), living as a human was something that God would only do once.

Even though God probably enjoyed being human, he chose to limit himself to only 33 years living as a man on earth. It was probably not the experience of living he was looking for, but the experience of dying. It think it is interesting that the thing most humans want to avoid, God made an intentional effort to experience.

It says in Hebrews 9:27 that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” I think it is possible that death will turn out to be the best thing we will ever experience as humans, at least for believers anyway. It could be that death is a like a miracle and by experiencing it we will get a glimpse into what it felt like for God to become a man, only in reverse. We will travel or be transported from a finite world into the eternal place where God exists. Angels will escort us into the presence of the LORD and we will see him face to face and immediately know everything about what God was doing in our lives, in intimate detail. I’m pretty sure it will be a glorious experience or it wouldn’t make sense that God made sure everyone got to do it at least once.

He walks with you

Speaking of the LORD in Psalm 103, David said, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). The word translated transgression, pasha‘ (peh´ – shah) means a revolt, a willful rebellion from a prescribed or agreed upon path (6588). The word removed, nâchaq (naw – khak´) means to widen and is used in reference to distance (7368).

When David said east, he was referring to the point on the eastern horizon where the sunrises and the west, the point where the sun sets. So basically, he was saying that the distance that God removes our transgressions or widens the path for us when we rebel against him is the distance between the two farthest points in our line of sight. In other words, God gives us complete latitude, there is no way we can get off the pathway he has prescribed for us.

Although David emphasized God’s authority when he said in Psalm 103, “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19), he attributed God’s mercy with the power to overcome our willful rebellion (Psalm 103:11).

God does not force us down a narrow pathway. He gives us innumerable options to get where he wants us to go. Our free choice determines the how, God’s sovereignty determines the where and/or what we will do in our lives. If it is true that all paths lead to heaven, then why choose Jesus Christ? Because when you choose Jesus, he walks with you on the pathway and carries you when the road gets too tough.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

It’s time

If you are a Christian, there may come a time when your life is changed radically. I say may because the kind of change I am talking about is not automatic. It is true that when you accept Jesus as your savior, you personally are changed radically, transformed on the inside in an instant, but your life may stay exactly the same as it was before you became a believer.

Many people have experienced traumatic events that have changed their lives radically, like hurricane Katrina and some people have experienced positive things like winning the lottery. One day you are poor and the next day you are rich. One day you have a beautiful home and the next day you are homeless. Although events that are outside our control can alter our lives completely, it is possible to experience radical change by simply exercising your will to do things differently.

One of the reasons our lives do not change is because we don’t know what we need to do differently. We are unaware of the mistakes we are making. Jesus prayed on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Sometimes, we willingly get ourselves into trouble. We do things of our own volition, knowing the results will not be good. When we consciously choose to do something over and over, it becomes a habit and eventually a lifestyle that we are unable to change. It takes an act of our will to break the cycle or a miracle from God to deliver us.

After I was raped, something happened inside of me. I can’t say I really thought about it or even made a conscious decision, but I know I decided to not trust men anymore. From that point forward, I didn’t develop any personal relationships with men. I dated, I even got married, but I never really cared about the men in my life. As far as I was concerned, men were untrustworthy and would only hurt me if I gave them the chance.

It has been 40 years since I was raped. That’s a long time to be set in my ways and I can say with assurance that I was completely unaware of what I was doing. If you would have asked me about it, I would have said, oh yah, I trust men. I have a lot of relationships with men, but that would have been a lie. I didn’t have my first personal relationship with a man until about a month ago.

In Psalm 102, it says about the LORD, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come” (Psalm 102:13). The words translated time and set time are different. The word translated time, ‘êth (ayth) means an appointed time or proper time. “It is used of the appropriate time or suitable time for a given activity in life” (6256). The word translated set time, mô‘êd (mo – ade´) means an appointed place of meeting” (4150). Mo‘ed refers to the festivals that were prescribed and signifies the set place where they were to occur.

Although the festivals were prescribed and expected to be observed by all the Israelites, they were not. There was an appointed time for them to take place and each person had the opportunity to celebrate the festivals if they wanted to. It was as if God was saying, I’ll be here, come if you want to celebrate with me. What kept most people away was the need for a sacrifice. I had to make a sacrifice in order to trust again. I had to sacrifice my pride, my fear, and my need to know what was going to happen next. I decided it was worth it and my life has been radically changed.

A turn of events

Everything God does is intentional and produces the expected result. He does not react or get surprised by what happens. As our lives unfold before us, it may seem as if God is constantly course correcting because of our mistakes, but that is not the case. What we perceive as a turn of events is really God exercising his control, showing us that he is able to accomplish a desired outcome with or without our help.

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10:13-14)

Begin with the end in mind

Before David became king, he and the prophet Samuel collaborated on the design of the temple that would one day be built in Jerusalem. The temple is often referred to as Solomon’s Temple. Solomon was the son of David that succeeded him as king and was responsible for building the temple. It was a magnificent structure that is thought by some Bible scholars to resemble the throne room of God in Heaven.

Along with the plans for building the structure, David established certain offices to enable the temple to function effectively. One of the offices David established was the porter or gatekeeper. It says in 1 Chronicles 9:22, “All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set offices.”

I believe the reason David established that critical offices would be reckoned to certain families and ordained as a permanent office was to ensure that the temple and its service could be reestablished if the temple was destroyed. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed when king Nebuchadnezzar invaded Israel and deported its inhabitants to Babylon.

The porters were sentries that guarded the gate against attack and therefore, would be the first to be killed if the city were invaded. The men that were assigned to the office of porter cast lots to determine which gate they were assigned to (1 Chronicles 26:13). Some gates were more or less desirable due to the likelihood that an attack would be targeted for that location.

To ordain someone into a set office means that you establish a fixed position for him (530). The word translated set, ’emûnâh (em – oo – naw´) is related to the word ’amân (aw – man´) which means to believe or be faithful (539). Aman is the word used in Genesis 15:6 where it says that Abraham “believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” The link between the two words is permanence. Abraham had a belief that endured in spite of his circumstances and the porter had a position that had to be maintained in spite of any imminent threats or the destruction of the city.

There were four chief porters who “were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God” (1 Chronicles 9:26). These men were most likely killed when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Israel because it says in 2 Chronicles 36:7 that “Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.” If the chief porters lost their lives in line of duty, then they had the assurance that “the LORD repays the one who demonstrates that he does what God demands” (530).

The Israelites’ captivity was predicted long before the temple was built (Deuteronomy 28:41) and it was known that the people would return also (Deuteronomy 30:3), so David’s plans were made with that in mind. Given that he assigned men to positions that would likely result in death, David had to rely on Samuel for guidance in how to assure that the office of porter would not be left vacant.

In the arrangement for porters, it is noted that one man, Shemaiah had sons that were mighty men of valour. They were able men for strength for the service and they outnumbered the other porters’ families by more than 3 to 1 (1 Chronicles 26:8). It is not clear whether Shemaiah’s descendants were in the population that returned to Jerusalem after the exile. It is possible they were all killed by Nebuchadnezzar’s army and therefore, gave their lives so that others might survive and one day repopulate the city.

God’s favorite

No matter the size of your family, if there are at least two children, there will be a first born and last born child. In the Bible, the oldest or first born male received a double portion of his father’s assets and became the heir of any land that was owned by the family. Jacob was the last born of twin brothers. When it came time for Isaac to distribute his estate, Jacob managed to get his brother’s inheritance by tricking his father into believing he was his oldest son Esau.

Benjamin was Jacob’s last born child and became his father’s favorite after his older brother Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt. The first king of Israel, king Saul came from the family of Benjamin. It would seem that God reinforced Jacob’s favoritism toward his youngest child.

When David took over as king, all of Saul’s male descendants were killed except one grandson, Merib-baal, also known as Mephibasheth, the son of Jonathon. This was the second time the family of Benjamin was nearly exterminated (Judges 20:48). At the end of the geneology of the family of Benjamin that is recorded in 1 Chronicles chapter 8, it says, “And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.

The family of Benjamin is a typology of the nation of Israel. Many time they have been nearly exterminated, but have survived for thousands of years because of God’s protection. God’s favoritism toward Israel is obvious. He will never leave or forsake them, therefore, their survival is guaranteed…for ever.

And justice for all

America’s pledge of allegiance ends with the words, and justice for all. I think there is an assumption that America’s justice system will fulfill this expectation, but the part of the pledge that assures justice is, one nation under God. Some people do not believe God is just. They accuse him of allowing sins to go unpunished when the criminal justice system fails them.

The thing that makes God just is not that he punishes the wicked, but that he paid the penalty for every sin. The Hebrew word nacah which is translated as lifted up in Psalm 93, “is used of the undertaking of the responsibilities for sins of others by  substitution or representation” (5375). Jesus died on the cross for every sinner and his blood paid for every sin that has or ever will be committed.

The Psalmist said in Psalm 92:4, “For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the work of thy hands.” Many people equate punishment with justice, but the word for just in Hebrew, yashar means upright or righteous. It is also expressed as right or right in his eyes, in the same way that we think of doing the right thing.

In God’s justice system, doing the right thing meant paying the penalty for our sins himself. He offers each person a full pardon and forgives every sin that we have ever committed. Every person that accepts his forgiveness is a testimony, a believable witness that God is just and holiness or perfection is a fair standard of measurement.

As good as dead

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. (Psalm 88:4-5)

A question often asked about God is why do bad things happen to good people? It is assumed that only good things should happen to good people. The truth is that good and bad things happen to all people.

One of the outcomes of free choice is that people make bad choices as well as good choices and therefore, get mixed results, both good and bad. My granddaughter who is one year old likes to play with my stereo receiver. When I was out of the room, she decided to turn the volume knob all the way up. The sound was so loud it hurt her ears and made her cry. She learned that turning the knob all the way up produced a bad result and hasn’t done it since.

Unfortunately, not everyone learns from the bad results they get and sometimes choose to ignore the results they get until it is too late. My dad was an alcoholic who drank excessively until he was 65. After he stopped drinking, his health improved significantly and he thought he would live to be 100. When he was 72, he was diagnosed with cancer and died six weeks later.

The day that I went down into the pit was the day my ex-husband called me and told me he was having an affair. I had been a Christian for almost 20 years, but in the moment that the news sunk in, I felt as miserable as I had the night I overdosed on sleeping pills, a few weeks before giving my life to Christ. Psalm 88 expresses perfectly how I felt for about a year afterward.

The difference between the two situations in my life was when I found out my ex-husband was having an affair, even though I felt dead inside for awhile, I recovered. From that point forward, I made a conscious decision to make choices that would bring good results, not bad. Like the Psalmist, I thought, “Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves” (Psalm 88:7), but I knew it wasn’t the end of my life or my dreams.

In Psalm 88:10, the Psalmist asks, “Wilt thou show wonder to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise thee?” I believe the answer to both questions is yes, because Jesus rose from the dead. The power to rise from the dead resides in every Believer. We can choose to live and overcome whatever afflictions come into our lives.

A woman after God’s own heart

After the Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, they became God’s servants and were required to worship him. Animal sacrifices were not optional and were required on a continual basis until the Messiah came. In order for the sacrifices to be made there had to be a large population of priests to maintain the tabernacle and later the temple of God.

The tribe of Levi was selected to fulfill the roles of priests and musicians and were given the job of guarding the ark that contained the Ten Commandments. Moses and Aaron were from the tribe of Levi. Their sister Miriam is the only woman listed in the genealogy of the Levites found in 1 Chronicles, chapter 6.

Miriam is mentioned several times during the Exodus from Egypt. Her role as prophetess is unique for the time in which she lived. She is the only woman that had a special role during the Exodus. The name Miriam means rebellious (4812) and is derived from a word that means bitterness (4805). At one point, Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses’ calling and she was punished with leprosy.

Miriam was clearly a strong willed woman and may have been abused by the Egyptians. As a prophetess, she probably proclaimed God’s word boldly and did not hesitate to join in activities typically reserved for men. She is most likely mentioned in the genealogy because she distinguished herself from other women in her service of God and unlike the men who were required to serve God, she served him voluntarily.

Celebrate!

Renewal is a concept that is difficult to grasp until you get to a place where you feel stuck or are at the end of your rope and are struggling to let go of control of your life. There is something about starting over that does not seem natural in a life that seems to be all about making progress.

One of the things God prescribed for the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land was celebration. There were certain festivals established that required singing and dancing as an expression of gratitude and worship of God. Celebration was a way of emphasizing the positive aspect of renewal and making it something to look forward to.

When God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, he was giving them the chance for a new way of life, but they preferred their old lifestyle. God wanted to provide for their needs, but the people wouldn’t listen to him. It says in Psalm 81,” But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalm 81:11-12).

When we pursue our heart’s desire apart from God, life becomes and endless journey. There is no renewal because lust always takes you deeper, farther, searching for more and it never relents. That’s why in pursuit of freedom, addicts are directed to a higher power or help.

Only God has the power to make old things new. His universe was designed for constant renewal and without it, we will self destruct. His command to celebrate with festivals that involved singing and dancing show us that he should be worshipped with expressions that go beyond words. He is the God of new beginnings and he can renew us if we will listen to his voice.