God's "If Only..."

Text: Psalm 81:8-16

God says, "Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me." One of God's characteristics is that He is oh, so willing to make Himself know. He tells plainly what He thinks and feels, leaving no room for doubt or uncertainty. Here, in Psalm 81, He opens the record for all to read and understand.

First, He reiterated the commandment, "There shall no strange god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I AM the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." (verses 9-10*) This last clause contains an amazing promise; one that was fulfilled repeatedly throughout their desert wanderings, was continually fulfilled throughout Old Testament history, and referred prophetically to the initial Holy Ghost outpouring on the Day of Pentecost and on every believer since.

Then comes the indictment: "But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would have none of Me." (verse 11) Eighteen hundred years later, they were still not willing to hearken and heed, for Jesus said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37; see also Luke 19:42.)

And the consequences... "So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels." (verse 12) Jesus' revealed the overarching result... "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate, For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:38-39) Luke says, "...but now they are hid from thine eyes." (Luke 19:42b)

But! His desire, plan, and hope resounded in His reponse... "Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways!" (verse 13)

Here's what they could have had, if only...

• I should have subdued their enemies and turned My hand against their adversaries.
• The haters of God should have submitted unto Him.
• Their [Israel's] time should have endured for ever.
• He should have fed them with the finest of the wheat.* (See verse 10b.)
• With honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

This is what God wanted to do! Imagine His frustration! Just think about how these promise would have played out in Israel's history - the ramifications are enormous! Then, bring those thoughts up to date - think again - on how they affect His Kingdom, (the Church,) eternity, and you and I individually.

"O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." (Deuteronomy 32:29)

God's "If only" echoes down through history, breathing a wondrous promise to all who will turn their eyes and ears toward Him in willing obedience. (See Isaiah 1: 19-20.) When conviction brings true repentance; reconciliation, and restoration follow, bringing with them the exceeding, precious promised fulfillment of God's plan and purpose - for us individually, and for His glorious Bride. (See II Chronicles 7:14.)

A New Year...

A New Year has begun and with it, new and updated hopes and plans, and the desire to improve, upgrade, and just do better. What makes that sentence anything other than the sentiments of millions, yea, billions of people around the world is what one does with it...

When I was a child, they used to sing a chorus that went like this...
"Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor,
Keep the way clear, let nothing between."

The desire to serve God with a clean heart and clean hands needs to be honed and cultivated. When our hearts and hands are clean and free from wrath and doubting, (I Timothy 2:8) we can approach God with confidence, (I John 2:28; 3:21) with a mind that is at peace, knowing that He hears our prayer and will attend to our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (I John 3:22) Here are seven "F's" that will free you and bring you victory in the New Year...

1.) Faith - confidence, belief, trust. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not [yet] seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Something there is about the ability to believe, about placing your confidence in someone or something, in trusting without reservation. Faith's power lies in the One in whom it's placed and its degree of commitment. Yes, there is an element of risk - big risk. Yes, quantum leaps into the unknown are involved. Yes, there is always the chance of loss, particularly where humans are involved. But the glorious exception is found in placing all your confidence in the One who created you, who sustains you, and who has made perfect provision for all your needs - past, present and future. Victorious faith rests in Him. His Word, and His faithfulness! "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (I John 5:4)

2.) Favor - friendly or kind regard, approval. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) While we have no business currying favor, there are a number of godly principles and attitudes that bring the peace of a good conscience within and the respect of others without. No amount of money can buy this kind of favor, for it is first attained through right relationship with God. Once that is established - "When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

3.) Fear - respectful dread, awe, reverence. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments..." (Psalm 111:10) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) It is a healthy thing to have the proper respect for the One in whose hand your very life rests. There is a kind of fear that is debilitating and demoralizing - that kind of fear is not of God - it makes grown men weak as kittens and demolishes the best of intentions. Jesus said, "...fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

4.) Follow - to come or to go after. "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." (Hosea 6:3) If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then it stands to reason that following on to know the Lord can not be anything but beneficial. Jesus called His disciples saying, "Follow Me" and spoke of the taking up of a cross in order to do so. Following requires a sacrifice - a sacrifice of self and selfishness. The Apostle told us to "...follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:22) and, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God." (Hebrews 12: 14)

5.) Fruit - enjoyment, means of enjoyment. "I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing... Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. ...I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit shall remain..." (John 15:5,8,16) "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." (Ephesians 5:9) "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18) (In a fruitful field, righteousness remains and produces great dividends - see Isaiah 32:16-17.)

6.) Forgiving - to give up resentment against or the desire to punish; stop being angry with, pardon. "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32) "Forbearing [to keep oneself in check; control oneself under provocation,] one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13) "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." (Matthew 6:14) Forgiveness is love's illustrated sermon. It is how all men will know whether you are truly His disciple - "...Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

7,) Finally - coming at the end; last; concluding. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) After you've contemplated and pondered over this entire list, you won't have much time left to dwell on anything negative. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2) Our focus must be upward - on His Kingdom, His will, and His priorities. "Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2)

These seven "F's" will help ensure a year full of growth in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.