A BEND IN THE ROAD

Philippians chapter 1






Today we are walking in: A Bend In The Road








Exodus 13:3


And Moses said unto the people, Remember H2142 this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.









REMEMBER







Today we look to the word-REMEMBER-H2142 zakar-- to cause to remember, remind; cause to be remembered, keep in remembrance








The Torah testifies...............


Exodus 20:8


Remember H2142 the sabbath day, to keep it holy.



Numbers 15:40


That ye may remember H2142, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.



Deuteronomy 15:15


And thou shalt remember H2142 that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.






The prophets proclaim..................


Isaiah 43:18


Remember H2142 ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.




Isaiah 44:21


Remember H2142 these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.



Jeremiah 14:21


Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember H2142, break not thy covenant with us.











The writings bear witness...........................



1Chronicles 16:12


Remember H2142 his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;



Nehemiah 1:8


Remember H2142, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:



Nehemiah 13:14


Remember H2142 me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.











When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you, for I am the LORD your The Most High.
Every kingdom citizen knows that when we walk through the valley of tears, “The Most High walks beside us.” The Most High is closest in the crises, surrounding us with His presence – this He has promised. When we navigate troubled waters, The Most High is not only the Master of the waves – He is also Master of the ship. He never abandons us. He will see the voyage through to its final destination (Phil 1:6). But we are stubborn creatures who struggle to learn. We learn the least when the sun is shining and the winds are light. Peace and prosperity have never provided effective classrooms. Crisis and catastrophe, on the other hand, offer master’s degrees – that accreditation makes you a “Master of Disaster.” It is the school of hard knocks. Through it all, He is working all things together for our good (Rom 8:28). It is essential that we cling to His promise of continuous perfection – be confident of this! (Phil 1:6). No matter what, you must never forget that when you are deep in the midst of trouble, The Most High is still busy at work in you (Phil 2:13), though He may be doing so out of your sight. Just place a “The Most High at Work” sign into that scar where your troubles have taken their toll – He is involved in very expensive renovation. He is perfecting you. You may be paying the bill up front, but you are going to like the beautiful new design and furnishings of your life. When we begin to look at our difficulties from the perspective of the psalms, our depression fades; our hope increases; our love for The Most High is intensified. David’s final appeal was that The Most High “keep up the good work in me!” (Ps 138:8). “The Most High, continue the work you have begun in me!”
Nobody expects to sail through life without a “little rain” and a few choppy waves; the fact is, we cannot have “crops” without rain. We never know what lies in the road ahead, and we never know when our world will fall apart. It may come in the active middle years, or perhaps in those mature years. David faced a variety of bitter times of disappointment – his family was ripped by tragedy, bloodshed, and bitterness… his son Absalom had set his heart on taking the place of power by whatever means necessary – “he stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Sam 15:6). David fled into the Judean desert with a number of his followers… while he was there he inscribed the immortal words of Psalm 63. David begins by “calling out for The Most High to come and comfort him.” The king feels a gaping hole in his heart that only The Most High can fill. His own family has deserted him. His subjects had rejected him. His sole consolation was now his Creator. He is lonely, sad and empty. David had already sung the words, “My soul thirsts for The Most High, for the living The Most High” (Ps 42:2). And “My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Ps 63:1). When David speaks of “longing,” he has in mind that he has collapsed in every way. His strength had been drained away. He was desperate to be revived. The “dry and thirsty land of the desert” that surrounded David physically is the picture of his soul without The Most High. Only The Most High can bring refreshment and a rejuvenated life. “The Most High, show me the path of life; for in Your presence is fullness of joy” (Ps 16:11).
David’s heart always makes for a fascinating picture – he was by no means a perfect man; his failures are as legendary as his accomplishments; he was a great leader who happened to be a member of that struggling, stumbling band of creatures known as the human race. David ached for communion with The Most High. “The heart has its reasons which the reason does not know.” The Most High’s rules fly in the face of logic. Reflect upon this thought – When we begin to praise The Most High in defiance of misfortune, we align ourselves with the deepest truths of the universe, the place where The Most High dispenses deep wisdom and spiritual maturity. We unleash His victorious power in the world of pain and suffering.
In the midst of the “lonely desert road,” what are you to do? Praise The Most High with every part of your body, mind, and spirit. Learn to “praise The Most High” regardless of your personal circumstances, and you will see miracles occur. When treading through life’s desert, it helps to remember The Most High’s help in ages past. We also gain a wise perspective by realizing that nothing that is happening to us is a surprise to Him. Furthermore declares the The Most High, “I am The Most High, is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jer 32:27).
David praised The Most High to “dispel the darkness.” Helplessness is the real secret and the impelling power of prayer… it is only when we are “helpless” that we open our hearts to Yahusha and let Him help us in our distress. Needless to say, The Most High calmed the troubled waters of David’s soul; He dealt with his enemies and gave him victory. Just as David made his “desert journey” – like the one you and I must travel – close by our side will be a faithful, powerful The Most High, filled with lovingkindness and plans for us, plans that lead to spiritual victory and personal fulfillment.