Christianity Oasis Member Forum & Chat Room

August 24
Friday


GOD WEEPS
WITH US

READ:
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Precious in the sight
of the LORD is the
death of His saints.
__Psalm 116:15
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What is the meaning of Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints"? God certainly doesn't value or find enjoyment in the death of His children! If He did, why would the psalmist praise God for delivering him from death? And why did Jesus groan and weep as He saw the grief at Lazarus' tomb? (John 11:33-35). I agree with scholars who render Psalm 116:15, "Costly in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

In this world, unless you are a celebrity, your passing will soon be forgotten by all but a small circle of relatives and friends. But Jesus showed us that God shares the sorrow and pain of the bereaved, and that the death of the humblest believer causes His heart great pain.

This thought came to me recently at the funeral of my brother Tunis. his family and his pastor extolled his compassion, kindness, and generosity. Afterward, people who knew him as a businessman spoke well of him. Though his name was just one of many in the newspaper obituaries, his death was a matter of great loss to us who knew and loved him. And it is comforting to know that God did not take his passing without feeling our pain. In fact, I believe He wept with us. __Herb Vander Lugt
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~~~~~~~~~~~~When we are happy or when we are blue,~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~God is aware of whatever we do;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~All of our sorrows He takes as His own__~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~And He wil never leave us alone. __Hess~~~~~~~~~
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God shares in our sorrow.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 116**************

1 I love the LORD, because
He has heard my voice and
my supplications. 2 Because
He has inclined His ear to
me, therefore I will call upon
Him as long as I live.

3 The pains of death
surrounded me, and the
pangs of Sheol laid hold of
me; I found trouble and
sorrow. 4 Then I called upon
the name of the LORD: "O
LORD, I implore You, deliver
my soul!"

5 Gracious is the LORD, and
righteous; yes, our God is
merciful. 6 The LORD
preserves the simple; I was
brought low, and He saved
me. 7 Return to your rest, O
my soul, for the LORD has
dealt bountifully with you.

8 For You have delivered
my soul from death, my eyes
from tears, and my feet from
falling...

12 What shall I render to the
LORD for all His benefits
toward me? 13 I will take up
the cup of salvation, and call
upon the name of the
LORD...

15 Precious in the sight of
the LORD is the death of His
saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am
Your servant; I am Your
servant, the son of Your
maidservant; you have
loosed my bonds. 17 I will
offer to You the sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and will call
upon the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the
LORD now in the presence
of all His people. 19 in the
courts of the LORD's house,
in the midst of you, O
Jerrusalem, Praise the LORD!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Psalm 116 is a very personal prayer of thankgiving to the Lord
for deliverance from the brink of death (vv.3,8). In response,
the psalmist dedicated his "extended" years to a life of service
(vv.12, 17-18). Hezekiah (Isa. 38:10-20) and Jonah (Jonah 2:1-9) had
such death experiences and offered similar prayers. __SKT

Interesting -- I believe this is the first "Our Daily Bread" that I view differently than the author. I understand the author's examples, but the scripture reading speaks differently to my spirit. Psalm 116: 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Our bodies die, but our souls and spirits do not die. Eternity is, as deemed by God. But where we spend eternity is the question. In verse 15 it speaks of His saints, so His saints spend eternity with Him. Yeah!!! There's no crying in baseball and there's no crying in Eternity with Him. I believe the scripture actually speaks to our being Born Again. Our old man dies, and we are reborn, separated out. Wooooooohoooooooo! Precious, it says.

And let's discuss the author's reference to Lazarus' death. In John 11:4 Jesus says "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
And how about John 11:15 when Jesus said "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

Jesus groaned for sure, but not over death, but because the people who were mourning were His followers, yet they still had not received His message into their hearts.

Jesus does have compassion for our limitations, He does feel for us. He knows what affect and effect death has on us, despite His beloved teachings. He is our loving Saviour.

I love His Word, I love the unction of The Holy Spirit to seek, to dig deeper, to hear. I love His beloved Truth, and The Truth will set you free.

I love that His Word reveals more and more as our faith grows. There is no condemnation, there is only Life and Life more abundant.

God bless,
Mack

Hmm I am with Mack i didn't agree with the interpretation of that scripture either because from God's viewpoint the death of his saint only brings him closer to God which makes it precious.... totally different from Jesus' viewpoint of losing Lazarus while he was on earth as man because of the separation and loss he was feeling.

August 29
Wednesday


THE BUG ZOO

READ:
Proverbs 30:24-28
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The ants are a people
not strong, yet they
prepare their food in
the summer.
__Proverbs 30:25
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A bug zoo in Philadelphia with more than 100,000 live insects entertains 75,000 visitors a year. The Insectarium's founder and proprietor says, "I've got a million more bugs still in storage." He points to boxes, cookie tins, and other containers piled floor-to-ceiling, filled with dead bugs from around the globe. Movies, holograms, microscopes, and games keep people of all ages occupied. There's even a scale to weigh yourself in ladybugs, fireflies, and other creatures.

In Proverbs 30, a wise man named Agur also showcases insects and other small creatures. He calls them small but very wise.

Look at the ant. He's weak, but his Creator has taught him to use whatever strength he has to prepare for the future. Consider the locust. He has no king, but when his numbers multiply, God has taught him how to line up and move as one. Look at the spider. He too is a lowly creature, but by using the ability God gives him, he rises to high places.

Do you sometimes feel small and insignificant like an insect? When you do, remember that God showcases His wisdom and greatness through even the smallest things. That's because His "strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). __Mart De Haan
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Inadequate but mighty__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How strange, yet wholly true;~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Weak men endued with power~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Lord's blest work shall do. __Bosch~~~~~~~~
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God's wisdom is given to those
who humbly ask Him for it.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Proverbs 30:24-28**********

24 There are four things
which are little on the earth,
but they are exceedingly
wise:

25 The ants are a people
not strong, yet they prepare
their food in the summer;

26 the rock badgers are a
feeble folk, yet they make
their homes in the crags;

27 the locusts have no king,
yet they all advance in
ranks; 28 the spider skillfully
grasps with its hands, and it
is in Kings' palaces.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Most of the Proverbs were either written or compiied by Solomon
(Prov. 1-24). Proverbs 25-29 were composed by Solomon and
then compiled by the men of King Hezekiah (25:1). The last two
chapters were written by two unknowns__Agur humbly writes about his
observations from relationships and nature. In Proverbs 30:24-28,
Agur observes that even though the four creatures are small, God
has made them very wise. Since God protects and provides for even
tehe weakest and the most insignificant creatures, He will certainly
provide for and protect His own people. Jesus said,
You are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:31). __SKT
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HI Mack.
I think i understand what your are saying and i agree with you that, "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints", just as God said so. Also, there is a scripture that says Lazarus died so that God could show Jeus power to ressurect the dead, so that they might believe. I think God is sad when death happens. He knows how it hurts us to be separated from our family and freinds. Heck, i even feel sad when certain celebrities die.. I don't think this takes away from the fact that we don't die for good. Anyways, thats just my take on it.