1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 2: Hey, and welcome to another Prayer through the Psalms episode 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 2: of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I'm Jamie and today 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 2: we're going to be talking about Psalm sixty eight. This 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: is called the God of Sinai and of the Sanctuary. 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 2: For the choir director, a Psalm of David, a song 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: portraying the extent of God's bigness and the fact that 8 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: he has no rival, that no enemy has a chance, 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: and it kind of goes through this whole thing and 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 2: contrasts God with those who would stand against him the 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: whole way. And it's amazing in our day to be 12 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: able to look at that and kind of contrast that 13 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: to the giants we face, to look back in that 14 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: day and realize that Spiritually speaking, we've talked about this 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 2: many times before, it was really not widely accepted that 16 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 2: there was this like huge god of everything that had 17 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 2: no rival. There were gods and even those that in 18 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 2: the ancient world had their gods that they considered supreme 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: that they were loyal to. It wasn't like there was 20 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 2: this one giant god that overshadowed all of them. And 21 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: so this was significant and for Israel, it was important 22 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: for them to proclaim that, and David seems to be 23 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 2: kind of the I don't know. David is the promoter 24 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: of this theology of God being the god of nations 25 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: and everything else cowering under his feet, and I love it. 26 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: So I don't know what giants you're facing right now 27 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: in your life, what enemies are surrounding you, What difficulties 28 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: you're up against that seem big. Maybe it's not even 29 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 2: an enemy. Maybe it's just kind of the situation you're 30 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: in right now. Maybe it seems big and insurmountable. I 31 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 2: also just want to bring up like, maybe it seems 32 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: too small. Maybe there's something you're dealing with. Like I 33 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 2: was talking to someone the other day that was having 34 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: issues with work, and they were like, Eh, God doesn't 35 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: care about my job, Like I have what I need. 36 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 1: Why would God. 37 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 2: Want to hear my complaints about my job and the 38 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: difficulties within it. Maybe your biggest problem is something you 39 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: would consider to be too small or insignificant or unspiritual 40 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: for God to be concerned with. Or maybe you were 41 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 2: faced with looking at the problems of the world or 42 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 2: the problems of other people that seem much bigger or 43 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: more significant, or more worthy of attention of God, and think, 44 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: who am I to complain? I'm just going to keep 45 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: my mouth shut. But the reality is God, God is 46 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: bigger than all of it, and he is I don't know. 47 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: I don't want to speak for God, but I believe 48 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: because I'm parent of a child, and because God is 49 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 2: our loving, heavenly Father, that when I have one kid 50 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 2: come to me with just a devastating problem, it doesn't 51 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: pain me less for another child to be struggling with 52 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: something that might not be quantitatively the same, because that 53 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: pain that they're feeling like, especially if they're a child 54 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 2: in a different circumstance, that pain could be just as 55 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: great in both situations. I hope that makes sense, because 56 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: I don't think God wants us to minimize our experiences 57 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 2: and the things that cause us pain, because God isn't 58 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: interested necessarily in the subject matter as much as he's 59 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: interested in the relationship with you, the fact that you 60 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: came to him. And if God is that big, I 61 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: don't even know if he sees the difference between something 62 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: we would consider big and small, just because he's so 63 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: much bigger than all of it. It's all problems and 64 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: they're all tiny. Do you notice the difference between a 65 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: micrometer and a nanometer. I don't actually know the difference, 66 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: and I don't remember which one is smaller. I'm pretty 67 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: sure it's nano. But do you know the difference. You 68 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: can't see either one, right, So I just hope that'll 69 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: be a picture for you to recognize that God loves us, 70 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: and he is so much bigger than all of it. 71 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 2: I know he wants you to come to him with 72 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: everything that you're struggling with. Whether you think it's too 73 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: big for him to handle, or whether you think it's 74 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 2: too small for him to be concerned with. I think 75 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:50,239 Speaker 2: both of those beliefs are lies from the enemy. Let's pray, 76 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: Father God, we just thank you that we can come 77 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 2: to you with anything. We praise you for being a 78 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: great God, the almighty God, who has no rival, no equal, 79 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: no one on the same playing field even, and we 80 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: just praise you for your goodness and your love, your 81 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 2: loving kindness that would even want a relationship with us 82 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: as humans. I pray now against the lies the enemy 83 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 2: would give us, the lies swirling around in our minds 84 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: that prevent us from taking the step of bringing our 85 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: problems and our burdens, and our worries and our sorrows 86 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 2: to you, and our questions and our anger, all of it. 87 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: I pray that you would remove the blinders, help us 88 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 2: to see clearly that you are standing there with open arms, 89 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: not wishing for any of us to perish, not wishing 90 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: for any of us to suffer, but wanting us to 91 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: take that suffering to you, to bring those burdens to you. 92 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 2: Jesus said, come to me, all of you who are 93 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 2: weary and burdened, heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 94 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy, 95 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 2: my burden is light. And he was the personification of you. 96 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: And so those are your words too. So we come 97 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: before you, Lord, We lay our burdens at your feet, 98 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: praying for your help, your wisdom, your work, your kingdom. Come. 99 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: Your will be done on earth, in each of our lives, 100 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 2: as it is in heaven. 101 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: Amen. 102 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: Contrast to Psalm sixty seven, Psalm sixty eight is a doozy. 103 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: It's pretty long. So it is thirty five verses, and 104 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: I'm going to read them all because I feel like 105 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: it's important to read these in context. I was gonna 106 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: split it up, but I like the entirety, because it 107 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 2: gives us like the big picture of what David was saying, 108 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: and a lot of times he has a method and 109 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 2: a rhyme and reason to what he's doing. And it's 110 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: not just something that can be taken a few verses 111 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: at a time. There's a big picture to be found. 112 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: So I would love for you to just maybe even 113 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: close your eyes and listen. If you need to follow along, 114 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: you can open your Bible and follow along if you 115 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: if you learn better that way. But just take it 116 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: all in and see what the Lord says, the God 117 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 2: of Sinai and of the Sanctuary. For the choir director, 118 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: a psalm of David a song. Let God arise, Let 119 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him 120 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 2: flee before him as smoke is driven away. So drive 121 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: them away, as wax melts before the fire. So let 122 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 2: the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be glad. 123 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: Let them exult before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. 124 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: Sing to God, sing praises to his name. Lift up 125 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 2: a song for him who rides through the deserts, whose 126 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: name is the Lord, and exult before him. A father 127 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: of the fatherless and a judge for the widows. Is God. 128 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 2: In his holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely. 129 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,599 Speaker 2: He leads out the prisoners into prosperity. Only the rebellious 130 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 2: dwell in a parched land. Oh God, When you went 131 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, 132 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 2: say lah, the earth quaked. The heavens also dropped rain 133 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: at the presence of God. Zeinai itself quaked at the 134 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 2: presence of God, the God of Israel. You shed abroad 135 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 2: a plentiful reign. Oh God, you confirmed your inheritance when 136 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 2: it was parched, your creatures settled in it. You provided 137 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: in your goodness for the poor. Oh God, the Lord 138 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: gives the command. The women who proclaim the good tidings 139 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: are a great host. Kings of armies flee. They flee, 140 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: and she who remains at home will divide the spoil. 141 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: When you lie down among the sheep folds, you are 142 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and 143 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: its pinions with glistening gold. When the almighties scattered the 144 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: kings there it was snowing in Zalmen, a mountain of 145 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: God is the mountain of Bashan, a mountain of many 146 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 2: peaks is the mountain of Bashan. Why do you look 147 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: with envy, oh, mountains with many peaks, at the mountain 148 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 2: which God has desired for his abode. Surely the Lord 149 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 2: will dwell there forever. The chariots of God are myriads, 150 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 2: thousands upon thousands. The Lord is among them, as at Sinai. 151 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: In holiness, you have ascended on high. You have led 152 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 2: captive your captives. You have received gifts among men, even 153 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 2: among the rebellious. Also that the Lord God may dwell there. 154 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 2: Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden, the 155 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: God who is our salvation Seelah. God is to us 156 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 2: a God of deliverances, and to God the Lord belong 157 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 2: escapes from death. Surely God will shatter the head of 158 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,440 Speaker 2: his enemies, the hairy crown of him who goes on 159 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 2: in his guilty deeds. The Lord said, I will bring 160 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: them back from Bashan. I will bring them back from 161 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 2: the depths of the sea, that your foot may shatter 162 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 2: them in blood. The tongue of your may have its 163 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: portion from your enemies. They have seen your procession, O God, 164 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 2: the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 165 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 2: The singers went on the musicians after them, in the 166 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 2: midst of the maidens, beating tambourines. Bless God. In the congregations, 167 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: even the Lord You, who are of the fountain of Israel. 168 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 2: There is Benjamin the youngest ruling them, the princes of 169 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes 170 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 2: of Nethtali. Your God has commanded your strength. Show yourself strong, 171 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: o God, who have acted on our behalf because of 172 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 2: your temple at Jerusalem. Kings will bring gifts to you. 173 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 2: Rebuke the beasts and the reeds, the herd of bulls, 174 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 2: with the calves of the peoples, trampling underfoot the pieces 175 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 2: of silver he has scattered the peoples who delight in war. 176 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: Envoys will come out of Egypt. Dopia will quickly stretch 177 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: out her hands to God. Sing to God, all kingdoms 178 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: of the earth, sing praises to the Lord Seelah, to 179 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 2: him who rides upon the highest heavens which are from 180 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 2: ancient times. Behold, he speaks forth with his voice, a 181 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God. His majesty is over Israel, 182 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: and his strength is in the sgise. Oh God, you 183 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 2: are awesome. From your sanctuary. The God of Israel himself 184 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God. 185 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 2: I would like to take just a minute of our 186 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: prayer time and just have like a minute of silence 187 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 2: for us to ruminate on what God said through this 188 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: psalm through David. Before I give any of my opinions, 189 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 2: I just want you to sit with these words and 190 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: just maybe reread them if you have a Bible in 191 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 2: front of you, or just close your eyes and think 192 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 2: back to what was said and just see what God 193 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 2: says to you. 194 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: Let's pray. God. We just asked that your spirit would 195 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: speak to us. 196 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: As we think about these words of this psalm, that 197 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 2: you would pull out parts that are meaningful for us 198 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 2: in our lives today. 199 00:13:28,520 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: Speak to us Lord. 200 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 2: Amen. I hope you thought back to something that we 201 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 2: read together. I just thought maybe we should do that. 202 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 2: So in this passage, the things that stood out to 203 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: me were, like I said, this overview, this big picture 204 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 2: of God is being bigger. I loved this imagery because 205 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 2: I'm going to use this imagery when I think about 206 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: the things that are coming against me, whether it's the worries, 207 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 2: the burdens, the enemies, whatever perceived enemies. I love where 208 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 2: it says, as smoke is driven away, drive them away. 209 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 2: And so he's saying, let God's enemies be scattered. Let 210 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: those who hate him flee before him, and those who 211 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: hate him sometimes they're those who hate us. And I 212 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 2: think that can kind of translate, and so we could 213 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 2: just say, God, as smoke is driven away, drive those 214 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 2: enemies away. Have you ever seen there are lots of 215 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 2: wildfires right now in Utah, So sometimes I can't even 216 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 2: see the mountains that are just right behind our house, 217 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 2: and much less like you know down in the valley. 218 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 2: But you just have like one good storm or wind 219 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 2: gust and it's clear as a bell. It's beautiful, and 220 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: so that smoke is nothing to that wind. As smoke 221 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 2: is driven away, so drive them away. And this is 222 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: my favorite. As wax melts before the fire, so let 223 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: the way I could perish before God. I just picture 224 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 2: idols like graven idols that people would use. I'm actually 225 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 2: thinking about the movie Gladiator where he has this little 226 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: bag of these little idols, and I don't know if 227 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: they represented his family or or something, but anyway, he 228 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 2: would pray to his gods and use these little things. 229 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 2: What I picture is just if one of those things, 230 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: those false idols, if we could just put it before 231 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 2: God and just let him melt it, that it would 232 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 2: just come to nothing, that we could see it with 233 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 2: our own eyes and realize how futile it is to 234 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 2: pursue it. Or if you think of a problem, kind 235 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 2: of like encapsulate it in your mind as some kind 236 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 2: of little wax graven image that represents your problem and 237 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: just set it there in your mind's eye before the 238 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 2: Lord and watch it melt. He's that powerful, is that powerful? 239 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 2: And I love that, love that imagery. I'm going to 240 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 2: use that and call back to that. And I also 241 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 2: think it's interesting that it talks about this mountain. I 242 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: had to do a little research because I didn't understand 243 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 2: what it was saying, and I still might not one 244 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 2: hundred percent, But it says a mountain of God. This 245 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 2: is verse fifteen. A mountain of God is the mountain 246 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: of Bashan. A mountain of many peaks is the mountain 247 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 2: of Bashan. Why do you look with envy? Oh, mountains 248 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 2: with many peaks, at the mountain which God has desired 249 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 2: for his abode. And that's referring to Zion, the Holy 250 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 2: Mountain of God where he meets with his people. And 251 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 2: an interesting tidbit is that Zion was not a tall mountain. 252 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 2: So while Mount Herman, which is one of the big 253 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 2: mountains in Bashan, in that range of many peaks, it's 254 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 2: like over nine thousand feet, apparently Zion is only about 255 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 2: twenty five hundred feet. So isn't that just kind of 256 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: in the upside down Kingdom of God? How he would 257 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 2: choose his holy mountain to be smaller in it. I 258 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 2: guess if humans fabricated where God's mountain would be, they'd 259 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,640 Speaker 2: make it the tallest mountain, right, but not God. And 260 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: yet he is without rival, he is without equal and 261 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 2: Bishon and Herman, and that whole area is tied to 262 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: spiritual rebellion in ancient history, and that's why as it 263 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: goes down, it says, I will bring them his enemies 264 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 2: back from Bashon. I will bring them back from the 265 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 2: depths of the sea. So he has enemies in Bashon. 266 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 2: That is where spiritual rebellion happened. It's the heartland of evil, 267 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 2: and it's bigger than Zion. That area of mountains is 268 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 2: taller and many times, like high mountains were associated with 269 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 2: meeting with gods and deities, so it's interesting not to 270 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 2: be confusing. So verse fifteen, this is what confused me. 271 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 2: It said, a mountain of God is the mountain of Bashon, 272 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 2: but a better translation of that is mighty mountain. So 273 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: a mighty mountain. 274 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: But Sean is. 275 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: Great and glorious and huge. It has many peaks, And 276 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 2: so it's saying, why do you that have many peaks 277 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: and you're taller, why do you look with envy at 278 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 2: the mountain that God has desired for his abode? And 279 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: it's because God is better, and God is bigger, and 280 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 2: God is more powerful, and he chooses the least and 281 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 2: the last to be first and powerful, not the greatest. 282 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 2: And that just warms my heart for many reasons. One 283 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,360 Speaker 2: is because I wouldn't have come up with it myself. 284 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 2: I get great comfort and great joy out of seeing 285 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 2: things in the Bible that I would never have put there, 286 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 2: because it's just more evidence that it's holy and divine 287 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 2: and inspired and other than human wisdom. And the second 288 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: reason is no matter how big something looks, no matter 289 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 2: how great and looming a problem or situation or worry 290 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 2: or burden, it's still no match for God. 291 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: And we have to take that on faith, and we have. 292 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 2: To picture it as a little wax figuring sitting before 293 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 2: God and just melting in His glorious radiance, because that 294 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: is all it is, or smoke, it's just vapor, can 295 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 2: be blown away at a moment's notice. So I hope 296 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 2: and pray that this time with God with his word 297 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 2: has blessed you like it has me, and I'll see 298 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:34,160 Speaker 2: you next time. 299 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: We'd like to. 300 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 2: Take just a quick second to thank the team at 301 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 2: Life Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. 302 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 2: If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find 303 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 2: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 304 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 2: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. 305 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 2: That's life audio dot com.