Psalm 77:1:
1 I WILL cry to God with my voice, even to God with my voice, and He will give ear and hearken to me.
We all know that tests, trials and temptations WILL come! There is no stopping them from coming. What we do WHEN they come will determine our deliverance! Doing what Asaph did in verse 1 is the perfect way to start! He went on to do verses 5-6:
5 I consider the days of old, the years of bygone times [of prosperity]. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; with my heart I meditate and my spirit searches diligently.
He remembered past victories, just like David did! He remembered songs of praise and worship. He meditated on the Word of God and then he searched for the answers God would bring. In the process of encouraging himself, Asaph asked himself 6 questions concerning the LORD.
- Will the LORD cast off forever? -- NO! (Lamentations 3:31-33)
- Will He be favorable no more? -- NO! (Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 60:10)
- Has His mercy ceased forever? -- NO! (Jeremiah 31:3)
- Have His promises ended for all time? -- NO! (1 Kings 8:56)
- Has he forgotten to be gracious? -- NO! (Isaiah 49:14-18)
- Has He in anger shut up His compassion? -- NO! (Lamentation 3:22-24)
12 I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary [in holiness, separated from the world!]. Who is a great God like our God? 14 You are the God Who does wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the peoples. 15 You have with Your [mighty] arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
NOW Asaph (AND you and me, IF we do this!) was in a position to stand in faith, fully expecting to see the salvation of God! THAT is how faith is supposed to operate! AMEN!
Romans 5 continues in this subject of faith and encouragement by reminding us that Christ died for us when we were still sinners. How much more will He do to deliver us now that we belong to Him! Verse 10:
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His [resurrection] life.
Remember that you now have the Spirit of Almighty God living in you and you CAN DO all things through HIM! (Philippians 4:13 - Amplified).
In Leviticus 24 the LORD instructed Moses about the oil that was to be used in the lamps of the golden lampstand. Verse 1-2:
1 AND THE LORD said to Moses, 2 Command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil from beaten olives for the light [of the golden lampstand] to cause a lamp to burn continually.
When we were in Israel we saw the new lampstand, or Menorrah, that has been made to use in the Third Temple. Here is a picture:
We also saw an ancient olive crush and an olive press. Here are the pictures of those:
This is an ancient olive crush. There would be a beam of some sort put through the holes here and either people or animals would turn the wheel, crushing the olives into a pulp.
Then the pulp would be put here with the weight of the stones on it to remove the oil. The purest oil came after much pressing.
If at all possible, visit Israel! Your life and perception of the Word of God will never be the same!
Shalom in Him!
