The Sword of the LORD

My wife and I recently attended a surprise 80th birthday party for my wife's aunt.   There were lots of cousins, great-cousins, and even 3rd generation cousins present at the party, some of whom had come a good distance to attend; so it was great to see everybody and catch up on news of their families.   My wife later commented about how one little baby who was just a few months old was able to pick out her mother's voice even above 40 or more other voices all talking at the same time.   Her little ears would prick up and her head would turn toward the direction of her momma's voice.   As my wife described what she observed that day, I had to think of our relationship with our heavenly Father and how similar it is to that little one.  There are many voices around us always, some are good, and some are not so good, but in the midst of so many voices our Father's rings out true and distinct from all others.  We know that we can trust that voice because it...

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.   Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.   Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD."   (Psalms 122:1-4)   Psalms 120 - 134 form a group of 15 songs that are designated as Songs of Degrees, or Songs of Ascent (literally, to go up, or steps).   There are a few differing theories as to their purpose, but all agree that they were sung by the Israelites as they made their way toward Jerusalem and the temple of God.   Some suggest that they were used by the Jews as they returned to the holy land from their captivity in Babylon.   Others believe that they may have been sung as the worshippers climbed the 15 steps that led from the court of the women to the court of the men in the temple at Jerusalem.   What I believe is the b...

"When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.   When they enter, the prince shall enter with them, and when they go out, he shall go out."   (Ezekiel 46:9,10 ESV)   For several weeks these verses have been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit; and for several weeks I have pondered how they were relevant to my life in particular, and to the church generally.   It wasn't until my wife and I took a trip to an IKEA store in our state that I began to get the picture.   Yes, God can use even the mundane and the common things in our lives to speak spiritual truth.   We just need to be open and sensitive to the Spirit at all times in order to hear that still, small voice inside.   W...