Maskil--מַשְׂכִּיל NOT a “light and easy” blog

6/1/12 NOT a “light and easy” blog….but needful for heeding.

Started the day early in the Psalms---not too unusual, But God….showed me an unusual word in the subscript of Psalm 55. A maskil of David. (After maskil was a lower-case v) After a refresher in cross-referencing, I found the bold print in the margin , 55:1-23, indicating chapter and verses where I would find “v”. A quick scan showed “v” in verse 11

Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets

Hm-m-m that sounds like our world, doesn’t it? Just as in David’s time, destructive forces of sin and wickedness are all around us and, like David, we need to be aware of what we’re up against. That verse (11) had a cross-reference to Psalm 5:9 and I pretty much “camped out” in Psalm 5---which is a blog waiting to happen.

Continuing in Psalm 55 long enough to gain insight, I began to understand that this psalm of David was written as he was in great anguish over rebellion and rejection by his son, Absalom. But…not only was his own flesh and blood against him, he also encountered treachery from a close friend, one with whom David had worshipped and had sweet fellowship in the house of the Lord. David was caught off guard by such reproach from another who seemed a “saint”. But God, the “searcher of our hearts" knows the difference, so He is the one David cried out to for relief. David lays his heart open before the Lord needing to “vent” his grief before Him. We too have that same privilege which is a great reminder when we began to understand (maskil) that in this world there will be tribulation (John 16:33) and it might even come from within the house of the Lord. But also knowing that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

A clearer defining of “maskil” comes in as David recounts the moral teachings that are part of this psalm. Yes, wickedness may abound and David may long to “fly away” from it all and be at rest. (v.6) (Ever felt that way?) Yet, David in his distress continues to call out to the Lord morning, noon and night. (v. 16 & 17) Not sticking his head in the sand thinking wickedness ends up in someone else’s yard, but taking heed and learning from the circumstances and consequences that surround him. That’s being circumspect and that’s saka. Saka the root word for maskil.

That’s the maskil (wise teaching/understanding) in it for us---learn from this. Be aware but continue to seek God knowing, as David did, that if one “casts his cares on the Lord, the Lord will sustain him.” (v.22) Take heed of David’s last words, “But as for me, I trust in You.” (v.23)

J is for…………….Jehovah

12/24/09
J is for Jehovah-Rophe---The Lord our Healer ---He has been a healer for me in such a BIG way this year not only physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. First and foremost, in the eyes of others, the Lord has healed my infirmities in miraculous ways with a correct though rare diagnosis, involvement of Dr. Louis Carter visiting from mission field in Africa & teaming up with Dr. Burrus from Memphis to find a “team” for me, my “Dallas team” headed by the incomparable Dr. Richard Ha, and the rest of the story that has taken 240+ blog entries. Yet, before that healing would even begin the Lord began to deal with me spiritually and emotionally. Emotionally I had been “leveled many years before. Try as I might, I could not seem to let go of the hurt and embrace forgiveness---though I kept trying. I so needed to give up a bitterness and hurt that had held me bondage for 20+ years. Sometimes it would spew up like something about to boil over on the back burner. When it did, those nearest and dearest to me could get burned and the anger/resentment had absolutely nothing to do with them----But God……had me accept a church teaching assignment in October '08, because the date was convenient. Then I found out that the topic was, “ Forgiveness.” Because of the anguish of my heart and the fear and trembling that overtook me, I camped out in Psalm 55 and then Psalm 73 because “my heart was embittered and I was pierced within.” But it wasn’t until I came into the sanctuary of God….(v.17) with a broken and contrite heart that He restored completely the joy of my salvation and renewed a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51) Praise to my Jehovah-Rophe for healing me emotionally and spiritually so that 2 ½ months later I could face the physical trauma that lay ahead.

J is for Jehovah -Nissi---Yesterday, I realized that as He is my banner, and I become His banner as well when I name His name as part of my own, thus having Christian as my moniker.
J is for Jehovah-Jireh Christmas is as much about the cross as it is about the manger. According to Hebrew translations, Jehovah-jireh or Yahweh-yireh, can be rendered the LORD will provide", with "LORD" taking the place of…….He is my “substitutionary atonement” ( a Jim Fleming term) taking my sin upon Himself that I might be declared righteousness.

J is for Jehovah -M'Kaddesh---The “Lord who Sanctifies” and sanctifies and sanctifies---this is a continual process in my life and He is not “done” with me yet.
J is for Jehovah-–Shalom-- The Lord our Peace---Tonight is Christmas Eve and because of my Jehovah Shalom, I can “sleep in heavenly peace” knowing that my Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord who is there) is present.

F is for Faithful Friend

12/9/09
In Shelby County Schools this month, the “Character Trait of the Month” is "Friendship.” The quote given to us in our Silver Bulletin this week was, “A friend is someone who sings your heart’s song back to you when you have forgotten the words.” (David Coppola P.H.D)

When I returned to work this week, I found friends like that everywhere I turned. They poked their heads in the library, stopped me in the hall, left notes and goodies and basically blessed me beyond measure.

When I was flagging in zeal, they lifted my spirits, especially the “lunch bunch.” Everyone should have a prototype of this HHS “lunch bunch.” We are a diverse group---in age, marital status, stature, interests, etc. We all love to eat so we talk about food (a lot)---- even though someone is always on a diet. Gender is the common denominator since Ben no longer has C lunch. Occasionally Mr. Suchman drops in so we really don’t discriminate. We’ve laughed together, cried together, prayed together, bashed men (only those deserving bashing) together and just enjoyed each other's company.

The entire HHS “bunch” has been with me this year through thick and thin---surrounding me with listening ears, open hearts and open hands. They’ve fed me and my family too many times to list, joined the HHS café with receptions and tea parties to brighten my day and sent me off to Dallas with a friendship quilt, books, pictures, cards, tea cups, tea pots and enough tea (when brewed correctly) to float a battleship.

But I have also known other friends who, in their human frailty, have found it hard to be faithful to a relationship when it no longer suits their needs. I know how devastating that kind of betrayal can be. Conversations with other women have affirmed that. It’s even worse if it comes from someone within the community of faith.

Scripture alludes to this in Psalm 55 when David cries out to the Lord in the anguish of his heart saying that he could bear it if the one who had brought this reproach against him had been an enemy but it wasn’t………………..

13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, 14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

So who is a true friend who walks in when the world walks out? Who is always there for you regardless? Who is it that pleads on your behalf before a holy God? Who is this One who is Faithful and True (Revelation 3:14) and calls us friend? (John 15:14-15) Jesus.

What a friend we have in Him!!!