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Scripture Gems…

Today we’re closing off the summer season of Bible studies with the theme of ‘Scripture Gems’…

— This refers to the fact that God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is full of thoughts, writings, songs, poetry and prayers, that contain immense value to us as we journey through this short and sometimes difficult life.

(I’ve asked ahead of time for you to bring your favourite verses to share with all of us.)

— So we start by letting others share important scriptures, and what they mean to you.

One of my favourites is from Psalm 121:1-3 (ESV) I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?  (2)  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  (3)  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

— This was one of my Dad’s favourite verses, and it is written on his grave marker.

— It has always been one of my favourites as well, because, like my Dad, I find God so very close when I am about in His great creation’s wildness.

1/ A lady shared an important point on a TV program that I found very important:

• These verses say we find our help comes from the Lord when WE LIFT OUR EYES TO HIM.

— She mentioned that we don’t look to the mountains for help, we look to the one who presides, (who rules), over those mountains.

— So whenever you find mountains in your way, remember the one who rules over those mountains.

2/ We don’t just “look to the mountains”, but we look to the one who MADE THOSE MOUNTAINS.

— I also find the verses that immediately follow verses 1-3 to be very important to remember…

(4-8) Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  (5)  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  (6)  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  (7)  The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.  (8)  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

1. (4) Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
   — As we’ve discussed before, through Jesus, we ‘Gentile believers’ are also now part of God’s people, (See 1^st Peter 2:9-10).
   — This is telling us to never let Satan whisper his lies that God is not there to help you.
   

2. (5-6) The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  (6)  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
   — These verses tell us that God remains our shelter.
   — It does not say that God will prevent the sun from beating down on the earth, “striking” the earth, but what it does say is that God will shade us from its harmful effects.
   — This applies to any natural disasters that may come upon this earth.
   (Do we trust the Lord to deliver us from all evil?)
   

3.  (7)  The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.  (8)  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
   — These verses answer the question above…
   — I find there is one more incredibly important factor in verse 8…
   It is the fact that our God who does not slumber, watches over our comings and goings, and that is comforting as we travel about our daily lives, keeping so busy, sometimes too busy.
   — However, notice that this also applies to our great departure, when God calls us on that final journey to go and be with Him. “(8) The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
   

Isn’t that one of the absolute cornerstones of our faith-living… that through Jesus,
our God watches over us day by day, and not only in the now, but for eternity.

(Time for further discussion as we move to our prayer time.) …KK