Through the injustices and anger attack (Psalm 73 and 37)

In Psalm 73, we can read that Asaph was struggling with the feeling of being treated injustice. In Psalm 73:1, He stated his knowledge that God is good to those who are pure in heart. However, the injustice that he felt made him question many things, that in Psalm 73:13, he felt in vain in keeping his heart pure. In Psalm 73:16, he stated how difficult is for him to comprehend and understand the situation. Maybe, at this stage, he is thinking about how can this happen? Who's in charge? Is there anything that can change this? In Psalm 73:21-22, he stated how bitter he was and how his heart felt pierced within, which makes him like a brute beast. I can assume that he might have had an anger attack, in which his feeling was overwhelmed, his heart rate increased, his body was tense, and it was very difficult to control his emotion.

Anger is a natural reaction to feeling injustice, not only in humans [1, 2]. While our feeling might not be according to reality, if this feeling comes, we need to address it. We learned from Asaph that he found his peace not by trying to understand, but by entering the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73:17). In Psalm 73, God is not angry or disappointed with his angry reaction to injustice. God's response toward Asaph is assuring him that:

• God is always with him
• God holds his hand
• God guides him with His counsel
• God will take him into glory
• God is his strength
• God is his portion
• God is his refuge

This makes Asaph depends on God, desires God, wants to be near God, and tell His deeds.

From Psalm 37, we can learn how David face injustice:

• He trusts God
• He does good things
• Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture
• Take delight in the Lord
• Trust and hope that God will give the desires of your heart, will make us shine, will inherit the land
• Commit our way to the Lord
• Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him
• Refrain from anger

Jesus has died for our sin. That is unjust for Him, but He did it because He truly loves us.

1. https://youtu.be/meiU6TxysCg

2. https://youtu.be/6qTiGlCxrIA

Drowning in Negative Emotions

In some cases, negative thinking can be fought with faith and the word of God. However, there are times that I got drowned in negative emotions/thinking. The things that I tried to do just drag me deeper. One possible cause is that I failed to focus and have enough faith in God while walking on 'water' (Mat 14: 29-30). Failing to focus makes me difficult to cope with a situation. A little wind can easily bring my emotion down. I understand that it can also happen because of other things. But, if you are in the condition that you are drowning because of failing to focus on God, it is OK to cry out to God, "Lord, help me." He will help you to refocus again on God.

Understanding God's work (Job 38:4)

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand." (Job 38:4, NIV)

This sentence was spoken by God Himself to Job out of a storm. In no part in the bible, has God ever explain the details on how did He lay the earth's foundation or other questions asked to Job. So, this question together with many other questions meant to open Job's (and our) mind that he (and we) can not understand every detail of what God is doing (except He specifically open it to us).

God's works are beyond our understanding. Job mentioned in Job 42:3b "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." In some matter of life, we only need to trust Him and put our hope in Him.

Even though Job can not understand God's works or plans, he said that his eyes had seen God. Unable to understand Him does not mean that it is useless to get hungry to know Him more. Trying to know God is trying to make a relationship with God, trying to understand what God wants in my life, and trying to see God.

Matthew 5:8

 

Can we see God?

Exodus 33:11 mentioned that Moses speaks face to face to God as a friend. However, in few more verses after that (Exodus 33:20), God said to Moses, "you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live." These two verses make me think that there are different meanings/level of seeing God.

Physically, seeing is connected to the ability of eyes to perceive the visible light spectrum. So, if we interpret those verses literally, it means either God appeared in between the visible light spectrum or the human light spectrum is broaden to perceive more. However, 'to see' can also mean 'to understand', 'to recognize', 'to identify', 'to foresee', 'to imagine', 'to notice', or 'to experience'. Therefore, trying to guess what exactly the meaning behind the word 'seeing God's face' in those verses is not very easy.

The old testament describes that the Lord appeared to, among others:

1. Abraham (Gen 12:7; 17:1; 18:1)
2. Isaac (Gen 26:2, 24)
3. Jacob (Gen 35:1, 9; 48:3)
4. Moses (Exo 3:16; 4:5)

Some stated that they see God, among others:

1. Hagar (Gen 16:13)
2. Jacob (Gen 32:30)
3. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Exo 24: 9-11)
4. Isaiah (Isa 6:1)

In the new testament, Jesus as a human is, of course, visible by many people. However, some of the disciples see the different appearance of Jesus when He was transfigured (Mat 17:1-8). Paul mentioned that no one has seen or can see God (1 Tim 6:16). The same direction is also mentioned by John (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). On other hand, John also mentioned that he saw God in Revelation 1:17.

A blind person can not describe what he/she does not see. I am not very sure if I have enough experience of seeing God that I can explain that to someone. I also believe that God can appear in many different forms (fire, cloud, wind, gentle whisper, etc.). 

I believe it is OK to pray and to be hungry to see God. It will be always good to be able to understand Him more and to get closer to Him. Like Moses, God can personally notify us if our request is impossible and I believe His alternative (e.g. to see His back) will also be awesome.

I want to see You, God.

Approaching God: Holy & Love

After giving the ten commandments, God invited the people to approach Him. However, most of the people stayed at a distance.

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:18-21)

There are several untrustworthy opinions that I heard relating to approaching God:

1. 'We can never ask to meet face to face to God because that will makes us die.' This way of thinking often makes people never try to get closer to God.
2. 'Because Jesus made a way for us to approach God, regardless if we are sinning, we can still be close to God.' Most of the people that believe this, do not see holiness important and lose the fear of God in their life.

God is both holy (1 Peter 1:16) and love (1 John 4:8). The art of approaching God consists of both respecting His holiness and believing in His love. God loves us so much that He wants to have a close relationship with us, but it never means that He tolerates His holiness.

Of course, there are many other aspects relating to approaching God: trust, faith, hungry & thirsty, waiting for Him, seeking Him, humble, be a living sacrifice, etc. I wish that we can grow closer and closer to God because be with Him is the best place that we can be. 

Worshiping by Anointing Jesus

The act of worshiping by anointing Jesus appears in every gospel in the bible. The stories come with some differences in details, which make the discussion if it is the same occasion or some separate occasions.

	Matthew  26:6-13 Mark 14:3-9	Luke 7:36-50	John 12:1-8
Where?	Bethany, home of Simon the Leper	Pharisee’s house	Bethany
By whom?	a woman	a sinful woman	Mary
How?	using very expensive perfume, pure nard	wet with tears, wiped with hair, kissed, and poured perfume.	using a pint (0.5 l) of pure nard, poured on feet, and wiped with her hair.
On what?	head	feet	feet
Criticized by	disciples	The Pharisee: Simon	disciples

If these are separate occasions, I am impressed by the number of intimate worship acts that take place in public. If this is just a one time action, I am impressed by how deeply this act touched people, that every storyteller remembered different details.

Isn't that an intimate worship to God so beautiful? It brings to a place very near to God, where everything feels so different. Additionally, it changes and touches hearts.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere

- Psalm 84:10a (NIV) -

Come to Jesus after Knowing (John 3:1-2)

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:1-2, NIV)

Not only Nicodemus know that Jesus has come from God. However, that night only he came to Jesus. He eventually learned directly from Jesus about the principle of being born again.

Only knowing about Jesus is not enough. It is important to come to Him. Let Him speak to your heart directly.

What hinder you to come to Jesus?