Last night, on my way home from a men’s group meeting in a neighboring town, two brothers in Christ and I were sharing some perspectives on wisdom and scripture. I remember sharing my personal experiences. For a long time, I was the only boy on my side of the family (My nearest male cousins on the other side were a lot older than me), so I grew up sitting at the feet (sometimes literally) of the men in my dad’s life. He and his friends would talk novels, war, history, religion and politics, and I fell in love with it all. I started reading books on war, and history that were far beyond my grade level, and I would look to advanced novels and primary sources. I studied history at the sources that were available. This was before the internet was readily and freely available to everyone, so I spent quite a bit of time in the school and local libraries to do it.
At the risk of sounding like an “old guy,” in my day, we couldn’t ask Google, we had to look it up ourselves and compare sources. We didn’t have someone on Wikipedia to do it for us. And I think this is the problem: we read something, we look up something, we ask Siri or Google, and we generally accept what it is saying as true. We have seemingly unlimited resources at our fingertips but we’re satisfied to accept what others tell us. I am in no way suggesting we regulate information, far from it. I’m suggesting we seek the truth for ourselves, take our time, and ask God for wisdom and discernment when seeking truth and facts.
Loved ones, I don’t worry about tomorrow. I don’t have a fear of the future. I am content, in spite of all the turmoil in the world around me. Why? Because I go to the source of truth. I am confident because the Scriptures, who foretold intimate details of Jesus’ life hundreds to a thousand years before he walked the earth, still speak truth. They have not changed, they have not waivered, they still tell the same story, and they give us a glimpse of the ending of it all. I know who wins. I’m not worried about war, famine, strife, or even my own death. I know that in living or in dying I will give God glory (it also doesn’t hurt that I’ve lived through too many doomsday prophecies, from world, religious, and government sources, and none of them have happened). I know God’s word is true. He has confirmed it over and again, and will continue to receive Glory from His word. So that is where I will begin to seek truth. His word. And from there, I will filter everything I see and read by His word.
Psalm 119:105-136
Nun נ
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD
,and teach me your rules.
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
Samekh ס
I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
Ayin ע
I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
It is time for the LORD to act,
for your law has been broken.
Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.
Pe פ
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.
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