Preservation

Thou Maintainest My Lot

Ken

“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot” (Psalm 16:5 KJV). To the OT Jew, each of the twelve tribes had been apportioned a “lot,” an area of Israel for their inheritance, except the Tribe of Levi, which was scattered throughout the cities of Israel. They were to maintain worship for Jehovah. To Levi, the LORD proclaimed, “I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel” (Numbers 18:20). Instead of land, Levi was to be supported with the tithes brought into the Tabernacle. “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation” (18:21). The certainty of the LORD’s sustenance, a guaranteed income — “Thou maintainest my lot” — when compared to Levi, is what any child of God can expect from the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23). But, that income is by faith and only from God.

A Prayer of  David:

“LORD, You give me stability and prosperity; You make my future secure” (Psalm 16:5 NET). 

“It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land” (Psalm 16:6 NET).

“I will praise the LORD who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn” (Psalm 16:7 NET). 

“I constantly trust in the LORD; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8 NET). 

“So my heart rejoices and I am happy; My life is safe” (Psalm 16:9 NET). 

“You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit” (Psalm 16:10 NET). 

“You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in Your presence; You always give me sheer delight” (Psalm 16:11 NET). 

Discretion Shall Preserve Thee

Ken

“Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:11 KJV). Discretion is a sense of caution or judgment. When shall discretion preserve you? “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul” (2:10). When you notice “knowledge is pleasant” (2:10) to you, then “wisdom entereth into thine heart” (2:10). In the KJV, “through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom” (18:1). Here, we are the actor, exercising strong desire, separating ourselves toward wisdom, seeking it, and interacting with it. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (2:6). Do we wait for God to give us wisdom, or do we seek after wisdom? Both. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). Our seeking is His working in us. The discretion that will preserve us is our exercising discretion with the attitude He must be working in us to be discrete. We talk much of walking with God, but unless we are sensitive to this dynamic of His working in us, while we exercise ourselves to the utmost to accomplish His work, then we will become  either sinfully proud of our efforts or slothfully waiting for God to do our work for us. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Father, grant us discretion that we may walk discretely. Preserve us in Your way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Preserve Us, O Lord!

Ken

“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1 KJV). More than a slogan on US coins and currency, which has been stripped of its original religious connotation, In God We Trust, is the reason the Psalmist could petition for Yahweh’s preservation. The world understands prevention is more valuable than cure. Better our Father preserves us from the Enemy, the world, and ourselves than the complexities of all the cures. “He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints” (Proverbs 2:8 KJV).

Target of the First Atomic Bomb

Ken

Hiroshima, as the target of the first atomic bomb, received sixty seconds of radiation from less than a gram of matter, producing the horrific effects known today. Yet, Hiroshima is now a thriving metropolis, unlike Chernobyl. Jesus prophesied, “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22 KJV).

https://youtu.be/e3RRycSmd5A