Psalms 8:1 and 16:2; add 31:1-4

Psalm 23:1-2a: My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 63. His Mind stirred up my mind in verses 17-19:

Isaiah 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Isaiah 63:18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

Isaiah 63:19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

The Prophet envisioned a desolation of God’s “inheritance.” He petitions God on the basis that, 1. “The people of [His] holiness” (Israel and Judah) possessed the inheritance for only a “little while,” 2. The adversaries of Israel had trodden down God’s sanctuary, and 3. Israel was called by His Name, whereas “they” were not: that God never ruled over “them.” (The “they” and “them” refer to the conquering Gentiles.)

Isaiah prayed for the reconciliation of God’s people with God and with their land, their inheritance. The great Prophet had been told that Judah would be spoiled and delivered to the Babylonians (Isaiah 39:5-8). In this prophetic prayer, he is asking the Lord to return all the tribes of His inheritance. Hezekiah, who was king when Isaiah presented these prophecies, began a revival that drew many of the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to worship the LORD with Judah (2 Chronicles 30, see verse 18).

Psalm 23:2b-3: Along the still waters, I reflected on verse 17 particularly. The prophet appears to accuse God when he says: “O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?” (The Hebrew underpinning this verse is clear: the prophet is asking why God “caused” His people to err from HIs ways, and hardened their hearts so that they did not fear Him.)

Although the verse appears to allege God “causes” His people to sin, it should not be taken as teaching that God is responsible for our sinning.*

Read Romans 1:17-32 and notice the statement from the Spirit regarding “the righteousness of God revealed” from Heaven in the execution of His wrath “against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:17-18). Notice that His judgment against man’s sin is stated clearly to be “because” God has shown him the truth, and that is the reason they are “without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20). And “because” man refused to glorify Him, and were unthankful, but “became vain in their imaginations,” so that “their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). The indictment of God against sinful men is premised upon the abuses in the exercise of the free will that He gave them.

Nevertheless, Isaiah’s complaint raises a question we often ask: why did God design us (make us) with the capacity to sin?

The answer is revealed in what God has declared He wants from man: “Love” (Deuteronomy 6:5; 11:1; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). Love cannot be taken; it can only be given. Absent free will, man could not “love” God. Twice in the Old Testament, God connects loving Him with keeping His commandments (Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 5:10). Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). This test of love is valid only if man has an independent choice to keep His commandments.

The Bible says that God subjected “the creature” to this “vanity” unwillingly (Romans 8:20-21). The Spirit told us the reason He subjected the creature to this vanity. He did it “in hope.” In hope of what? Obviously, in hope of receiving what it is He made man to give Him—Love. It is the only thing that is compatible with His nature, for “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

Psalm 2:4: In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, I knelt and was enveloped by His Love. Oh, how I hoped He would find in me the love He seeks; how I long to satisfy His hope! Alas, I know there is nothing in my flesh that can please Him, for in it is no good thing (Romans 8:8:8; 7:18). Glad am I, that I am “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,” for the “Spirit of God dwell[s] in [me]” (Romans 8:9). O, Christ, my Lord, my High Priest (Hebrews 4:12), sanctify my affections as I lift them to thee above, and present my offering in thy holy Name (Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12; Colossians 3:2): “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).

His response was warm and inviting: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Psalm 2:5-6: At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v78m2gw-shepherds-pasture.html

[*The same thing appears in the contest between Pharaoh and Moses during the Exodus. We are told God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and also that Pharaoh hardened his heart (Exodus 7:13; 8:15, 32; 9:12, 34; 10:1, 27). It is understood that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because Pharaoh hardened his heart. But the best place to get this issue sorted out is in the New Testament: Romans 17-32.]