Cistern not Comfort
Following Jesus will require times of great sacrifice, difficulty, and enduring hardship.
“These are the regulations for any defiling skin disease, for a sore, for defiling molds in fabric or in a house, and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot, to determine when something is clean or unclean. These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.”
Leviticus 14:54-57
You never really appreciate being healthy until you are sick. You do not appreciate the comforts you have until you go through crisis. You do not appreciate peace until you are in a battle. It is fascinating that God goes to such great lengths to give instructions on how to address the times of difficulty that people will go through. In this chapter, He addresses disease and defiling mold. Why? Because people have to deal with these hard things. He gives instruction so He can help protect His people or guide them as they pass through difficulty.
What are you going through? How would turning to God help protect you or guide you as you pass through your current circumstances?
“Praise the Lord, my soul...He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalms 104:1-2, 14-15, 19, 31, 33-34
Do you ever stop to consider the care that is displayed in our world by our Creator? He made seasons that we will go through. Is it not amazing that He made a moon so there would be light in the darkest times and the sun to brighten our days? Every aspect of creation points to a personal, precise Creator.
David has learned a secret to finding peace in all seasons. He has decided in his heart to praise all the days of his life. What does he do on hard days? He praises God. What does he do on days of blessing? He praises God. How does this compare or contrast to your approach to when you face adversity?
“turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”
Proverbs 2:2-6, 9-11
Do you want to travel on the good path? The path He sets before us is paved by the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of God. The key is we have to want to hear. We have to have a heart of humility that gives God the authority to lead and guide us to the places He can take us.
We were made to need God and His guidance. Solomon gives four pillars of a successful faith walk. He says we need to listen to God's voice to gain wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding. What do each of these mean to you and how does each one differ? Are you creating space to hear God's voice so that you receive these in everything you do?
“Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.” “He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, “My Lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me.”
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10, 12-13, 19-20
King Zedekiah was a man who listened to too many voices. He chose to listen to fear. He feared man more than God and it cost him. Look at how he went with the crowd when they were unhappy with Jeremiah and then back when there were supporters. He was like a wave tossed in the ocean. How good are you about choosing which voices have authority in your life?
“The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully...About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.”
Acts 16:22-25, 27-28, 30-33
Look at the hearts of Paul and Silas. How do they respond when they are beaten and thrown in jail? They pray and sing hymns. What! Would you do the same? Do we not get upset when our coffee is the wrong temperature, when we get cut off in traffic, or if we do not like how someone looks at us? Look at how unoffendable and grateful they are in how they live out the life of faith.
Look at what happens because they were obedient and didn't allow their circumstances to change their focus from their calling. They are able to witness to the very person who was holding them in prison and see him receive salvation.
Jesus does not call us to a life of comfort or easy circumstances. He calls us to a life of meaning as we allow the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom we need, peace to be present, knowledge to confidently make decisions, understanding to maintain the right perspective, and discernment to know which roads to take and not to take. Have you been approaching life's circumstances on your own? Turn to God and hear the voice that will protect and help you pass through all that you face with His perfect peace.