Plumb Line
The word of God is alive and active, it is sharper than a sword and cuts through anything false that keeps us from living in the truth. God's grace is our refuge when we go astray and His truth the plumb to keep us living in alignment with Him.
“Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.”
Joshua 20:2-3, 9
God designed us to live in community and love one another. Unfortunately, our community is a collection of individuals who inherently sin and there are going to be times of conflict. God gave the commandments to the people so that there would be truth that guides the relationships we have with Him and each other. His word is just and true. It is powerful and purposeful. The same God who gave written words in ancient times gave us the words written in red and inspired by the Living Word. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
We can see the character of God in His word. God does not rush to judgment. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is compassionate and righteous. In this text, He designates areas where people can go while the truth is evaluated. Justice is not avoided by the person who goes to a place of refuge, rather the truth is protected by allowing space for proper evaluation. In that time refuge was found in a place. Where is your safe place? One helpful spiritual discipline is to quiet yourself in your time of prayer and picture a place of refuge or peace where you feel safe as you seek to hear from God. What can we learn about how the people were told to be slow to judgment that could help us to get along even better in community today?
“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
Psalms 57:1-5, 7, 10-11
David said he found refuge in God. The word for refuge here is a different word than what is used in Joshua. David see God as the One he turns to because he knows that God is trustworthy and powerful. He knows he can trust that God will provide, protect, and shelter him in a way that no human being could. David says God sends from heaven and saves. He talks about power that is not even available on earth unless it is sent by God. Do you believe God has the power to rescue and protect you? If so, why do you worry?
David says his heart is steadfast and he chooses to lift up God. His process is so different than most of us. We tend to make a mountain out of a mole hill. We let our first world problems become fire alarms. David lifts up the Maker of Mountains and in doing so finds the very refuge he longs for most. How much time do you spend talking to God about your problems and how much time do you spend talking to your problems about God?
David calls out the people whose tongues are used as weapons. James says the same thing when he talks about how difficult it is to tame the tongue. How can the same mouth bless God and curse the people He made? It should not happen. Our words can be a refuge for others or they can really hurt.
Today we find refuge in the person of Jesus. Finding refuge in Jesus always means we will experience grace as we turn to Him, but it is important to remember that it does not mean we avoid the truth if we are not living in alignment with His ways. He is grace and truth. Do you tend to lean one way or another in how you think? How could seeing both help you maintain balance?
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you.”
Proverbs 3:1-7, 9-14, 17, 23-28
Are you someone who goes looking for people who will tell you what you want to hear or do you have a humble heart ready to receive the wisdom of the Lord? We can only find healing in our lives when we are honest about where we are and then make sure that we are in alignment with the righteousness of God. This means right thinking and right living.
Solomon says lean not on your own understanding. How often do we get into a tough spot because we didn't take the time to seek the Lord or listen to the words we already know to be true? In Joshua, the people took their time and did not rush to judgment. They built in time for evaluation at the city of refuge. How can you build more margin in your life to make sure that you are trusting fully in God and not leaning on your own understanding?
Solomon does a beautiful thing by writing down where he has found peace in his life. He starts by sharing what he has learned with his family. He says my son listen. God says the same thing to us. My child listen to me. How are you sharing the truth and grace that you have learned from God with others? How are you making sure that you are giving peace and provision from the abundance that God has given you? Solomon says make sure you do the good you can do. Truth does not delay in taking action when there is an ability to help others.
“How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said. This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel"
Amos 7:2-8, 12-16
The plumb line is a beautiful image. Can you picture a plumb line? Imagine standing before God and having Him hold up a plumb line that divided all the words and actions of your life. On one side would appear all that was not in alignment with God and on the other was everything in alignment. How do you feel?
There will come a day where we stand before God. There will be a time where we will face the truth. The beautiful freedom we can find is that Jesus stands in the gap when we fall short of the righteous requirement of God. He is the one who holds the measuring tape and says they chose me. We are in right relationship so they can continue on the right road to eternal glory. We do not have to wait until our last day though to walk rightly with the Lord. God is calling today to always take time to measure our lives against His truth. Are there any areas of your life not in right alignment? Anywhere you need to find refuge?
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:1, 3, 6-7, 9-16
The word has become our plumb line. God wants to help you live a life of freedom and faithfulness. He wants you to have peace and know the purposes He has for you. Paul shares about the power of turning to Jesus and listening to the words of truth. He speaks of both conviction and confidence.
Conviction tells us when we are not on the right track. Paul says God already knows everything so there is no reason to try to hide. The enemy of your life wants to deceive into thinking hiding or running from God will help. Conviction is the measuring tape that says we are falling short and that it is time to course correct. The longer you walk with Jesus, the quicker you tend to turn to Him to get back on the right road. Humility is where Jesus starts in the Sermon on the Mount and it is the starting place for conviction to cut through the false ideas or fears we pick up living in a fallen world. Have you taken time to allow conviction to help bring you freedom today?
Paul says you can have confidence in Christ. He says hold firmly to the faith you profess. This is the same declaration David made when he said his heart was steadfast because he trusted in God's character. Paul says the good news is Jesus knows you. He experienced all temptation and empathizes with our weaknesses. Rather than running to a place of refuge, Jesus meets us where we are. He wants to teach you how living in the truth and knowing His grace can give you the confidence to boldly be who He made you to be. The question is not if you will need grace or mercy, but when. The bible says all fall short, but where sin abounds, grace abounds more. You can never go beyond the grace of God, nor be able to avoid the plumbline of truth. So the call today is to embrace both by turning to the King. Turn to Jesus when you need a place of refuge and renew your commitment to being a person of the Word empowered by the Word. When you do you will find peace with the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.