OUR FATHER WHO UNDERGIRDS THOSE WHOSE WALK IS BLAMELESS

Psalm 14 15 verse 9 2 says this;

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;

This verse  itemizes the first three among the twelve characteristics that the people who are invited to dwell in the tent of the Lord and to live on His holy mountain possess.

First, those who live by the Spirit of God such that their steps are ordered by the Lord and are blameless in their walk before God, will find themselves granted proximity to God.

Second, those who stay away from evil deeds and only do righteous deeds are marked out for this invitation. 

Third, those who only speak sincerely and truthfully from their hearts. They speak without guile; without hidden motives.

These are the first three character traits that are found in those who will be situated near God's dwelling place and His administrative headquarters.

As verse 5 says;

Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Amen.

5

OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES FOR THE DISERNMENT OF SPIRITS

The book of Job chapter 34 verses 1 - 3 says this;

Then Elihu said: “Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

This passage reveals the concept of disernment  which we are given as spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians chapter 12 contains the listing of the gift of the distinguishing between spirits.

To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Continuing to 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 29 says this;

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 

When Job had rested his case and the three elders had nothing more to say, the young man name Elihu began to speak to them to give the councel of his perspective and chapter 34 begins with him asking the wise men to hear his words for the ear tests words like the tongue tests food.

This request has a two-fold response where the listeners are asked to disern the spirit by which the spoken words are issued and also to weigh the content of the words spoken against existing revelation, knowledge and experience.

Disernment is a spiritual sensory function that is given in order to reduce the ability of nefarious agents to deceive and manipulate the people of God or to stop the errors of well-meaning people from gaining traction in the body of Christ.

In the same way that the tongue senses the sweetness, saltiness and bitterness in food and alerts the one eating to potential dangers in the food if inappropriate flavors are detected, disernment senses the sweetness, saltiness or bitterness of the source of words or atmospheres and measures them against known conditions and detects the spirit by which the words are issued.

Amen.

6

 OUR FATHER WHO SHARED OUR ANGUISH

The book of Job chapter 17 verses 4 - 5 says this;

You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.

If anyone denounces their friends for reward, the eyes of their children will fail.

This passage records some words spoken by Job as he conversed with his friends who had come to comfort him after he was ruined through the loss of his children, his finances and his health.

Speaking of the mockers who jeered at him, Job states that the Lord had closed their minds to understanding and as such, they would not triumph.

And those who turned on their friends for a reward would have their children struck by blindness.

These words of judgment appear to be the words of the Lord Jesus responding to the mockers who jeered at him and spat on him as well as on Judas who had betrayed him for the rewards of money.

As Job recounts his afflictions in this chapter, he alludes to circumstances that transend his own life and speaks the words of the Lord Jesus as He contemplates the nature of hope in the face of death.

Thus Job, enveloped in anguish, speaks as a prophet and pre-records the inner monologue of the Messiah who will go though the anguish of utter destruction even unto death on a cross.

Amen.

7

OUR FATHER WHO IS DELIGHTED WHEN HIS PEOPLE RETAIN THEIR FAITH THROUGH TRIALS

The book of Job chapter 2 verse 3 says this;

 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

This verse captures the Lord's description of Job to Satan after Job had all his holdings destroyed and all his children killed.

Job was under the microscope and under the extreme pressure of calamity, he had proven to be able to maintain his integrity even though he had been brought to complete ruin.

Because of this, God said that Job was unique in the earth because, throughout the experience of having everything in his life destroyed, he had remained blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. 

May we, as Job did, remain blameless and upright when we encounter trials in our lives.

Amen.

7

OUR FATHER WHOSE ENEMIES ARE LAID LOW

The book of Isaiah chapter 14 verse 10 says this;

They will all respond, they will say to you, “You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us.”

This verse captures the words of the former leaders of the earth who occupied the realm of the dead. 

They stirred to witness the descent of the man of lawlessness named the king of Babylon.

They comment on how the one who had been mighty in power and pomp was now stripped of everything and rendered as a feeble being who was to reside in the lowest pits of gloom.

These residents, who were formerly  rulers on earth, were now weak and they watched as the one whom they emulated joined them in the same condition as they were.

They may have believed that for all the power he wielded, the king of Babylon would have been able to save them from their abode in the darkness but instead, they saw him to be as helpless as they were.

The finality of their position was confirmed to them when they witnessed this event.

6

OUR FATHER WHO IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED

From Psalm 148;

All you angels of the Lord

Praise His holy name forever

Praise His holy name and His alone

Heavenly Hosts of the Lord 

Praise His holy name forever

Praise His Holy name and His alone

Psalm 148 verse 2 says this;

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

This verse calls on the angels and the armies of angels in heaven to praise the God who created them. As part of the rest of creation made by God, they are called to join in with all the other sectors of the created order in praising the Lord.

The sun, moon and stars are called to praise Him along with all the beast and animal orders.

All the heirachical structures of kingdoms and nations and their sub-jurisdictions are called on to praise God along with all the phenomena like lightening, hail, wind and fog.

All people on earth both great and small are also to praise God.

Verse 7 says this of God;

His glory is far greater than all of earth and heaven.

This means that His refulgence greatly exceeds the glory of the earth and of heaven and as such is to be the focus of all praise and honor of all that exists.

Hallelujah.

Amen.

5

OUR FATHER WHO IS HIGHLY EXALTED AND YET HE ATTENDS TO THE POOR AND LOWLY

Psalm 113 verses 4 - 5 says this;

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, 

This passage speaks of the singular supremacy of the God of Israel.

He holds the loftiest position over every nation on earth and His refulgent radiance is above the heavens.

He is the One who uniquely occupies the highest throne and, as verse 6 says;

who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

The Lord is exalted above all and yet He concerns Himself with the poor and needy. He provides pathways for their elevation by ensconcing them among His princes.. 

He knows the aching hearts of those who are childless and who yearn to have children of their own and He places them in happy homes bustling children.

Amen.