Worship and Praise Archive
2008
by Max Frazier, Jr.

From the August 2008 Philogian:

Lately I have been thinking about mountains quite a bit.  Marlys and I will be meeting our three children and their families for a week in Estes Park, Colorado, the middle of July.  I was last in the Rockies nearly twenty years ago, so am anxious to get back to those giant symbols of God’s majesty and strength.

Let me begin by asking a couple of trivial questions.  What is the first mountain named in the Bible?  What is the last mountain named in the Bible?  Okay, give up?  The first mountain is mentioned in Genesis 8:4 which reads: The water receded steadily from the earth.  At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (emphasis added).  The last mountain mentioned in the Bible is found in Revelation 16:16: Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon (emphasis added).  Now I know that many of you are scratching your heads and wondering where the mountain is in that verse.  Let me tell you a little secret…you have to know your Hebrew.  The word for mountain in Hebrew is “har” so Armageddon is the Hebrew phrase for “the mountain of Megiddo.”  I know some of you have visited Megiddo when you visited Israel.  You stood there upon that ancient tel and looked out over the Plains of Jezreel and were told about the coming battle to be waged there.  I find it interesting that there is a connection between Mt. Ararat and Mt. Megiddo.  Both mountains were the final scene of God’s judgment upon the earth: Mt. Ararat – the flood, Mt. Megiddo – the tribulation judgment.

Many special occasions of God’s blessings were received upon mountains.  It was upon Mt. Moriah that Abraham discovered the reality of Jehovah-jireh, a God who supplied every need (Genesis 22:14).  It was upon Mt. Sinai that Moses and the children of Israel came to understand their purpose in the world and the orderly character of God (Exodus 19-20).  It was upon Mt. Carmel that God worked in an unique and wonderful way to show an erring king and a wayward people His power (1 Kings 18).  It was upon Mt. Horeb that the prophet Elijah realized that God’s will would be accomplished through ordinary means as well as through the extraordinary (1 Kings 19).  It was upon a hill called Mt. Calvary that you and I came to know the power of God’s forgiveness and the depths of His love (Luke 23:33).  And it will be upon the Mt. of Olives that Jesus Christ will return someday with power and majesty to claim the throne of His father David and to reign forever (Zechariah 14:4 and Acts 1:10-12). 

As I have been doing some reflecting upon mountains several passages of Scripture came to mind.  The first was found in Psalm 90:2 – that great psalm of Moses who, by the way, certainly knew a lot about mountains: Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  Moses understood that mountains did not just happen.  They were part of God’s creation.  Geologists today try to explain how mountains were formed.  They tell us that many were the consequences of either volcanic activity or of the buckling of portions of the earth’s crust causing upheavals of rock.  Now Moses did not understand all the geological theories, but he did know this truth: Mountains were the creation of God.  Mountains point to God.  When one stands in their midst, eyes are immediately drawn upwards to Someone greater than himself.  Their majestic splendor, that almost seems infinite, reminds us of our finiteness and thus of our dependence upon God. 

A second passage that spoke to my heart was also found in Psalms.  Listen to these words that flowed from the pen of David in Psalm 11:1 – In the Lord I take refuge.  How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.”  David also knew about mountains.  For many years mountains had been his home as he fled the pursuing armies of King Saul.  Yes, for David the mountains had been his refuge, his place of safety.  He had learned to depend upon them.  Yet David knew that it was God who was his refuge.  I believe that every night, as he laid his head upon a stone for a pillow, and perhaps watched the bats fly out of that mountain cave for their evening meal, David thanked the Lord God for His provision and protection.        

A third and final passage was found toward the close of the Psalms.  An unknown author wrote these words: Praise the Lord from the earth, … you mountains and all hills… (Psalm 148:7, 9).  How is a mountain able to praise the Lord?  Perhaps its praise is found within the majesty and greatness that a mountain conveys.  Perhaps its praise can be discovered through the myriad of plants and animals who find hospitality under its shadow.  Or perhaps its praise is found in the praises of those who come to celebrate God while in the mountains.

Mountains, from the snow-capped rugged peaks of the Rockies to the forest-carpeted slopes of the Appalachians, call us to a celebration of God.  Why not formulate your own list of Bible mountains and travel there in your mind and discover once again the majesty of God.   

 

From the May 2008 Philogian:

If I were to ask you to make a list of those individuals in the Bible who possessed a great faith, who would be on your list?  Of course you would begin with Abraham, the person whose life was a testimony to his faith.  And it certainly took amazing faith for Joshua to lead the people to march around Jericho for seven days expecting God to work a miracle.  It was faith that caused Elijah to offer the great challenge which became the Mount Carmel experience.  It took a powerful faith for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to commit their lives to God, whether they lived or died. 

As you then turned to the pages of the New Testament you would begin with the Apostle Paul who dared to trust God for incredible blessings not only for himself but for others.  You might want to add Peter for it did take faith for him to climb out of that boat and walk upon those storm-tossed waves.  Philip believed that God wanted him to go to the desert, while John saw the events of Jesus’ life through the lens of faith. 

I believe that, given enough time, we soon could fill at least one side of a piece of paper with individuals who modeled faith.  A few on your list might be individuals whose names are not recorded for us in the Bible.  I would like to draw your attention to one such woman.  Her story is found in Luke 13:10-17. 

Several years ago, during one of the Village Schools of the Bible tours to Israel, we had the occasion to visit a very small, but very old synagogue in the Upper Galilean town of Safed.  There our guide, being himself an Orthodox Jew and having served as a cantor in a synagogue during his younger days, explained to our group the rituals of synagogue services.  As he shared that afternoon, several of the accounts of Jesus’ activities in and around synagogues took on a new understanding. 

In a synagogue the men sat in benches that lined the outer walls.  In the center stood the Ark where the scrolls were housed.  Women could attend synagogue services but were not permitted in the same room as were the men.  In the small synagogue there in Safed, women joined in worship in an upstairs balcony, while in other synagogues a heavy curtain partitioned the women’s meeting area from that of the men.  When one goes to Jerusalem, he sees the use of these curtains to separate the men from the women at the Western Wall.  The reason behind these partitions or separations was to keep men from being tempted during worship by lusting after a woman who happened to be there.

Luke tells us that Jesus was teaching in a synagogue; the location is not mentioned nor is the subject of Jesus’ teaching.  Sometime during his teaching, Jesus saw a woman who was badly crippled.  In fact, for eighteen years all this dear woman had seen of the world was the ground; all she had seen of herself were her feet and toes.  Jesus saw her through the curtains or up in the balcony.  He not only saw her need, but I believe he saw a small seed of faith within her heart.  The question was: Would she be willing to act upon her small faith?

Jesus called her forward.  I had read those words so glibly many times.  But, after my experience in Safed, I found new meaning.  What Jesus asked of this woman was unprecedented.  He was asking her to come down those stairs.  To come from behind that curtain.  To present herself before Him and the other men in the center of that synagogue.  Friends, not only was she a woman, but she was a crippled woman and, furthermore, it is implied that her condition was caused by Satan himself (verse 16).  You could have cut the silence with a knife as everyone turned to see what this crippled woman would do.  Would she defy the protocol of the synagogue?  Or would she come in obedience to the voice of Jesus?  Suddenly one heard the clomping of sandals coming down the stairs, or the rustle of curtains as they were drawn aside.  In her crippled way, this woman came and stood before Jesus and the others.  And Jesus healed her!  And her response was to rise in worship and praise right there in front of everyone. 

Luke then records two responses to this miracle.  The leaders of the synagogue were indignant because Jesus had broken the proper synagogue protocols.  But many others were delighted at seeing an old friend enjoying life once again.  Seems like everything Jesus either said or did evoked two different responses. 

For me, this woman is one of the truly great heroines of faith.  She dared to believe and to obey the voice of Jesus rather than to yield to the rituals of the synagogue.  Her story proclaims the following truth: It is not the size of our faith that is important; it is our obedience to that faith.

 

From the February 2008 Philogian:

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail? (Job 38:22 KJV)

Let me first begin with an admission that I am not a lover of winter.  I am more comfortable with heat and humidity than with cold and drier air.  I would rather “dream of a white Christmas” than to experience it.  Now I know what many of you are thinking…why do you live in Minnesota?  My response is, “Because this is where God has invited us to serve Him.”

As I sit and write this little article we are off to the snowiest start to a December in Minnesota in many years.  And, with no thaw in the forecast, it does appear that it will be a “white Christmas.”  It was during one of those snowfalls, while I was grousing about winter, that God, as only God can do, reminded me of the treasures of the snow. 

First, there is the lesson of His forgiveness.  I was reminded of God’s invitation to a sinful nation of Israel to experience that forgiveness.  The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV).  There is something pure and clean about a world blanketed in white.  For at least a few moments the grime and dirt is covered over.  However, we know that soon the grime and dirt will be exposed as the snows melt.  Yet, the experience of God’s forgiveness does not evaporate as do the snows.  The Apostle John depicted it this way: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).  When God forgives all our sins and iniquities are not just covered up, as the snows cover up the earth’s grime and dirt, but are completely removed from us.  King David wrote: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 NIV).  No mortal man knows where the defining line between east and west is.  Basically I think David is saying that when our sins are forgiven we don’t ever need to worry about them again.  They are gone!  In his prayer to God for healing, King Hezekiah declares: In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back (Isaiah 38:17 NIV).  Now, friends, in all my years of studying the Scriptures there is one thing that I have never read concerning God: His turning around to see what is behind Him.  Forgiveness is having our sins behind God’s back.  They will never be remembered again. 

Second, there is the lesson of God’s uniqueness in His creativity.  That afternoon as I opened the rear door to my car a single solitary snowflake landed on the floor mat.  Because the car was cold the snowflake did not melt immediately.  It was a perfectly formed snowflake, the kind you used to try to create with scissors and paper when you were in school, but somehow you just could never get every side to look alike.  But God can.  I was awed as I looked at that perfectly formed six-pointed snowflake.  It looked as if it had been chiseled by a great sculptor.  And then I remembered that I had been told that no two snowflakes are ever alike – each one is unique. 

And that is what God has created you and me to be – unique.  We are all different, aren’t we?  Some are tall, some are short.  Some are readers, some are not.  Some are gifted to use tools, some are not.  Some know health, some do not.  Some can sing, some can’t carry a tune in a bucket.  Our skin pigment is red, yellow, black, brown, and white.   We live in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, London, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Mumbai, and Cape Town and thousands of places in between.  God has created each one of us to be special.  I would encourage you to read Psalm 139: 13-18 to discover how special you truly are to God.  He has given you a special gift that, when used, can bring a blessing to many others.  Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV).  Your uniqueness brings a blessing to me, a blessing that only you can provide. 

Yes, God was right when He told Job to consider the treasures of the snow.  So, perhaps the next time an Alberta Clipper blesses us with four or five inches, I will remember what I have just written and not be hasty in grousing about winter.  I will remember to celebrate God’s forgiveness and for making me a unique individual.  But I will also remind God of His promise of spring!

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