March 9
Numbers 30:1-31:54
David wrote in Psalm 63:1, "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You...". Despite David's faults, he was a "man after God's own heart". David was real, his faith was real, and he chose to live out that faith in reality. The question is: "Are we real?" Do we hunger and thirst for God, or do we "play church". It is our heart that God desires. Our walk must match our talk. When we say things, we must say what we mean, and mean what we say. God already knows, but the world is watching to see if you are who you say you are. The reason why there is such a disdain for the majority of politicians, is that they fail this test publicly time and time again. Promises are not kept. Their words mean nothing. Politicians have lied about serving in the military, going to certain schools, going through particular experiences, and about actually listening to their constituents. Many patients and people have told me that they have lost their faith and confidence in the medical system. There are many factors, but even surrounding the experimental vaccine, they were told to take it, because it is safe. There was no data to back that statement. They could have said they didn't know, but still thought it was a good or bad idea, but to make a statement without backing, especially now with some of the adverse effects coming out, loses confidence and credibility. Sadly, as a physician, much of our "data" is politicized, and is far from the objectivity that it is proclaimed to have. If there is to be trust in my profession, we must not parrot what organizations and governing bodies are stating, but speak forth truth, to the best of our ability, and admit when we simply are not sure.
We read in Numbers 30:1-2, "Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." Consider how serious one's word was in those days, that an evil monarch, Herod the tetrarch, beheaded John the Baptist against his better judgment, due to a vow he made while intoxicated to his step-daughter, Salome; and King Darius, a pagan king, against his better judgment threw Daniel into the lion's den, due to a vow he took, even though he was tricked into doing so. Concerning vows, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:33-37, "“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all...But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Realize that God doesn't give a wink at "little white lies". Our word should mean something.
Consider Balaam, who we met in Numbers 22-24. He was of questionable character, but God used him, and actually spoke through him, even speaking prophetically in his fourth oracle, concerning the future Messiah. But Balaam taught the King of Moab how to destroy the Israelites through compromise, due to his desire for the riches promised him if he could find a way to curse the Israelites for the king. This is called the "way of Balaam", as described in a few passages of the New Testament. We read of Balaam's end in Numbers 31:8. We are not to compromise when it comes to God's Word, to our word that we have given to others. We must be real. The world is watching. Just as politicians, and sadly the medical community has been called into question, so will the Christian community if we fail to be real. We must boldly stand in faith for the things of God. God desires this and the world needs this.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: