Pause to Praise

Nehemiah 7:1

After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed.

The other week, my mom and I were chatting over the phone and our conversation went as far as Canada : ) She asked if we’re still considering going abroad as a family.  It could be an easy yes if all we’re after is a comfortable life.  For who wouldn’t want a nice house and really big servings of steak! Relieved that it was at the far end of our thoughts, she confessed what her brother told her lately: “After years of working really hard and now being able to afford all my wants, I wonder, is this all what life is?”  It was really sad.

Today’s chapter opens with the wall finally finished after only fifty-two days. It was undeniably God’s hand over them considering all the hurdles they endured. We would expect that next in Nehemiah’s list would be to reward his men with a sumptuous feast and a good break from work. Just like how we treat ourselves after a draining week. And it seems it was what happened in chapter eight. There really was a celebration for the One who deserved it most. Not the people obviously. In fact they were still in work mode. The relevance of the Levites’ appointment here was to remind them of their purpose as a nation. That it wasn’t about building structures or being safe and comfortable. It was to attend to their temple service.  It was to worship God.

Ask a student what’s his plan after college and he’ll answer you, ‘I’ll find a decent job’. Ask a worker and he’ll either say marriage or aim for a promotion. Ask the newly raised and he’s eyeing to buy his own house. Ask a boss and he’s probably already saving for his retirement. Ask a senior citizen and he could still be after something. Really nothing wrong with forward looking. But what is, is when we see life’s purpose meeting us only at the finish line. I’m sure if Nehemiah’s OC-ness ruled over, he wouldn’t put a halt until their temple would be like Solomon’s, their government like Persia's, and their marketplace like Tyre's. But just like in music, it’s not all playing notes. Interestingly, the word Selah in the book of Psalm is believed to mean ‘pause’ or ‘praise’.  We sing a line and then we pause for praise. We check one task and then we pause for praise. We end a day and then we pause for praise. Why wait 'til the end of your life's song before you breathe? No wonder we're stressed! (if not dead!)  Let's follow His cue: make it one praise at every phrase.  

So Good to Be Alive

1 Chronicles: 14:1

And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

When Anthony Bourdain’s travel and food show ‘No Reservations’ featured going back to Cambodia, it felt like time warping with him. Only mine landed two years prior his episode for my sister-in-law’s wedding, while his interview with the locals moved him to Pol Pot’s massive massacre thirty plus years ago.  It was heartbreaking to see that those ruins saw the death of 1.7 million able and promising Khmers. The Rouge saw to it that their history records were all burned as well. It was an episode less appetizing, but with more heart to it. The simple dish prepared by the farmer’s family was probably the tastiest of all considering what they went through to survive. It made the world’s vanities fade into background - - so pale compared the truth of Bourdain’s closing words: ‘It’s (just) good to be alive.’ 

If we’ll time warp to Jerusalem at the time of this chapter’s writing, we’d probably see the remnants clueless on how to rebuild their once-great nation. As seventy-year-captives, they were more used to servitude and low self esteem. Like those ruins, they were broken too. Settling down was a big pill to swallow, almost difficult to grasp. T’was heartbreaking to see them pick up their puzzle pieces. God, feeling their fragile state, moved His chronicler to copy-paste two verses in David’s early life as king. First, He wanted them to see that He who provided David with the building materials for Zion from King Hiram of Tyre, is the same God who worked in the decrees of kings Cyrus and Darius to fully cover their expense. Imagine your empty pockets filled up with royal treasuries. It was overwhelming. But as always with God, it’s not done until you’re bursting with praise. He added the beautiful truth that David’s establishment as king and the kingdom’s exalted spot in history were for this reason: it was for the sake of His people. “US?!”  They sure stared at the chronicler in disbelief. God’s love seemed distant in a foreign land. But now that they’re back in their homeland, it all made sense. It’s undeniably grace. What others saw as ruins, they see home. What others called pitiful, they call life. Others may belittle their history, but they believe that hope was alive.

We were heartbroken hearing the news last week that my ninong was missing. As chief cook in a seafaring vessel, his work included inspecting galleys for storage and cleanliness. His last chat with his wife points to his going there. They found him gone the following morning. Initial investigations said he might have accidentally fallen off. It was shattering news. We were crying for days, pleading for a miracle. Our hope is in the God who can bring him back home. But if He chooses not to, if our ninong’s already home in His comfort, then we will hope that the dark ruins in his family’s life today will soon meet His gracious provision to rise anew. That though others may expect it as void, they’ll experience His fill. That although God took him away, they’ll praise Him still because he was first given to them. Our hope for a beautiful future can be traced back to the time that God established David’s Branch and exalted Him above the nations.  It was because of His love for us, His people, that Jesus came to live. He is the One reason why we can look forward to life. He makes the world’s vanities fade into background - - so pale compared to His words that gives eternal life.  Oh, it’s just so good that God is alive!

Rewiring and Resolutions

2 Kings 18:4

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

When the Romans named the first month of the calendar after the mythical, two-faced Janus, they marked new year’s eve to be the time where they too could look backward and forward at the same time. Since then, it has become a ritual, pagans and Christians alike, to reflect on the flaws of the past year and resolve to change it on the coming year. According to an innovation specialist, of those making lists, 34% set resolutions related to money, 38% to weight, 47% on self improvement, and 31% on relationships.  Sadly, achievement rate is only 8%. Three out of four people never succeeded. Psychology Today explains, ‘Trying to change that default thinking by ‘not trying to do it,’ in effect just strengthens it. Change requires creating new neural pathways from new thinking.’ In short, we have to rewire our brains.

Of the twenty kings of Judah, eight were mentioned good, but only three had the description: ‘He did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done’. The other five may have ruled right, but only Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah chose to be men after God’s own heart. What’s the difference? The verse above serves as our best clue. The good kings made efforts to get rid of the idolatry in the land. They actually did well in starting the resolution list.  Then somewhere along the line, instead of stepping further, they stopped. They became settled. Unlike the three godly kings whose zeal were unstoppable until the idols were marked removed, smashed, and cut down. But those were just the observable, behavioral results. What really happened was the rewiring of their brains. They first made sure theirs were connected and in tune with God’s heartbeat.  With their devotion in place, they have no need for positive thinking or willpower. They succeeded because it was all His thoughts, His will, and His power at work.

It’s fifteen days to new year and usually, our heading writes, ‘My Resolution For 2012’. With that, I could easily jot down healthier meals, earlier mornings and happier kids to my list. But should it really be MY name on that paper? What if for once we follow the three kings’ template and put God’s Name and His will on top? Do we have the feeling He’ll say: ‘Read your bible, pray everyday’?  Or are we more afraid He’ll say ‘Take up your cross and follow Me’? Making Him the Lord of our 2012 implies our resignation as life managers. But haven’t we been failing on this duty for many years now? Let go and let God! Change happens not in doing things but by trusting in Him. If we really want freedom from our past and have a promising future ahead - - begin with God. He’s the only way to a really happy new year.

Free Man

2 Kings 5:11

But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.’

Years ago, when you’re asked to fill up a form, you only have three checkboxes for civil status: single, married, widowed. No divorce, no open relationships, and no option for ‘it’s complicated’. Freedom, by our definition, has taught us that we can personalize our lives as we see fit. We break rules, revise it, rename it, reinvent it - - just so it could feed our individualities, self-expression and independence. We rhyme along Henley’s Invictus: ‘I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul’. And it’s not pointing to those handcrafted wedding concepts, customized gears, or specified meal orders. It’s a lot about providing exception to rules and reasons to be excused. We’re beginning to rebuild Babel instead of upholding the Bible. Our thumbmarks against God’s blueprint. Our will against His.

Naaman was a man of stature and he knew it. As commander of Aram’s army and the king’s favorite hero, he grew accustomed to welcome parties and silver platters. His words had power and all resource under his feet. Until leprosy hit him. Surely, every doctor in his country came to attend him. But finding no answers, his desperation yielded to his slave girl’s suggestion: see Elisha. Bringing along the king’s pass, golds for payment, and an entourage, he had very high hopes to this journey. But contrary to his title and  expectations, no prophet came to him at the door. Instead, a lowly servant met him with Elisha's message: wash seven times in Jordan river. ‘That’s it?!! No rituals, no wonders from heaven, and he won't see me at least? Me? Am I not an honorable official? And what’s that dipping in Jordan? Sure I deserve something more complicated and original!’ He hated the simplicity of the cure and if not for the prompting of his faithful servants, he would have never taken the plunge.

When pride creeps in, foolishness is next. When we see His will fall short from our self-sketched plans, we rally behind ours. Or when His answers are not what we expect, resembling a brat, we cry in protest. Like Naaman, we put on a disguise, seemingly seeking His help, when actually we wanted Him to serve ours.  Our idea of a cool god is one who is on call whenever we knock and do wonders whenever we need. We want Him to accept us for who we are and see beyond our faults.  By that, we mean, to just let it go and let us be. That’s our life’s plan. All of us. We want a god who will make a way for everyone to win the grand lotto, and have the best partner, and be the next U.S. President. How does that sound? Isn’t it better to give rules to a child than spoil his every want? Guess who will be more independent and mature years after?  Being guided by His principles doesn’t mean our actions are limited. Freedom from sin actually allows us to enjoy life more. How do love, peace and hope sound to you? Yes, a free man!

World of Goo

2 Kings 3:17, 18

For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you.

I am no physics person. I don’t think I can even define or describe what it is actually. But when Tris bought the World of Goo App, I easily got hooked and embraced physics as my new best bud, hahaha. The puzzle’s objective is to get a number of goo balls, create a structure, and move them towards the pipe exit. Easy concept except that the goos are restless and each level just keeps reinventing itself.  There’s always a surprise twist with a million and one possibilities. No wonder it was hailed as MetaCritic’s iPad Game of the Year. And to think it took off Tris’ gaze from Wings of Prey, this really is something :>

But unlike those goos, there is One who does more than reinvent a wondrous thing. He is not limited to using cues from one previous level and have add ons for the next. Being the sole Creator, He alone can make something out of nothing.  In this page of history, we read of God doing another impossible thing, again defying all science, logic and time. Trapped in the desert of Edom with no water, three armies were marching closer to death than their supposedly attack to Moab. In humble desperation, they sought the help of Elisha and submitted to the Lord’s instruction. The next day, waters came flowing and filled the valley from God-knows-where. They neither saw wind to collect vapor or rain to do its pouring work. Amazing? God called it easy! Overwhelming? Nah, He’s not done yet. The same water He used to keep them alive (and their animals too!), brought death to their common enemy. God caused Moab to think the water’s reflection was blood from the kings’ quarrel and so they decided to rush desertward for some great spoil. All that’s left for Israel to do was wait for their coming and prepare for the win.

We’re all goos trying to outsmart life with eyes on that exit pipe. We exhaust all known skills and master each level in the hope that it will make the next one a lot easier. We wish! But the game of life is not played by becoming better. It is won by trusting in the One who knows better. There’s no obstacle that surprises Him, nothing to make Him say ‘Woew, that’s hard’. His strategies are out-of-the box, not even from the help menu. Watch Him take your game and it will wow you to cheer. Believe that although there’s no wind or rain to mark that help is coming, it is coming! It’s an easy thing for Him to quench your thirst. And when He does, expect an overflow. But when He does, He expects your overflowing praise!   

Two Years Tick

1 Kings 15:15,16

Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, walking in the ways of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

What happened in your life in the last two years? That’s 730 days or around 180 weeks. Scanning through the archives of my memory bank now, the big list says our family transfer here in Cebu, the kids homeschooling, the GCoMM conference I attended in Singapore, coordinating the Musaic worship conference after that, the vacation treats to Boracay and Plantation Bay, my work experience as Assistant Prod Manager for Hillsong Concert last year, the cantata I conducted the other Easter, the workshops I taught, and yes, this devotional blog. Of course the bad list, quite a lot of bullets there, is not for public consumption, hehe. Now, the next question is, if my life stops here, with both lists in God’s hands, will he categorize me under David’s line, or Jeroboam’s? Praise God for grace, in faith I’m with the royalties. But rewards? That's the deliberation part, hehe :>

Nadab’s was filed under Jeroboam. That’s logically predictable, for parents are every child’s foremost models. Asa, the king down south, represented those other kids who disapproves their dad’s wrongdoings and vowed to be differently better. In the 8 verses allotted Nadab, only two things were said about his two year reign: his ways caused Israel to sin and he was backstabbed by a fellow Israelite while besieging a Philistine town. And as prophesied by Ahijah, there was no decent burial for him nor his royal brothers, who were also murdered by Baasha, the one succeeding him as king. There was nothing refreshing or good or inspiring in his life. His’ was written more as a warning, a what-not-to-do flashing signal for us watching his life.     

How was your last two years? How do you plan your next two? What's in our bucket list - - to explore the world, pursue life’s pleasures and give in to our cravings? My funny, diabetic lola, whenever caught eating sweet treats had this script: ‘I’ll die anyway. At least I’d die full and happy’. And yes she did. She died. My tita said she last saw her taking an afternoon merienda (soda and pastries!) and went to sleep. Of course that’s a miniature example to our point here. Ecclesiastes encourages us to ‘Remember our Creator.. before the dust returns to the ground and the spirit returns to God who gave it. He will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.’ He will soon separate the lambs from the goats: those that believed His Son from those who disregarded His saving grace, those who pleased Him all their ways from those who lived life for themselves all their days. Which side are you filed in? What if we really have two years left in the hourglass to have that ticket and rewards for eternity, will you take it? Will you be willing to live each day for Him? Clock is ticking!