Yet You Remain True

Revelation 2:13 NIV
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

He knows where we live - where Satan lives. We are yet in this world as we await the coming of the next world. The kingdom established in our hearts has yet to be revealed. He sees their faithfulness, even as He sees ours. The kingdom of God is planted in the dominion of the prince of this world. The days of this world are numbered, just as the word of God endures forever.
"...remain true to my name."

Revelation 14:12-13
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Revelation 3:9-11
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Hebrews 3:6 NIV
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Refreshes The Bones

Proverbs 15:30 ESV
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.

The light of the world has risen, shining on all hearts. The joy is known and shared and will one day fill the world until the sun is no longer needed.
This is the good news that gives life to dry bones.

Turning A Person

Proverbs 14:27 NIV
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a person from the snares of death.

Fear of the Lord means no longer fearing death. When a person turns to the Lord, death is left behind. They become part of the fountain of life.

The Way

Proverbs 10:29-30 NIV
The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.

There is a way that seems right to man. There is a way that is right before God. Blessed is the man when both ways for him are the same.

There is one name and one way by which a man will find salvation.

Until Full Day

Proverbs 4:17-18 ESV
For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Jesus said He is the bread of heaven. He lifted the cup of the new covenant of life.
As we walk in the light, it grows brighter around us and the world dims as we see more clearly the things of God. We see in part until the full day.

Incline Your Ear

Proverbs 5:1-6 ESV
1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two- edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
6 she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Revelation 17:5
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.”

Do not be overcome with the allures and trappings of this world, for this world is passing. Be faithful to God and the one who has overcome the world. Incline your ear and heart to the living God who loves you, not to another that seeks your destruction.

How Long?

Proverbs 1:7 NIV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:22-23
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.

Wisdom calls out. The hands of the Lord are outstretched to all. The words are spoken and the promises will never be broken. It is life to answer "yes".

No one knows how long they have to decide. Death could come at any moment and lay claim to that soul not given to God.

For I Have Desired It

Psalms 132:13-14 NIV
For the Lord has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.

Why is there such focus on Jerusalem by the world and such contention for that spot on earth? Because God desires it, and so Satan covets it. In his rebellion he opposes God. He slithers on the ground with those he deceives following along. In ignorance, the world serves Satan, trading truth for lies.

The Sharp Double Edged Sword -Revelation 2:12

Revelation 2:12
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double- edged sword.

The Greek word translated here as Pergamum means "tower". Towers in these ancient cities were structures of authority and the last line of defense against an enemy. They represented the pride and strength of the people. Pride is usually involved in rebellion against God.
Chief among the Gods of this city was Aesculapius, the healing god. Here he was worshipped in the form of serpent. Satan's power and opposition to God was very evident. It was a stronghold of the evil one.
Jesus refers again to the sword of judgement in His hand, of the power of His word, likened to a sword in His mouth. His word is true and His judgement just. It will be brought against the strongholds of Satan and prevail.

Aesculapius was worshipped there under the serpent form; and Satan, the old serpent, as the instigator (compare Re 2:10 ) of fanatical devotees of Aesculapius, (JFB)

Also famous for the magnificent temple of Aesculapius, the healing god [TACITUS, Annals, 3.63]. he which hath the sharp sword with two edges--appropriate to His address having a twofold bearing, a searching power so as to convict and convert some ( Re 2:13 , 17 ), and to convict and condemn to punishment others ( Re 2:14 - 16 , especially Re 2:16; compare also see on Re 1:16 (JFB)




Isaiah 2:12-15
12 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased.
13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,
Against all the oaks of Bashan,
14 Against all the lofty mountains,
Against all the hills that are lifted up,
15 Against every high tower,
Against every fortified wall,

Hebrews 4:12-13
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. 13 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.


Numbers 22:21-31
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Were All Filled

2 Chronicles 7:1-2 ESV
1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house.

Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Down from heaven comes the Lord and fills the temple. The first of stone, second of flesh and blood. His glory is present with us. No priest is needed to come before God, for we have been made into a kingdom of priests. We are the house of the Lord.

Not Of Human Origin

Galatians 1:11-12 NIV
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

The gospel comes from God and is performed by God. All we can do is receive it and share it. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth of God.

Everyone who is born from above shares in the life of God. No longer children of this world, but children of God.

In Vain

Psalms 127:1 ESV
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.

The temple of the Lord was rebuilt in the form of the resurrected Christ. We are the white stones used to build the body of the Bride, the church.
Other stones are used in many places, crafted by hand with much labor and with much fanfare. Some rewrite the Book to champion their own gospel, or themselves.
The temple grows around the cornerstone which is Christ. That is the house of the Father. All others are in vain.

Come Away

Song of Songs 2:10-13 ESV
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
11 for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.

The bride prepares for His return
To rise at the sound of His voice
The time will come
The night will be over
We will be ready when He says
"Come away"

Who Offers Thanksgiving

Psalms 50:22-23 ESV
“Mark this, then, you who forget God,
lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”

Before Jesus came, it is clear that the place of the heart given to God was more important than actions apart from the heart. This is the way we glorify God, acknowledging Him and walking in His way.

Will Not Be Hurt - Revelation 2:11

Revelation 2:11 NIV
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

We will all die once because of fall of man. Into the dust our bodies return when our soul departs. But far worse is the second death ahead of those who do not overcome the world by believing in the one who did. Our victory is in sharing His victory. We are transferred from death to life, and thereby enter the eternal life of God. It happens before our mortal death, and we will be raised up immortal.

Smyrna means myrrh in Greek. It was one of the gifts brought to Jesus by the wise men. Myrrh was an ingredient of the holy incense burned in the temple. It was used to prepare the body for burial. It is associated with the Bridegroom to come. The church located here provides a model of Christian life that anticipates the Son's return.



Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

He Teaches The Humble

Psalms 25:6-9 NASB

Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.

To consider His offer and mercy to any depth can only lead to one being humble. We can then learn and walk His way, to recognize His voice and follow after.

Soul Then Spirit

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 NIV
So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became A living soul.” The last Adam became a life- giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

1 Corinthians 15:50
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Though the first Adam was in the Garden, he was not able to eat from the tree of life. He was created a living soul with the breath of God, but he did not fulfill the word of God.

A seed from the tree of life fell to the earth and grows in the soil where it finds welcome. The perishable becomes heir to the imperishable, and we will be like him.

Do Not Be Afraid -Revelation 2:10

Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Many times Christ said, "Do not be afraid". We suffer in this life, some more than others. God allows this to happen. He suffered as well and overcame the suffering that we might find God. He clothes us and protects us under the seal of His Holy Spirit. Faith overcomes fear, for it is based on love.

Ten days. The number ten in the Bible is frequently used to imply a Divine order and a complete whole. The ten plagues on Egypt are an example. The days of persecution are numbered. The devil's time is set. The purpose of God will be fulfilled.

Spiritual warfare is a reality, and the din of that battle is just beyond our powers of perception. The eyes of faith allow us to glimpse our circumstance and reach out to our Savior. If we hold on to His hand, we hold on to life. We are called to continue in that faith to the end. If we do, we receive the crown of life.

Revelation 3:10-11
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Daniel 1:12-13
“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

Matthew 10:21-22
Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:26-28
Have No Fear
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Hebrews 3:6
but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Matthew 24:9-13
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Yet You Are Rich -Revelation 2:9

Revelation 2:9
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.


The source of our afflictions, the bedrock of our sorrows and troubles, comes from sin. Sin is present in the world due to disobedience. Though our afflictions arise from disobedience, God uses those same afflictions to teach obedience. Christ obeyed the Father in every temptation and it is Christ we follow after.

The poverty in this verse is from the world view, for Jesus calls these believers rich. The outward view of their temporary circumstance does not reflect the eternal riches within. In a similar way, their opposition claims to be follow God, yet it is Satan that leads the way, away from God. True poverty is not knowing God. Many do not even suspect their lack. Our riches are summed in the love of God.

Slander is a hallmark of Satan, also known as the accuser. Slander is likened to murder, and Satan was a murderer from the beginning. Through him death came to us. Jesus offers life.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich

1 Thessalonians 3:4
For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

Matthew 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. ’”

James 2:5
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.


Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

First And The Last -Revelation 2:8

Revelation 2:8 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

In the beginning there was God. In the end there is God. He came, died, and came to life again that we would die to self and come to life.
He is the first born of the new creation and the judge at the end of time. The living and the dead will all stand before Him.

When we look at Isaiah 44:6, we see Christ is telling us that He is God.

Isaiah 44:6
6 “This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12-13
12 “Listen to me, Jacob,
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them,
they all stand up together.

Waits In Silence

Psalms 62:1-2 ESV

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Silence appears throughout the Bible, and the implications and context are varied. It can accompany awe and fear, just as well as can accompany despair.
Here there is a sense of rest, of total trust. The chaos of the world has receded into the peace of God. When we place our trust in God alone, we are never alone. He is our rock, mighty and sure.

When we are speaking, it's hard to hear. When in motion, it's hard to be still.

When the fanfare of self grows quiet, we then are able to wait on the Lord.

This We Know

1 John 5:19-21 NIV
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

The word true is repeated several times and is the central message in this passage. Truth is heard by those of the Spirit. The Spirit of truth enables the hearing of the truth.
It is possible to know God by the Spirit He has given us. In this way the confusion of the world gives way to the peace of God. This we know.

Eat From The Tree Of Life -Revelation 2:7

Rev 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God

Whoever has the Spirit has the "ears" to hear what the Spirit says. Without them the gospel makes no sense. Each collective or assembly of the church is addressed. It is in community that we experience God, in the loving of each other that we know Him.

Being victorious here means life, the appropriation of Christ's victory. The tree of life is the Son, the Holy One of God. This is the manna from heaven, the bread of life. Paradise is where God is and the victorious one will live in His presence.
What was lost in in the creation story in Genesis is restored in the last chapter of Revelation. The pages between the two passages tell of God's love and plan for us.

Genesis 3:22-24
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Revelation 22:1-5
Chapter 22
The River of Life
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Seek My Face

Psalms 27:8 ESV
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

He calls out to hearts which were fashioned for fellowship with Him. The word is near and whispers to our souls. Our peace is in answering, of saying yes to that voice of love.

Shall Behold His Face

Psalms 23:3 ESV
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Psalms 11:7
For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

Those who are upright are able to stand because they have been raised from the dead, reborn from above.
He leads us in righteousness to righteousness. He is our reward and portion.

Which I Also Hate -Revelation 2:6

Rev 2:6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate

Christ is the judge.  If we follow Him, we are to love the things He loves and to hate the things He hates.  This serves to remind us that not all things are acceptable and OK with our Lord.  We please Him when we listen to Him and seek after His righteousness.  The more we are able to see the world from His perspective, the more we display and are growing into the mind of Jesus.  

Before One Of Them Came To Be.

Psalms 139:13-16 NIV
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

God created Adam from the earth. Here the womb is likened to the earth.
God knew Adam's days before they came to be. He knows ours. He sees the end from the beginning.
He is at both ends of time, connecting them. He is in the middle and always present.
Our names are written in the book of life, or in the books of judgement. The choice is ours, but He knows. The path chosen determines our destiny.

You Are My People

Hosea 2:23 NASB
“I will sow her for Myself in the land.
I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion,
And I will say to those who were not My people,
‘You are My people! ’
And they will say, ‘ You are my God! ’”

The word is sown. Out of the world is formed a people, the Bride of Christ. Through Israel the word comes in the shape of a man. With love and compassion, mercy calls out.
"You are my people".
"You are my God".

Id And Ego

Id, ego and super-ego are the three parts of the psychic apparatus defined in Sigmund Freud's structural model of the psyche; they are the three theoretical constructs in terms of whose activity and interaction mental life is described. According to this model of the psyche, the id is the set of uncoordinated instinctual trends; the ego is the organized, realistic part; and the super-ego plays the critical and moralizing role.
Wikipedia

Perhaps this structure could be used to understand the Biblical terms of life that inhabits the body.

Id might correlate to Zoe, the basic components of life, the "uncoordinated instinct" and building blocks that are foundational to who and what we are. It is the common platform we all share.

Ego might relate to our soul/spirit, that unique mix, the "organized, realistic part;" , which is our self-consciousness. This is the part of us that interprets and makes sense of the world. Our personality operates largely at this level.

The super ego might be that aspect of our spirit that is more of the image of God. It could be the piece that is empty and incomplete without God and the thing inside us that allows interaction with His Spirit and ours. Perhaps this is the part of us reborn when we accept Christ and is restored as we are transformed, transferred into His kingdom, and begins to grow into the mind and stature of Jesus.

Cannot Reach It

Psalms 139:1-6 AMP
O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.
2 You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off.
3 You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have beset me and shut me in—behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me.
6 Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.

One day we will know just as we are known. Then we will see the wonder of His love. His hand is not just extended toward us, but rests on our shoulder. He reached down for us when He was beyond our reach.

Lech Lecha

Lech-Lecha
Hebrew for:
Go for/by/to Yourself

For the longing
A call to spirit
A voice foreign and unfamiliar
As it is compelling

By ourselves
We must answer
This is the quest
The journey before us

To that intended place
For which we were made
To that wonderland
Of who we are

Abraham heard God call his name. Taking God at His word, he left the place where he was, his faith in the promise of that to come.
All who hear and follow that same word will join him in that journey into that wonderland we call a new creation.

In That Word Is Life

Psalms 124:8 NASB
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

It is in His name we are saved. Through His word, creation sprang forth. Life was given. He has a word for you and in that word is life.

Even In The Womb

Psalms 51:3-6
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

God reveals to us that sin only apples to our disobedience to Him. We may wrong another, but it is against God that we sin. He gives us the measure and standard of right and wrong. He is the truth behind all truth. It is the light of that truth that will judge in the end.
The writer speaks of God's regard for a person at the time of conception, while in the mother's womb.
The world does not recognize life until a child enters the world and is visible. It is legal to kill a child before it leaves the mother's body. It is still illegal to kill a child after that.
What wisdom does God impart to us in that secret place?

While You May Be Found

Psalms 32:3-5 NIV
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

We can acknowledge nothing He's already not seen. We can only confess what He already knows. But when we do, He is faithful to forgive us.

Psalms 32:6
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.