PSALM 90; ISAIAH 40:28-31 | CLING TO GOD

CLING TO GOD

PSALM 90; ISAIAH 40:28-31

AUGUST 20, 2017

LATELY, I’VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT MY FINGER ON A WORD WHICH DESCRIBES HOW SO MANY PEOPLE I MEET AND TALK WITH DAILY ARE FEELING.

FEAR?  WORRY?  ANXIETY?  APPREHENSION?  EXASPERATION?  UNEASE?

BUT THE WORD I’VE FINALLY SETTLED ON IS: EXHAUSTION.  PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED.

THEY ARE EXHAUSTED WITH LIFE; WITH LEADERSHIP, WITH RELATIONSHIPS, WITH RHETORIC.  THEY ARE EXHAUSTED WITH POLITICIANS, PUNDITS, AND POLLS.  THE NEWS EXHAUSTS THEM.

THEY ARE EXHAUSTED BY REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DOCTOR WHICH SEEM TO DO LITTLE GOOD; THEY ARE EXHAUSTED BY CARETAKING, AND BY THE COMPLAINING OF THOSE FOR WHOM THEY ARE CARING.

THEY ARE EXHAUSTED FROM WORKING TWO JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET; AND THEIR MEANS STILL DON’T COME CLOSE TO MEETING THEIR ENDS.

PARENTS ARE EXHAUSTED FROM RAISING CHILDREN, OR GRANDCHILDREN;

OTHERS ARE EXHAUSTED BY A DEAD-END JOBS, DEAD-END DREAMS, DEAD-END LIVES.

IN THEIR EXHAUSTION, THEY DRINK MORE, EXERCISE LESS, AND WEAR OUT THE COUCH AND TV.

IN THEIR EXHAUSTION, THEY BUY MORE THINGS TO FILL THE HOLE IN THEIR LIFE, ONLY TO INCREASE THEIR DEBT, ONLY TO BECOME MORE DEPRESSED BY HOW MUCH THEY OWE, ONLY TO BE EXHAUSTED BY THEIR GROWING DEBT.

AND IN THEIR EXHAUSTION, WORRY, AND FEAR, MANY BEGIN TO BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR PROBLEMS, AND LIKE A CHILD PAST HIS BEDTIME, OR ONE WHO SKIPPED HER NAP, IN THEIR EXHAUSTION, THEY LASH OUT AT THOSE AROUND THEM.

IN THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS, I REMEMBERED A QUOTE I ONCE SAW:

“IF I HAD IT TO DO ALL OVER AGAIN, I’D BE TOO TIRED.”

BUT THERE’S ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH EXHAUSTION, ONE WHICH SIMPLY CONTRIBUTES TO MORE EXHAUSTION; IT’S WHAT BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR CALLS – THE IDOL OF EXHAUSTION.

“IT DOES SEEM TO ME,” SHE WRITES, “THAT AT LEAST SOME OF US HAVE MADE AN IDOL OF EXHAUSTION.”

THE ONLY TIME WE KNOW WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH IS WHEN WE ARE RUNNING ON EMPTY AND WHEN THE ONES WE LOVE MOST ARE THE ONES WE SEE THE LEAST.

WHEN I BROKE MY FOOT, AND LANDED MYSELF ON THE COUCH FOR THREE MONTHS—STUCK IN A PLACE I DIDN’T WANT TO BE IN, CONFRONTING A MESS OF A LIFE OF MY OWN DEVISING—

I HAD TO CONFESS THAT I HAD MADE AN IDOL OF EXHAUSTION, AND I HAD TO ADMIT THAT THE MODEL OF CHRISTIANITY I FOLLOWED HAD DONE THE SAME.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, ‘SOLD OUT FOR JESUS’ HAD BECOME ‘WORN OUT FOR JESUS.’

WE IN THE CHURCH HAD BEGUN TO EQUATE BUSYNESS WITH OUR WORTH; WE MEASURED AND JUDGED OUR LIVES, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR MARRIAGES BY HOW MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WE WERE ALL PARTICIPATING IN.

WE MEASURED OUR OBEDIENCE TO AND LOVE OF GOD BY HOW MANY SMALL GROUPS, MINISTRY TEAMS, MISSION TRIPS, RETREATS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND CHURCH SPORTS LEAGUES WE JOINED.

EVEN THE THINGS WE STARTED AS RECREATION BECAME WORK.

OUR FRENETIC PACE AS WE TRIED TO DO IT ALL MADE OUR PLAY EXHAUSTING AND OUR WORSHIP DRUDGERY.

WE HAVE MADE AN IDOL OUT OF EXHAUSTION IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN—A MODERN CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM RISING UP TO HELP US TO JUSTIFY OUR NEWEST GOLDEN CALF.”

WITH THAT IN MIND, BOTH THE EXHAUSTION MANY OF US ARE FEELING;

AND OUR COMPULSION TO EXHAUST OURSELVES FURTHER – AS AN ACT OF FAITH;

I’M REMINDED OF A PHRASE KAREN AND I JOKE ABOUT AT TIMES: “LOOK BUSY, HERE COMES THE LORD.”

BUT THE PROBLEM, THE EXHAUSTION, IS NOT REALLY WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING; IT’S NOT WHAT OUR PASSAGES ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING;

INSTEAD, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ANOTHER WORD.

I’M NOT SURE IT FITS THE DEFINITION OF ONOMATOPOEIA – A WORD FORMED BY A SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORD – LIKE MEOW, CUCKOO, BOOM, OR HONK;

BUT IT IS ONE OF THOSE DESCRIPTIVE WORDS THAT WOULD BE HARD TO EXPLAIN WITHOUT USING YOUR HANDS; LIKE THE WORD GOATEE.

THE WORD IS CLING – AS IN SOMETHING STICKING SO CLOSELY TOGETHER AS TO BE ALMOST INSEPARABLE.

WITH THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY OF THE KEYS, WE RARELY DEAL WITH STATIC CLING, UNLIKE UP NORTH, IN WINTER TIME, IN THE DRY HEAT OF A HOME.

I SUPPOSE WE SEE A LITTLE CLINGING, GETTING STUFF OUT OF THE DRYER, BUT DRYER SHEETS HAVE MADE THAT ALMOST OBSOLETE.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT – WHEN TWO OF YOUR SOCKS ARE STUCK TOGETHER; OR YOUR SILKY STUFF IS STUCK TO THE BACK OF A DRESS.

FORTUNATELY, WE KNOW CLING IN OTHER CONNOTATIONS: CLING WRAP, SOME OF WHICH IS SO STICKY, THAT IT’S HARD TO GET IT TO SEPARATE, NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY.

CLING PEACHES, WHOSE STONES CLING SO TIGHTLY TO THE FRUIT, THAT RECENTLY WHILE PREPARING ONE, I BROKE THE PEACH PIT IN HALF, BEFORE IT WOULD RELEASE FROM THE FRUIT ITSELF.

THEN, OF COURSE, THERE IS HUMAN CLINGING.  A SMALL CHILD CLINGING TO HIS FATHER’S LEG, AS HE TRIES WALKING FROM ONE ROOM TO THE NEXT.

A CHILD, SHY ABOUT MEETING OTHERS, CLINGING TO HIS MOTHER’S SKIRT.

THE CLINGING OF TWO PEOPLE IN LOVE, SO CLOSE, HOLDING ON TO EACH OTHER SO TIGHTLY, YOU WONDER HOW EITHER OF THEM CAN BREATH;

AND WHEN YOU’RE IN THE MIDST OF SUCH CLINGING, YOU NEVER WANT TO TURN LOOSE, AND CATCHING YOUR BREATH IS THE LAST THING YOU CARE ABOUT.

I’M GUESSING, AT THIS POINT, GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT CLINGING, AND HOW I’VE TRIED TO DESCRIBE IT HERE, YOU ARE ADEQUATELY PICTURING IT;

SO, NOW, PICTURE IT WITH GOD.  CLINGING TO GOD.  CLINGING TO GOD IS THE ANSWER TO OUR EXHAUSTION.

HOLDING ON SO TIGHTLY, BEING SO CLOSE, THAT WE ARE INSEPARABLE; THAT IT’S HARD TO DISTINGUISH WHERE GOD ENDS, AND WE BEGIN.

MAYBE LIKE THE CHILDREN WE DESCRIBED EARLIER – OUR CLINGING TO GOD’S LEG AS HE MOVES ABOUT CREATION; OR OUR PEERING OUT FROM BEHIND GOD’S SKIRT.

“HAVE YOU NOT KNOWN?  HAVE YOU NOT HEARD?  THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

HE DOES NOT FAINT OR GROW WEARY; HIS UNDERSTANDING IS UNSEARCHABLE.  HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT, AND STRENGTHENS THE POWERLESS.

EVEN YOUTHS FAINT AND BE WEARY, AND THE YOUNG (NOT TO MENTION WE WHO ARE OLDER) WILL FALL EXHAUSTED;

BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH, THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES, THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT.”

THESE WORDS FROM ISAIAH ARE THE SOURCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

EVERY DAY WE NEED SPIRITUAL POWER TO DO THE WILL OF GOD, AND TO DO IT WITH JOY.

LIFE IS EXHAUSTING.  THE WORLD EXHAUSTS US.  PEOPLE EXHAUST US.

THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH?  CLINGING TO THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

WHEN ISAIAH SPEAKS OF, HOPE IN THE LORD, HE’S NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE PASSIVELY ENGAGE IN WISHFUL THINKING; AN OPTIMISTIC MINDSET THAT GOD WILL COME THROUGH FOR US WHEN THE DAY GROWS DIFFICULT.

RATHER, ISAIAH’S USE OF THE WORD, “HOPE” IS A CALL TO CLING OUR SOULS TO GOD.  “HOPE” IN THE HEBREW TESTAMENT IS ALWAYS ACTIVE, NOT THE PASSIVE USE THAT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD TODAY.

IT IS AN EXPECTANT DEPENDENCE ON GOD, A CERTAIN CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL RENEW OUR STRENGTH EQUAL TO OUR NEEDS.

IT TAKES TIME TO BE HOLY.  YES, WE ARE CALLED TO “DO GOOD THINGS,” AND WE PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THAT AROUND HERE; IT IS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR FAITH IN ACTION;

BUT AS WE HAVE HEARD, EXHAUSTION CAN ALSO BECOME OUR IDOL.

‘DOING GOOD THINGS’ CAN EXHAUSTS US; EXHAUST OUR FAITH; BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE DO GOOD THINGS TOGETHER WITH GOD.

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE TIME, DAILY, TO BE WITH GOD; WHATEVER THAT LOOKS FOR YOU: PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, USING A DAILY DEVOTIONAL, A CONTEMPLATIVE WALK, QUIET REFLECTION OVER COFFEE AND A SUNRISE;

WHATEVER, IT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU, THIS IS HOW OUR SOULS RECEIVE THE INFLOW OF GOD’S POWER.  IT’S HOW WE OVERCOME EXHAUSTION; IT’S HOW WE DO GOD’S WILL, WITH GOD’S HELP.

WHEN WE TRY TO DO “GOOD THINGS,” TRY TO DO “GOD’S WILL” WITHOUT “CLINGING TO GOD” WE GROW WEARY AND EXHAUSTED; WE BURN OUT; WE GIVE UP;

OUR SPIRITUAL ENERGIES FAIL AND DISCOURAGEMENT OVERTAKES US.

THIS IS BUT ONE OF THE REASONS IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE HERE, TOGETHER, ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, WORSHIPPING GOD.

ISAIAH’S WORDS CLOSE WITH THE PROMISE OF UNWEARIED STRENGTH.

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION.

IN THE EARLY PAGES OF GENESIS, GOD TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF REST AND RENEWAL.  GOD’S GRAND DESIGN FOR OUR LIFE IS A RHYTHM OF WORK AND REST, OF PRODUCING AND BEING REPLENISHED.

THE PROMISE IS THAT WHEN OUR LIVES ARE FIXED IN DEVOTION TO GOD, WE MAY EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION FROM TIME TO TIME;

BUT ALWAYS WITH THE EXHILARATION THAT GOD ENABLES US, BY FAITH, TO PLOD FORWARD BECAUSE WE ARE UNDERGIRDED BY GOD’S GRACE, CLINGING TO GOD’S LOVE.

INTERESTINGLY, OUR TWO PASSAGES FOR THIS MORNING, PSALM 90 AND ISAIAH 40:31 ARE MOST OFTEN READ, AND READ TOGETHER, AT FUNERALS.

AS A REMINDER OF GOD’S CONSTANCY, I SUPPOSE.  AS A WAY OF REMINDING US, THAT WHILE THE LIFE OF OUR LOVED ONE MAY HAVE PASSED, OUR GOD “WHO WAS, AND IS, AND EVER SHALL BE” WILL NOT ONLY BE WITH THEM, BUT WITH US AS WELL.

THAT WHILE WE MAY GROW WEARY, EXHAUSTED, AND EVEN DIE, THE EVER-LIVING GOD WILL RECEIVE US INTO GOD’S SPIRIT FOR ALL ETERNITY.

AT FUNERALS, THIS IS A PROMISE FULFILLED FOR THE DECEASED, AND A HOPE OFFERED TO THE LIVING.

BUT WE OUGHT NOT RESERVE THESE TWO WONDERFUL PASSAGES FOR USE AT FUNERALS ALONE, BECAUSE EACH OF THEM PROVIDES US WITH WORDS FOR LIFE; WORDS FOR LIVING.

IN ALL WE FACE, IN THE WORLD, IN OUR NATION, AT HOME, IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES, WE NEED ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT, STRENGTH, AND GENUINE FAITH GOD CAN OFFER.

WE NEED GOD’S CHALLENGE AND DIRECTION, GOD’S GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH; AND THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD’S STRENGTH IS EQUAL TO, AND GREATER THAN, ALL THE NEEDS WE FACE.

“SATISFY US IN THE MORNING WITH YOUR STEADFAST LOVE, SO THAT WE MAY REJOICE AND BE GLAD ALL OUR DAYS.”  THE PSALMIST WRITES.

“LET YOUR WORK BE MANIFEST TO YOUR SERVANTS, AND YOUR GLORIOUS POWER TO THEIR CHILDREN.

LET THE FAVOR OF THE LORD OUR GOD BE UPON US, AND PROSPER FOR US THE WORK OF OUR HANDS – O PROSPER THE WORK OF OUR HANDS!”

BUT LET’S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE:

AND NOT ALLOW THE WORK OF OUR HANDS, EVEN WHEN OUR HANDS ARE DOING GOD’S WORK, TO BECOME THE IDOL OF EXHAUSTION.

INSTEAD, LET US HEED ISAIAH’S WORDS ABOUT “HOPING IN THE LORD” AND REMEMBER TO “CLING TO GOD” SO THAT:

THE LORD “RENEWS OUR STRENGTH, THAT WE MAY MOUNT UP WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES, RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, WALK AND NOT FAINT.”

“COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”  JESUS SAYS.

ANOTHER FUNERAL PASSAGE, TO BE SURE; BUT ALSO, WORDS TO LIVE BY.