Thou knewest my path

God can sometimes feel like a distant, abstract force, unfamiliar with our experiences as humans. When we feel that way, let us consider three things.

First, those feelings are almost always the direct result of our own sins. So we should consider whether those distant feelings are actually our fault.

Second, never forgot that Jesus came in human form, so that he actually directly experienced the feelings, thoughts, and emotions of humans. Isaiah (63:9, KJV) states

In all their affliction he was afflicted.

Third, God has explained to us, in many places, that he completely understands life on earth. Just to pick on example, Psalm 102:19-20 (KJV) reads

He hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.

And to pick another, consider the famous verse in John 11:35 (KJV),

Jesus wept.

God certainly knows our thoughts and emotions. Here's near to us. So let us draw near to him ... by praying without ceasing!

 

 

After they had rest

Nehemiah (9:28, KJV) summarizes God's dealings with the post-exile Hebrews, but his discourse speaks exactly to our own interactions with God. Specifically, what happens when God has given us some relief or peace or success? Nehemiah addresses God,

After they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies.

On one hand, it's depressing that we do "evil again," which inevitably brings some kind of chastisement. Then we return and cry until God. He hears and delivers. And this cycle repeats, as indicated by the phrase "many times." On the other hand, the passage is encouraging, because it speaks to God's abundant mercies. He delivers "many times"!

We're sinful. We're going to repeatedly sin. And God is going to repeatedly forgive. Our job is to humble ourselves before him, because we don't deserve that mercy. As stated in Psalm 34:18 (KJV),

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Separate yourselves from the people of the land

Toward the end of Ezra, Israel finds itself having intermingled with non-Hebrews. God had expressly forbidden this, knowing that such fraternization would lead to sin. To their credit, the Hebrews repented, without making excuses (Ezra 10:2, KJV),

We have trespassed against our God.

This cycle of sin leading to repentance happens throughout the bible, but what's interesting about Ezra 10 is the extent to which the Israelites plot to change their behavior. Starting in Ezra 10:3 (KJV),

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God ... and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

The main corrective action comes in verse 11 (KJV),

Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land.

Our modern ears should equate "people of the land" with sin in general. That is, we should "make confession" for our sins, seek to "do his pleasure," and separate ourselves from further sin. Thankfully, God gives us many repeated opportunities to follow the path put forth in verse 11. So let's take that path today.