FAITHFUL IN TRIALS

“I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is He turned; He turneth His hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath He made old: He hath broken my bones. He hath buildeth against me, and compassed me with gall and travail. He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: He hath made my chain heavy. Also, when I cry and shout, He shutteth out my prayer. He hath enclosed my ways with hewn stone; He hath made my paths crooked. He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places. He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: He hath made me desolate. He hath bent His bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow. He hath caused the arrows of His quiver to enter into my reins. I was derision to all my people; and their song all the day. He hath filled me with bitterness; He hath made me drunken with wormwood. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; He hath covered me with ashes. And Thou Hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgot prosperity. And I said, my strength and my hope are perished from Adonai: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have, I hope. It is of Adonai’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. Adonai is my portion, saith my soul; therefore, will I hope in Him. Adonai is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Adonai.” (Lamentations 3:1-26).

When Helen Keller was only 18 months old, she lost her sight and hearing because of a severe illness. Until the age of six, she was the selfish centre of the Keller household and everything sympathetically revolved around her. Then Anne Sullivan, a 21-year-old graduate of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, arrived in Tuscumbia. Anne was there to open up Helen's world. But the trials Helen put her teacher through are legendary, the wrestling matches over the utensils Helen refused to use; the tug-of-war battles between Anne and the Keller family over Helen's welfare and the sneaking attacks from the fighting, biting and unmanageable Helen. But Anne's patience and faithfulness to Helen paid off. Not only did Anne give Helen the gift of language, but she accompanied Helen throughout her entire education, including an exemplary college program in which Anne would read books [into Helen's hand] on many late nights so Helen's course work would not be hindered. Helen Keller became an ambassador for the blind, the deaf and a monument to the heights a human can reach. In her second autobiography Helen wrote that Anne [was a delightful companion, entering into all my discoveries with the joy of a fellow explorer. Above all she loved me; by the vitalizing power of her friendship, she has stirred and enlarged my faculties. The book's dedication reads simply: [To Anne Sullivan, whose love is the story of my life.] Anne Sullivan was faithful to Helen Keller through trials, around obstacles and over mountains that would have stopped Helen's successful pilgrimage through life. YHVH, in an even much greater way than Anne Sullivan, wants to be our faithful Father through all of our trials. In fact, the Bible plainly shows how YHVH, the Faithful One, is always there for His children, even in the midst of great trials and suffering. By examining the causes of our trials and the choices we can make regarding them, we need to to learn how YHVH will remain our Faithful Elohiym, even in the worst of times.

1 – The Causes of our Trials:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations.” (James 1:2). James rightly assumes that all of us will experience trials in our lives. But what kind of things would constitute a trial for us?

A -- Grief:
A young minister went to call on the widow of an eccentric man who had just died. Standing before the open casket and trying to console the widow, he said: I know this must be a very hard blow, Mrs. Vernon. But we must remember that what we see here is the husk only, the shell; the nut has gone to heaven. The truth of the matter is that when we lose a loved one, we find ourselves facing a trial of grief. Naomi had lost her husband and both of her sons in a very short period of time. The Bible quotes her as saying, do not call me Naomi: “she told them: call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but Adonai has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? Adonai has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Naomi = pleasant; Mara = bitter. She was suffering through the very real trial of grief. Many of you have known that trial through the loss of a husband, wife or a child.

B -- Stress:
In Numbers 11 we read about Moses; he is stressed out from trying to lead the nation of Israel, he did not know where to find food for them, how to take care of their needs. He was so stressed out that He said to YHVH: “If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now, if I have found favour in your eyes and do not let me face my own ruin.” Some of us face that same trial of stress at work or perhaps in our own homes. It is a very real problem that has come into our lives and we are not sure how to deal with it.

C -- Disaster:
Remember Job? He had everything taken away from him, he and his family were totally destroyed and he faced a very real trial. Some of our fellow believers have faced the disaster of floods, tornados and hurricanes in the recent past and they know the trial that this can bring into a life.

D -- Fear:
In 2 Corinthians 1:8 Paul was telling the Corinthians about the suffering they had endured and he tells them: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” There was a very real fear present. Most of our fears are fears of the future, of something we will have to face in the coming days and we find ourselves in the midst of a trial.

E -- Frustration:
Are you ever frustrated? Sometimes our frustrations are no big deal, but sometimes they are very serious. Paul was telling the Corinthians about his thorn in the flesh and he shared that; “three times I pleaded with Adonai to take it away from me.” It was a frustration, not knowing or understanding why Adonai would continue to allow him to suffer.

G -- Oppression:
In Psalm 42:9 the psalmist asks YHVH the question: “I will say unto YHVH my Rock, why hast Thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” Sometimes we feel the same way; we have people in our jobs, homes, neighbourhoods or our schools oppressing us, opposing us and we do not know what to do about it.

H -- Sickness:
Someone once said: No one is sicker than a man who is sick on his day off or a child on a day when there is no school. When we talk about the trial of sickness, we are not talking about having a cold or the flu; we are talking about those who have to deal with prolonged health problems. In Isaiah, King Hezekiah writes of his illness and he asks: “I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years”. (Isaiah 38:10). Many of you know the trial of sickness first-hand, you know how debilitating and depressing it can be. So those are some of the causes of our trials and as James says, we are all going to face one or more of these or perhaps some I have not mentioned. What we need to concentrate on now is:

2 – The Choices We Can Make:

As far as I can tell there are four basic choices we can make when we face trials. The first three are all wrong choices:

A -- Take our lives:
That is what Job's wife wanted him to do when disaster struck their family. His wife said to him: “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse YHVH, and die.” (Job 2:9). Thank YHVH Job did not do what his wife wanted; instead, he walked with YHVH through his trial and learned to deal with it YHVH's way instead of according to the flesh. But you will remember Judas, his solution to his trial was not to turn back to the YHVH he had been a traitor to, but to commit suicide. “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:5). This choice is perhaps; the worst one we can make.

B -- Try to ignore it:
This is what mental health people call denial. It is when your problem or trial is staring you right in the face but you act as if it is not real. This is a very unhealthy way to deal with your trials.

C -- Blame YHVH for it:
That is what Jeremiah did in the first 20 verses of Lamentations 3. That is what Moses did in Numbers 11 when under great stress. That is what Naomi did when her husband and sons died. That is what Job's wife did when disaster struck their home. That is what many people do today when they are faced with trials and they do not know what do to about it they shake their fist at YHVH and cry: “Why did You do this to me?” But YHVH has not done anything to us; if we choose this way of response to our trials, we are peddling backwards.

D. Trust YHVH in it:
Recognize that YHVH is going through the trial with you every step of the way. In 2 Chronicles 15:2, the Ruach of YHVH came upon Azariah and he said: “And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; Adonai is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.” This great Elohiym of the universe is with us, He can be found and He will walk through the trials with us. He does not promise to take them away, but He promises to be with us through the experience. Let us spend some time on the following:

3 – The Comforts YHVH Offers:

If we go back to Jeremiah in Lamentations 3, we see after blaming YHVH he realized he was going about this the wrong way. He lists the ways that YHVH has comforted him in his trials.

A -- Hope in remembrance:
“This I recall to my mind; therefore, have, I hope.” (Lamentations 3:21). Jeremiah called to mind the YHVH that He worshiped. He could remember his past experiences that YHVH had seen him through. He could draw hope from the fact that the YHVH who had been there for him in the past would be there for him in the here and the now and in the days to come.

B -- Love that sustains us:
Becky met up with her boyfriend Dave and asked him: Do you love me with all your heart and soul? Dave answered, Uh-huh. Becky: Do you think I am the most beautiful girl in the world? Dave: Uh-huh. Becky: Do you think my lips are like rose petals? Dave: Uh-huh. Becky: Oh, you say the most wonderful things! Jeremiah remembered a real love, the love he had from Adonai: “It is of Adonai’s mercies that we are not consumed…” (Lamentations 3:22a). Jeremiah's trial did not consume or overwhelm him, because he knew he had a YHVH who loved him as a friend. I believe we can face anything if we know we are loved.

C -- Compassion that never leaves us:
“Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22b-23). Knowing that YHVH really cares somehow makes our burden lighter.

D -- Patience in waiting:
“Adonai is my portion, saith my soul; therefore, will I hope in Him. Adonai is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Adonai.” (Lamentations 3:24-26). Knowing that YHVH is there helps us to wait for Him in those times that we do not sense His presence. Jeremiah said: It is good to wait quietly for the salvation and deliverance of Adonai. What he is saying is: I know Adonai is on His way, He will deliver me!

E -- Ability to help others:
“Blessed be YHVH, even the Father of our Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, the Father of mercies, and Elohiym of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of YHVH.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). You see part of the comfort we receive from YHVH is the satisfaction of knowing He will use us to help others when they face trials in their lives. YHVH does not just help us in our situation, He expects us to use our experience in ministry to the world. Allen Redpath wrote that you never lighten the load unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul. You are never used of YHVH to bring blessing until YHVH has opened your eyes & made you see things as they really are. You know it is going to be a bad day when: 1) You wake up face down on the pavement. 2) You call suicide prevention and they put you on hold. 3) You see a news team waiting in your office. 4) Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles. 5) You turn on the news and they are showing emergency routes out of the city. 6) Your twin sister forgets your birthday. 7) You wake up to discover that your waterbed broke and then realized you do not have a waterbed. 8) Your horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck as you follow a group of notorious bikers on the freeway. All of us will face trials, but it is good to know that YHVH is faithful and He will always be our Father.

Thought for Today: Shabbat June 07

Are you totally surrendered and committed to the Moshiach? Deep in your heart? In Joshua’s day, the Israelites followed YHVH outwardly but many were idolators in the hearts. Joshua told them that this hypocrisy could not continue. They had to decide whether they wanted to serve the True Living Elohiym, or serve idols. It was Israel’s days of decision. They were to go on record – either for YHVH or against Him. Likewise, we have to make the same decision every day, whom will we serve --- YHVH or our own images? People have become lovers of themselves and idolise themselves in the current world. Remember, a true believer should forsake everything false and turn wholeheartedly to the Moshiach.

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Day 48 of 50 days to Shavu’ot begins at sunset on 6/6!

READINGS FOR OMER COUNT – DAY 49

Behold, I am about to fulfill the affirmative precept of the counting of the Omer, as it is written in the Torah:

“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbath, from the day that ye brought the Omer of the wave-offering, seven complete weeks they shall be; until the morrow of the seventh Shabbath shall ye number fifty days.”

Blessed art Thou YHWH, our Elohym, King of the universe, who hast set us apart by Thy commandments and hast given us command concerning the counting of the Omer.

This is the forty-ninth day, making seven weeks and zero days of the Omer.

May the All Merciful restore the service of the Temple to its place. May it be Thy will, YHWH our Elohym and Elohym of our fathers, that the Temple be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant our portion in Thy Torah. And there we will serve Thee with awe, as in the days of old and as in ancient years.

May Elohym be favorable unto us and bless us. That Thy way may be known upon the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, Elohym; let all the peoples give thanks unto Thee. Let the nations rejoice and exult: for Thou wilt judge the peoples with equity and lead the nations upon the earth. Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, Elohym; let all the peoples give thanks unto Thee. The earth hath yielded her increase: Elohym, even our Elohym, shall bless us. Elohym shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

READINGS: TEHILLAH 146

Praise Yah! Praise YHWH, O my being!

While I live I praise YHWH; I sing praises to my Elohim while I exist.

Do not put your trust in princes, In a son of man, in whom is no deliverance.

His spirit goes out, he returns to his earth; In that day his plans perish.

Blessed is he who has the Ěl of Ya‛aqoḇ for his help, Whose expectancy is in YHWH his Elohim, Maker of the heavens and earth, The sea and all that is in them, Who is guarding truth forever, Doing judgment for the oppressed, Giving bread to the hungry. YHWH releases those who are bound, YHWH opens the eyes of the blind, YHWH raises those who are bowed down, YHWH loves the righteous.

YHWH guards the strangers, He lifts up the fatherless and widow, But the way of the wrong ones He turns upside down.

YHWH rules forever, O Tsiyon, Your Elohim to all generations. Praise Yah!

READINGS: TEHILLAH 147

Praise Yah! For it is excellent to sing praises to our Elohim. For it is pleasant – praise is fitting.

YHWH builds up Yerushalayim, He gathers the outcasts of Yisra’ěl – He heals the broken-hearted And binds up their wounds.

He appoints the number of the stars, He gives names to all of them.

Great is our Master and mighty in power, There is no limit to His understanding.

YHWH lifts up the meek ones, He throws the wrong ones down to the ground.

Respond to YHWH with thanksgiving; Sing praises on a lyre to our Elohim, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to sprout on the mountains, Giving to the beast its food, To the young ravens that cry.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse, He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

YHWH takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who wait for His mercy.

Extol YHWH, O Yerushalayim! Praise your Elohim, O Tsiyon!

For He has strengthened the bars of your gates, He has blessed your children in your midst, Who makes peace in your borders, He satisfies you with the finest wheat; Who sends out His command to the earth, His word runs very speedily; Who gives snow like wool, He scatters the frost like ashes; Throwing out His hail like pieces; Who does stand before His cold?

He sends out His word and melts them, He causes His wind to blow – the waters flow; Declaring His Word to Ya‛aqoḇ, His laws and His judgments to Yisra’ěl.

He has not done so with any nation; And they have not known His judgments! Praise Yah!

READINGS: TEHILLAH 148

Praise Yah! Praise YHWH from the heavens, Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His messengers; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!

Praise Him, heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the Name of YHWH, For He commanded and they were created.

And He established them forever and ever, He gave a law and they pass not beyond.

Praise YHWH from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths, Fire and hail, snow and clouds, Stormy wind that does His word, The mountains and all hills, Fruit tree and all cedars, Wild beasts and all cattle, Creeping creatures and flying birds, Kings of the earth and all peoples, Rulers and all judges of the earth, Both young men and maidens, Old men and children.

Let them praise the Name of YHWH, For His Name alone is exalted, His splendor is above the earth and heavens.

He also lifts up the horn of His people, The praise of all His merciful ones; Of the children of Yisra’ěl, A people near to Him. Praise Yah!

READINGS: TEHILLAH 149

Praise Yah! Sing to YHWH a new song, His praise in an assembly of merciful ones.

Let Yisra’ěl rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Tsiyon exult in their King.

Let them praise His Name in a dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre.

For YHWH takes pleasure in His people; He embellishes the meek ones with deliverance.

Let the merciful ones exult in esteem; Let them sing aloud on their beds.

Let the exaltation of Ěl be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, Punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with iron bands; To execute on them the written judgment; A splendor it is for all His merciful ones. Praise Yah!

READINGS: TEHILLAH 150

Praise Yah! Praise Ěl in His set-apart place; Praise Him in His mighty expanse!

Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the blowing of a shophar; Praise Him with the harp and lyre!

Praise Him with tambourine and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Praise Him with sounding cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals!

Let all that has breath praise Yah. Praise Yah!

READINGS: MISHLE 31:1-31

The words of King Lemu’ěl, a message which his mother taught him: What, my chosen? And what, chosen of my womb? And what, chosen of my vows?

Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to wiping away kings.

Not for kings, O Lemu’ěl, Not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink; Lest they drink and forget what is inscribed, And pervert the right of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those embittered in being.

Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his trouble no more.

Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of the departed.

Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Who does find a capable wife? For she is worth far more than rubies.

The heart of her husband shall trust her, And he has no lack of gain.

She shall do him excellent, and not evil, All the days of her life.

She shall seek wool and flax, And with delight she works with her hands.

She shall be as the ships of Tarshish, She brings in her food from afar.

She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And what is lawful for her girls.

She shall consider a field and buy it; From her profits she shall plant a vineyard.

She shall gird herself with strength, And strengthen her arms.

She shall taste when her gain is excellent; Her lamp does not go out by night.

She shall stretch out her hands to the distaff, And her hand shall hold the spindle.

She shall extend her hand to the poor, And she shall reach out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is dressed in scarlet.

She shall make tapestry for herself; She is dressed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

She shall make fine linen and sell them, And shall give girdles for the merchants.

Strength and splendor are her garments, And she rejoices in time to come.

She shall open her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the Torah of mercy.

She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children shall rise up and call her blessed; Her husband too, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you have risen over them all.”

Loveliness is deceptive And prettiness is vain, A woman who fears YHWH is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

READINGS: AVOTH 6:11

Whatsoever Haqadosh, blessed be He, created in His world He created but for His esteem; as it is said, everything that is called by My Name, it is for My esteem; I have created it, I have formed it, yea, I have made it; and it says, YHWH shall rule forever and ever.

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