From the pen of Pastor Dennis Sampson Psalms 39:3 “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue”
Recently I preached back to back sermons out of this verse. The first sermon looked at the word “musing” or more specifically the root word “muse”, which means to think. Even more to the point is that if you add the letter “a” in front of it you get the word “amuse” and this word basically means to not think. We are detaching ourselves from our daily lives by some means that really when it comes down to it doesn't require that much in the line of thought from us. Perhaps we go to some sort of concert, theme park, play video games, watch movies, or whatever excites you regardless of what it is, it is a means of escape. Our minds are on autopilot and even if it is something that seems to require us to think it is little more than our hearts being required to beat or our lungs being required to breathe. However one slices it, we are being amused or entertained if you will. No effort on our part when it comes right down to it. Yet here David is thinking, or at least trying to because back in the previous verses he confessed to trying so hard to ignore the people around him that caused him to dread his day that he also started ignoring those who were there to help him. He had been so good at what he was doing he had shut himself off, even from God. Which brings me to the second sermon. David was now musing, the sorrow of his realization had stirred his heart and that stirring was shifting the ashes around down there. Those ashes being moved around allowed the fuel that laid buried underneath to catch it's breath and the fire begin to glow. The more stirring that took place the stronger the fire became in his soul, thus he could say “ while I was musing the fire burned”. You see the more he thought about God and His goodness and how he should be acting in accordance with God in both doing and saying the right things the more that old familiar flame grew. Dare I say the warmer he became. Such a stirring can be so beneficial. That actually brings me to my point for today. Those sermons were written a couple of weeks after I had had a fire in my fire pit out back. A week after preaching them I went to start another fire there but I rally had no luck. There was plenty of fuel but a little stronger wind than I would have preferred, that really was neither here nor there. The trouble was I was starting it late in the morning and there must have been something of a frost or condensation or something, nothing would stay lit. I tried everything I could think of but nothing lasted and finally the what little smoke was being generated died out and was gone. Here is the realization though, it is very true what they teach you in scouting. Always make sure to extinguish the fire, pour water on it. I gave up and put my garden hose away for the winter. Twenty four hours later I went into that same back yard to load some logs into the back of my truck for dead weight. When I went back there I saw smoke rising from where the last of the fire had been the day before. It was out but yet it turned out that it wasn't. No one had been back there to reignite that fire. Not me, my wife, or my neighbors; simply the events of the previous day. God was there though. He was reminding me that until the fire has been truly extinguished it can still catch again! This world and all of it's influences will strive to smother you. Sin will bury you. Laws will outlaw your desires to serve God His way. Amusement of all sorts will pop up to occupy your mind and siphon your talents and responsibilities. Just remember, until He has put out the flame and called you home you are to burn for Him. Maybe today you are nothing more than an hiding ember, tomorrow you could set a forest on fire for God! Keep doing what He has told you to do, He will make a way for you (1 Corinthians 10:13). It may not seem like much now but that little bit could be all the difference in the world for someone else.
Older
Top
