Lamentations 3:40-41 English Standard Version

40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! 41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:

In the midst of some rather heavy lamentations we find some sound advice. The Word can be like that, hiding sound advice in the middle of some troublesome texts. It is an encouragement to keep reading.

Test our ways. If we are following Jesus we should be walking in the Way. We are Way Followers. This is not a walk of blind faith, we need to test the ground upon which we stand. Is it solid rock we stand upon according to His Word or have we continued to forge ahead without looking to see if the Lord has stopped to accomplish something, or turned? 

Examine our Way is a need to test ourselves again His Word. That is a daily examination like those who are lost checking a map to make sure we know where we are and need to adjust our course if necessary.

Hearts and hands seem to be easily understood, Love and action according to God’s plan for us. They are signs of worshiping God in spirit and truth.

The fact that this good advice is found in the midst of lamentations should remind us of the times we are currently enduring. Lamenting over what is happening in our cities, country and world will not change anything.

Love and obedience of faith have been the proven grounds upon which to stand.

We cannot stop what is foretold, we can only witness the love that changed us from sinners to saved by grace.

Psalm 26:1-3 English Standard Version

1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,  and I walk in your faithfulness.

The idea of my integrity is performance according to self-imposed standards. As we have stated in previous posts, faithfulness is only achievable by Christ in us, He is our faithfulness.

Imagine that Jesus walks in faithfulness and we follow Jesus. Our effort is in how we walk and if we feel we are following Jesus successfully, that feels like integrity. Feeling is in the mind which is flesh and is capable of deceiving ourselves. 

One of the signs of self-inflated opinion is the overuse of the word I. If we look to the purpose of this psalm we can look to the very first words, vindicate me.

Vindicate in this sense is to ask God to render a just judgment of our performance. It is based in part on insecurity. Do I trust the Lord as much as I think I do? Do I love God as much as I think I do? God do I please you?

Psalm 104:34 English Standard Version (ESV) May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

We can be insecure in comparison to so great a love that God has poured into our lives. He has done and continues to do so much for us that our efforts pale in comparison. We can often feel like we need to do more for our Lord. Guilt is the wrong motivation for obedience of faith, love is the right motivation.