3.9.26 – Bringing Order to My Chaotic World

The three months of winter are drawing to a close (see Feb. 10–11 studies). The sap is tangibly rising through the xylem and phloem of our lives. Anticipation of the Spring Moedim is rising. And the chaos in the world, as well as in individual lives, is increasing. It must be getting close to the Spring Moedim (holidays), because life is feeling more chaotic than ever.

It is true. Passover and Unleavened Bread (Ex. 12; Lev. 23; Luke 22:1; Acts 12:3; 20:6; 1 Cor. 5:6–8) are approaching rapidly. With Passover and Unleavened Bread heading up God's holy days (Gen. 1:14; Lev. 23:1–2), it is a great time to recognize that this will be, once again, a transition time for all of us. We will experience an "exodus" out of where we are or what we have been doing that has hindered our obedience to God's calling in our lives, moving toward the destiny that He has for each of us individually and collectively (the half-shekel and full shekel). And, as with this week's Torah portion, Vayakhel ("and he gathered")—from the root word kahal (assembly or church) (Ex. 35:1–38:20)—we will be reintroduced to Bezalel ("in the image of God"), the individual who is responsible for making and beautifying the Tabernacle (Ex. 35:30). Yes, beauty is an essential part of this time of year.

We have left the chaos of the golden calf—which God will never forget (Isa. 49:15–16; Friday night's Zoom call)—and entered the beauty of building the place where God will dwell (Ex. 25:8; 2 Cor. 5:1–4). With that being said, let us take a reality check. There is a lot going on around the globe and in the world of my concentric circles, especially in Iran (the Esther story). This raises the age-old question: "How do we handle the frantic pace of life, the demands, the comparisons, the challenges, the setbacks, the victories, the fears, the desires, and the exhaustive list that we wish would stop going on and on?"

The psalmist King David used a potter's term to help us put into action how to handle these life realities and allow the Potter to uniquely beautify each vessel within His dwelling place. It is called: "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10):

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
(Ps. 46:10)

When the Potter (the Lord) puts a piece of clay (us) on a wheel, that clay is not very workable; it is resistant to the hands of the Potter. With His own energy, He sets the stone wheel in motion. To the clay, its "world" feels like it is spinning out of control. The Potter places His hands on the clay to mold it, but the contact between the two is rough and resistant. The Potter is determined to take this clay and form it into a usable vessel for His purposes. Of necessity, He must add water to soften the clay. With the right amount of water added, the clay begins to settle into the warmth and strength of the Potter's hands. Yes, the clay's world is still spinning rapidly, but it does not feel out of control anymore. With the combination of His hands, His water, and the movement of His wheel, the clay begins to "be still."

As the clay vessel is formed upward and outward in the hand of the Potter, He reaches down into the center of the vessel to make a heart. Later on in Psalm 119, King David asks the Lord to enlarge his heart so that he can keep His commandments more and more (Ps. 119:32):

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."
(Ps. 119:32)

The heart will vary in size depending on the purpose of the vessel. The opening of that formed vessel is called the mouth, which will receive and dispense the contents coming in (Jer. 33:3). When the vessel is finished, it is placed into a kiln to fire and be set into its permanent structure and purpose.

How do we handle the feeling that our world is spinning out of control and we just want to get off? Be still and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10)! Ask God to enlarge your heart so you can keep His commandments more (Ps. 119:32). If you have felt like you have failed at His calling, He knows how to restructure your vessel for His glory (Jer. 18). He knows how to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit (Ps. 51:10). He knows how to take a vessel of wrath and make it into a vessel of honor (Rom. 9:21–23; 2 Tim. 2:20). He knows! Now, it is up to me to know Him (Phil. 3:10; John 8:55; 1 John 2:3–4).

Wherever you are today—feeling on top of it all, or at the bottom of the barrel, or overwhelmed by all that is spinning in your world (Phil. 4:11–13)—remember that within this earthen vessel of ours there is a beautiful treasure within (2 Cor. 4:7). It is ready to be poured out to those around you! And in doing so, God/Yahweh Elohim will fill you back up to be used again (Prov. 11:25).

Commercial: Zoom call tonight at 8:00 EST: "Before We Can Build the Tabernacle, We Need to Examine Another Slice of the Golden Calf Sandwich: The Deathly Warnings of Defiling the Sabbath." Huh?

Happy second day of the week!

Shalom!
Alan

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