Erling Thu

Category: Poetic meditations

  • Understanding to observe the law

    Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

    I like the burning zeal David has to learn from God what man could not teach him. God has given all human beings a measure of intellectual capacity to think and learn, but here David teaches us that we can ask God to give us grace to use that ability to understand what tends to our peace. He asks to know how to keep God's law. He prays that the Lord must enlighten his mind to understand God's will.

    We need wisdom and understanding to keep God's law. Therefore, we also find in the New Testament that the apostle Paul often prays that the Holy Spirit must give the believers enlightened eyes to understand and take possession of  our inheritance. He calls the Spirit the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. The Apostle John says: we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 5:20).

    In this Psalm, David does not ask just for understanding to keep the word. He also prays for grace to observe God's law wholeheartedly. In Hebrew thinking, understanding and knowledge are not anything theoretical and intellectual, but are always linked to life. We only understand God's Word when we live it. If we do not live by the word of God, we have not understood it. If we truly understand who God is and what He says we should do, we would not dare or want to do something other than obey. When we have come to know God through Jesus Christ, we also have the urge to do His will.

    There are some translations where this last sentence is not a prayer, but a promise: Truly, I shall observe it with my whole heart! There is no contradiction between its two ways of translating this sentence. Whenever we give a promise to God, we do it in prayer for grace to fulfil it. Whenever we commit ourselves to something for God, we do so in the belief that God will help us. Our prayer and promise go in the same direction. Both are turned to God. It is him we want to learn from. It is His will that we will do, and it is His grace that will help us. We pray wholeheartedly, and will gladly keep and observe His law of our whole heart.

    "Give me an understanding heart, that I with burning zeal can know and obey your truth!"

  • The way to happiness 

    Psalm 119.1

    Alef

    Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord (Strong 8451).

    David is so excited with the word of God that he regards ist as his highest ideal of blessedness to be conformed to it. In the first verse he starts by praising those who are blameless, those who live a life of integrity. Something that can only be done when they follow the Lord's Law. Blessed are those who live whole lives in the light of God's Word. Blessed are those who live by the law of the Lord.

    We do not find happiness in life by following our own heart, for it is deceitful, says the word of God. Our own thoughts and desires will very often lead us into a disaster. But how blessed are those who are led by the law of the Lordt. In a time when many are depreciating the word of God and undermining the  trust in the Bible, I will make it very clear that I trust the Bible. By the grace of God I have lived a long life and seen different moods and trends, technics and methods, come and go. I have even seen movements and churches come and go. But the word of God stands firm. There is nothing to match the blessing of living by the word of God. I want the future generation of believers all over the world to experience this blessed life.

    The Law of the Lord – the Torah of Adona – is the first phrase we encounter in this psalm for the Word of God. It is very important to understand what lies in this phrase as we find it many times in the Bible. It is customary to translate the Hebrew word "torah" by law, but according to "The Complete Jewish Study Bible" this word suggests simple instruction, guidance, or the path we should go. The Lord's Torah finds its origin in the Eternal God. He declared his commands to Israel at Mount Sinai, and Israel was to follow and teach his ways to others. Yeshua, the Messiah and the living Word, embodies the will of the Father. The Spirit of God leads and guides the followers of Yeshua into all truth, enabling them to observe all God's instructions. In his teaching to his emissaries, Jeshua confirmed the importance of Torah by saying, "If you love me, you will keep my commans" (John 14:15). The Lord's law is linked to a loving relationship with the Messiah. It's about loving him and doing what he says in faith and trust.

    “You are only truly happy when you walk in total integrity, walking in the light of God’s word.” (TPT)

  • Looking with new eyes

    To be somebody
    is not only to explore
    virgin territory or unknown places
    but to look with new eyes
    – look from new perspectives
    – look with new perception
    – look with new expectancy
    – look for new insight
    to the old and known world
    to discover the virginity
    and the hope for a new beginning
    in the midst of corruption and decay
    and than seize the moment
    to make history
    in our own little world
    knowing that the great achievements
    is the sum of all the small deeds of faith

    By faith we can see
    the impossible become possible
    and the invisible become visible
    and the world changed to a better place

  • Celebrating life

    To be somebody

    is to celebrate birthdays, wedding-days,

    Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday

    or any other special days

    and New Year with great joy!

    It is to make use of all circumstances

    to celebrate and rejoice

    in the rich life from God!

    It is to rejoice in being

    uniquely created in the image of God,

    rejoicing over all our gifts and talents

    enjoying life to the full!

    Life itself is the greatest reason for celebration

    Only when I am alive

    I am somebody

  • Suffering loss

    To be somebody

    Is to suffer loss with dignity and trust

    • the loss of a son who dies
    • the loss of friends who turn out to be no friends
    • the loss of sleep or rest
    • the loss of health
    • the loss of memory
    • the loss of peace of mind
    • the loss of a poem as the pc crash

    Losses come in many forms

    some are deeply personal and painful

    some can be hurting but helpful

    some are very dramatic and domestic

    some are instant and intense

    To be somebody

    Is to embrace loss willingly by faith

    Because you are looking forward

    For something greater and better

    When you have seen the Invisible

    The losses in the corruptible world do not matter any more

    Text: Erling Thu (c)

  • To be somebody is to take advice

    To be somebody
    Is to be humble enough to take advice from others
    To listen to the insights of my elders
    To follow the wise counsel of the experienced servant of God
    To be willing to change my mind
    To make new decisions going a new direction

    To be somebody
    Is not to compromise my vision or calling
    But to find better ways of achieving my destiny
    Through taking good counsel from godly persons
    Committing myself into the hands of God

    Only the one who really is somebody

    is big enough to take advice

    Text: Erling Thu (c)

  • Song of the clouded dawn

    Not every dawn is colourful or beautiful. Some dawns are clouded and dull. Sometimes the mornings are heavy and dark. But the dawn always bring light. Even a clouded dawn bring light. The new day may be rainy and stormy. Dark clouds are covering your abode. It is not always easy to rejoice, but we don't need to be filled with joy to come before God. We can come as we are.

    It is a good thing to make it a habit to conduct a morning watch before the face of God. We can call on God to listen to our passionate prayer. "Lord, can't you hear my groaning? Don't you hear how I am crying out to you?" At each and every sunrise I  will let God hear my voice. Even on the clouded dawn I will sing to God. Every morning I will make it an habit to bring my sacrifice of prayer to my God. Whether the dawn is sunny or clouded I will lay out the pieces of my life on the alter. And I will wait for your fire to fall on my heart. I need your fire each and every day of my life.

     

  • Psalm 65:1-4

    O God in Zion, to you even silence is praise!
    You are the God who answers prayers;
    all of humanity comes before you with their requests.
    Though we are overcome by our many sins,
    your sacrifice covers over them all.
    And your priestly lovers, those you have chosen,
    will be greatly favored to be brought close to you.
    What inexpressible joys are theirs!
    What feasts of mercy fill them in your heavenly sanctuary!
    How satisfied we will be just to be near you!

    Psalm 65: 1-4 Passion Translation

  • I am somebody when I have learned to listen

    To be somebody is to listen carefully,

    to other people, to their worries and views.

    To be somebody is to listen lovingly,

    to a little child and a shabby street singer.

    To be somebody is to listen wondering,

    to the singing bird and the voice of thunder.

    To be somebody is to listen intently,

    to the sound of nature and the voice of God.

    To be somebody is to listen with your eyes,

    to see what the Eternal one is saying now.

  • The dream that keeps me going

    I have been
    asked to try to describe what is motivating me and what keeps me going in the
    ministry. The simple answer is that I am sustained by the Word of God,
    compelled by the Love of God and empowered by the Spirit of God. The word of
    God is saying:

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