Psalms 66:11 & 12 (KJV)
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
When All Hell Breaks Loose (& Your Life Is on Fire)
My past two posts discussed how God strengthens and purifies our characters by applying pressure in places where we are weak, and by shaking that which we believe to be strong. He does this by means of affliction. Affliction of often accompanied by humiliation, which is a potent tool for getting us to the point where we can acknowledge that we need the Lord’s guidance for our lives.
fire – onlookers (Photo credit: Daveybot)
Are you going thru a fiery trial right now? Are you being pressured where you are least able to bear it? If so, you might give a sigh of relief when you read Psalms 66: 12, which says: “we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” “Oh hallelujah,” you say. Anticipating relief (water) might cause you to start searching the horizon for the person(s) or circumstance(s) that will bring about your deliverance. Surely that’s what this verse is talking about, right? We can figure out what the fire and water part is all about. Been through that, right? That tribulation set your life on fire, now you’re about to go thru some water that will surely put that fire out. We think the Lord’s about to douse those flames with holy water, so we can dry off in the wealthy place. Like the prosperity preachers say, the term “wealthy place” is talking about getting some money or other bounty (material possessions, relief), right? If this is what you’re thinking, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but: Not exactly.
What??? That’s right. This passage is way more subtle than that. Here’s how and why. According to Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (Strong’s) – the original Greek word for fire, does indeed mean “fire, burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.” The word translated as “water” literally means water, and water is an excellent thing to have when all hell has broken loose in your life with fiery, flaming-hot trials. But. The word translated as water also means: figuratively “juice; by euphemism urine, semen :- + piss, wasting, water (-ing, [-course, -flood, -spring]).”
English: Schliengen: Saint Leodegar Church, holy water font Deutsch: Schliengen: St. Leodegar, Weihwasserbecken (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What??? Yes that’s right. The water we expect can also be urine. “Piss,” or waste water, that comes as a progressive flood or spring. So what does that mean? Maybe it means that after passing through fire, we then find ourselves emerged in stinky water. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when the solution to your fiery situation is odious – something you don’t like, or can’t stand even. Truth be told, when you’re really on fire, and you come across some water, do you care how the water smells or where it comes from? Most sane Christians would say, “No!” Okay. More than a few times I’ve had to accept that fiery trials can have unpleasant solutions. It could be worse. There could be no water at all. So, who cares if a dog has peed on a lottery ticket as long as you can cash it in, right? That’s what the wealthy place is about, the big pay-off, right? Well, yes, and no. Read “What the Bible Means About the “Wealthy Place” (It’s Not About Money)” to find out more. Meanwhile, make a list of some of your “blessings in disguise” and thank the Lord for them.
May these words educate and comfort you today. Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
-Verneda
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