Ever Present Need{Unlit Wick}

“Darkness is an unlit wick; it just needs your touch, Beloved, to become a sacred flame.” -St. Thomas of Aquinas

Ever Present Need – Music by Steve Bell
Lyrics adapted from Daniel Ladinski’s translation of
‘Our Need for Thee’ in Love Poems from God.
Original poem by St. Francis of Assisis.

Darkness is an unlit wick
A simple spark would vanquish it
Truly I could burst to flame
Every time you call my name
Do I do for you the same

God is like a honey bee
Penetrates the soul of me
Dearly draws the sweetness in
Nectar of the meek love is
He in me and I in him

In our ever present need of thee
Grant we fathom peace
Fashion instruments of souls set free
For don’t the cages ones weep

Sometimes sober sometimes bliss
Every union knows of this
But I have stood here in his rain
And bear the marks of fertile plains
Swelling streams and swollen grain

So will I console the fall
Of cheerless creatures great and small
What of sadness can endure
When love divine makes insecure
The crowing claims of shame’s allure

In our ever present need of thee
Grant we fathom peace
Fashion instruments of souls set free
For don’t the cages ones weep

***
Isaiah 42:3    A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice;

“He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.” Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, He will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but He will not quench thee; He will blow with His sweet breath of mercy till He fans thee to a flame. -Spurgeon

A Bruised Reed; A Smoldering Wick

Isaiah 42:1, 3 Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My *Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. … A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice;

Beloved
I know you feel the darkness covering the earth
A thick, heavy darkness
A gross darkness that tries to crush and snuff out all life.

Beloved do not fight this darkness in your own strength
Come to Me; Rely on Me; Lean on Me alone and remember
The bruised reed that feels as if it’s being crushed
… I will not break
The smoldering wick that feels faint about to go out
… I will not snuff out.

The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. -Deut 31:8

The bruised reed helpless and weak
Can make no music on its own
But My breath of life restores
Beloved wait on Me
I will lift you up and breathe a new song thru your mouth
A sweet song of praise
Many will see and trust in Me. –Ps 40:1-3

The smoldering wick, faint, growing dim
Can shine no light on its own.
But My wind ignites and fans into flame -2 Tim 1:6
I will light your candle turning darkness to light
A city on a hill shining bright with My glory
A city on a hill that cannot be hidden
The light of the world. -Mt 5:14

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, BUT the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you. -Isa 60:2

***

You, O LORD, will light my candle; my God turns my darkness into light. -Ps 18:28

From Netbible: *Spirit – ruwach [07307] 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven

Shepherd boys used to cut reeds and turn them into flutes. Straight unbroken reeds were picked; they made the best flutes. Reeds were plentiful so there was no need to repair a bruised or broken reed which would make no music, a new unbroken one could quickly be found. The shepherd boy would probably just snap the bruised reed and throw it away as useless.

The Lord chooses to breathe His breath of life into the bruised reed causing it to make sweet music again and into the smoldering wick igniting it into flame. His power made perfect in weakness. In your weakness, surrender to Him, let His breath of life rest upon you, then you will shine in His strength and glory.

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
so that no man may boast before God.
-1 Cor 1:27-29

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Cor 12:9-10

I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. -Isa 42:8

***
Song 7:7-9 
The Palm Tree and the Palm Tree Climber 
The Lover to His Beloved: 
7Your stature is like a palm tree, And your breasts are like its clusters. 8I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree, I will take hold of its fruit stalks.’ Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, And the fragrance of your breath like apples 9And your mouth like the best wine!” “It goes down smoothly for my  beloved, Flowing gently through the lips of those who fall *asleep. 

From Netbible: *asleep – yashen [03462] Sleep is a blessing it provides rest and refreshment  Another word for sleep here is smolders

The smoldering wick only needs His breath to rest on it
Breath like fragrant apples
His apples of gold
His sweet fruit and scent to restore and refresh
The smoldering wick then bursts into flame
Shining the strength and glory of the Lord!

Proverbs 25:11 
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. 

Isaiah 50:4 
The Lord GOD has given me an instructed tongue, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen like one being taught.. 

Song 2:4-5 
He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.  Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.

The ROCK – Jacob’s Stone

The ROCK

ALL references are to a specific rock. Not “a” rock, not “some” rock, not “rock”, but THE ROCK.

• Ex 17:1-7 God stands on THE ROCK
• Num 20:6-11 THE ROCK at tabernacle door.
• Deut 8:15 THE ROCK of flint
• Deut 32:13-15 Honey/oil of THE ROCK
• Neh 9:15 water from THE ROCK
• Ps 78:15-16 streams out of THE ROCK
• Ps 78:20 smote THE ROCK
• Ps 81:16 honey out of THE ROCK
• Ps 105:41 he opened THE ROCK
• Ps 114:8 turned THE ROCK into a pool
• Isa 48:21 clave THE ROCK (twice)
• I Cor 10:4 spiritual Rock; THAT ROCK was Christ

Jacob’s Stone

He lays his head on a rock, has a dream of God, and calls the rock “House of God.” His family carries that rock around for the next 38 centuries. It becomes their symbolic throne, their water supply, the type of their coming Deliverer, their coronation symbol, and it even roars when the proper king is crowned.

• Gen 28:10-14 Jacob puts his pillows on a rock, dreams of a ladder to heaven.
• Gen 28:18-22 He sets up the rock for a pillar (of witness), anoints it with oil, naming it “Beth-el”; Jacob also names the place Beth-el (House of God)
• Gen 31:13 God validates Jacob’s “Bethel” name and anointing.
• Gen 35:9-15 Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, God reconfirms His promises, Jacob again annoints and names the place Bethel.
• Gen 49:24 The Stone of Israel (Jacob); the Shepherd is passed on to Joseph
• Josh 24:24-27 Joshua sets up the Stone at Shechem for a witness.
• I Kin 12:1 Rehoboam goes to Shechem (in Ephraim) to be crowned king of Judah.
• I Kin 12:25 Shechem is established as the capitol of the kingdom of Israel.
• II Kin 11:13-14( II Chr 23:13) Joash is crowned by a pillar, “as the manner was.”
• II Kin 23:3(II Chr 34:31) Josiah’s covenant by a pillar.
• Jud 9:1,6 Abimelech is Gideon’s son; he is crowned by the pillar at Shechem.
• Hos 3:4 Israel is to be without a standing pillar.

Bread That Satisfies

Isaiah 55:2    Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance{rich food}.

John 6:24-35   So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na-um, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

Psalm 23:5 Customs

Psalm 23:5 AMP    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with *oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

The Shepherd prepares the table as the host of a banquet and invites the sheep as honored guests to come. The Lord, a God of abundant provision prepares a royal banquet! The table prepared in the presence of enemies may reflect the custom that a person could not be attacked while eating in another’s tent/house. You are safe from your enemies while eating in God’s dwelling!

It was also a custom to anoint guests at feasts. Honored guests were anointed with perfumed oil. The anointing oil when mixed with perfume refreshed and revived the guest. It was applied to the face, head and hair of the guest. For the rest of the feast that person would then smell the sweet perfume. It was a way of welcoming the honored guest to let them know that they were cared for and loved.

The cup running over speaks of abundance and drinking one’s fill at the Lord’s table. The picture of the Lord as host filling the honored guest’s cup to overflowing also has a custom behind it. When you came to a person’s house (even if a stranger) you were offered a cup of wine or water along with a meal.  As long as the cup was being  refilled you were welcome to stay; if the cup remained empty it was time to go. If the host enjoyed your company and decided that you could stay as long as you liked, the cup would be filled to the rim and overflow. This overflowing cup was only offered to special guests because in the desert you just don’t waste water or wine. So the Lord as host, by offering the overflowing cup is saying, stay as long as you want, I have an abundant supply of wine, oil and bread to meet your needs both now and forever.

Psalm 23:6    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Psalm 104:15     [The Lord provides] wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.

John 16:24 TLB    You haven’t tried this before, but begin now. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow.

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*Footnote from the amplified Bible:
It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His “sheep” with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs–in heavenly fellowship with Him.

Lead Me to the Rock

The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield -Ps 28:7
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I
My shelter, my strong tower -Ps 61:2-3
My refuge, my place of safety. -Ps 91:2

Incline Your ear, LORD, hear my cry
Lift me up from the miry clay
Set my feet upon the immovable, unshakeable Rock
Surrounded by Your loving-kindness and sweet mercy -Ps 32:10
There my heart rejoices and I sing Your praise. -Ps 40:1-3

Help me Lord, hear my cry
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I
You are my hiding place, my impenetrable shield
My heart expectantly trusts and waits
Sheltered beneath Your wings
Filled with joy unspeakable
I am helped
My thankful heart sings.

I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. -Ps 40:1-3

You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! … he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness. -Ps 32:7, 10

O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm [of Your servants–their strength and defense] every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. -Isa 33:2

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Related:
My Impenetrable Shield (A Prayer)