On a scale of 1 to 10, how convinced are you that your prayer time is an honest-to-goodness two-way communication?
“10 – how convinced I am
“7 – how often it actually is… (or maybe 6?)”
If we don’t ‘ask or imagine,’ what does God have to out-do?
Glance at the first half of [Psalm 132] and compare it with today’s segment of scripture. Note any ways God’s response went beyond the psalmist’s pleas.
“He asks, ‘Please come,’ God says ‘I’ll stay forever and I’ll bring the food.’” 
The scenario I just described is exactly what happened in Psalm 132. On what condition, stated in verse 12, did the royal Davidic covenant depend?
“that David’s descendants stay true to God‘s Covenant and follow His decrees.”
Reread Psalm 132:12, 17-18 in the HCSB. Then look up each of the following references and draw a line matching them to their specific descriptions concerning the one God promised as a fulfillment of His covenant.
A forever throne ——> Revelation 11:15
A horn ——> Luke 1:68-69
A lamp ——> Revelation 21:22-23
My anointed one ——> Matthew 16:15-16
A glorious crown ——> Revelation 19:12
Read below Revelation 1:5-6. Circle what Christ ‘has made us.’
kings and priests to His God and Father 
Beloved, what kind of impact do these fulfillments have on you personally?
“It sounds like a great, but rather overwhelming honor – not a position I’d necessarily want. (but then I hear Aslan proclaiming, ‘once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen in Narnia,’ and my heart thrills with joy and excited anticipation.)”
Dearest Rachel –
I suppose you and I can agree about the “two-way communication” of prayer, in that, while we’re both absolutely convinced that God speaks to us as we speak to Him on an intellectual level, it doesn’t work so well on the practical level – and that’s on ourselves, rather than Him. My suspicion is that you reduced your point on the scale for reality because you don’t always listen to what He has to say; for my own part, it’s worse, as I can barely hear Him at all to listen to.
I consider the many times He grew frustrated with His people, the children of Israel, as they wandered through the wilderness; how many times He performed miracles on their behalf when they complained about the lack of food, water and even leadership. You’d think that they would learn better to know and trust Him when He would constantly give evidence of His direction – and often displeasure – but no, after a little while, they would forget, some other lack would come to their attention, and the cycle would begin again.
These days, of course, He gives no such signs or wonders; presumably, He would point out that He’s said all He’s needed to say in His letter to us (none of which, not even the Torah, had been written at the time the Israelites were making their way through the wilderness). And while that covers many of the basics of the Judeo-Christian walk (and in fact, goes into some detail in certain aspects of life), there are so many points in which it doesn’t feel like He’s addressed this or that particular problem we’re dealing with at the time.
I don’t know how often you faced them, honey (either before or once I was part of your picture), but there are so many crossroad moments where a decision needs to be made, and I don’t hear anything from God about which way to go. Sure, some decisions may seem like common sense, so He leaves it to me to make the call. Still, given that humans (on a scale of zero to God) are hardly any more intelligent than they were back then, when He was leading them around by a pillar of smoke and fire – and I’m no smarter than the average human, and possibly worse than most – you’d think He’d feel the need to yell in my face now and again to get me to go where He wants me to. I’m not arrogant enough to think that I could follow His path by my own lights.
Then again, if it didn’t work for the children of Israel, maybe He figures that such an approach wouldn’t work on people these days, either.
***
At least there is the promised hope of the next world – which you’re already in at this point. While you may have considered the possibility of being a king (queen?) or priest in God’s service and family a daunting one, you at least recognized that, as a child of His, this was to be part of the package; we were designed for these positions. Besides, we’re not saddled with the responsibility of leading; we serve alongside our Brother, Jesus. He’s handled all of the real requirements of the job, so all we need to do is to follow His lead. What, specifically, that entails, well… you know better than I do at this point. Wish you could tell me about it.
But for now, just keep an eye on me, and wish me luck, honey; I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 