Cyrus

"Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, Subduing nations before him, stripping kings of their strength, Opening doors before him, leaving the gates unbarred: I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, iron bars I will snap. I will give you treasures of darkness, riches hidden away, That you may know I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name. For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by name, giving you a title, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you do not know me, so that all may know, from the rising of the sun to its setting, that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other. " (Isaiah 45: 1 - 6)

About 15 years ago, when I compiled the list of the PL scriptures, I had no problem appropriating many of the above promises.  Today it is much harder for me to do so.  I navigate through them slowly, pausing and asking the Lord to increase my faith in what I read so that I can believe what I read, teach what I believe and practice what I teach.

I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days

"The LORD is my shepherd;  there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days." (Psalm 23 - NAB)

“I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.”  This is the ultimate promise.  The Good Shepherd provides food, peace, protection and purpose.  Finally, he opens his house for the helpless sheep and say, “You can rest here forever.”  Thank you Jesus.

Follow His ways exactly

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good? 1 Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. Yet in his love for your fathers the LORD was so attached to them as to choose you, their descendants, in preference to all other peoples, as indeed he has now done. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked. For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods, the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. The LORD, your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve; hold fast to him and swear by his name. He is your glory, he, your God, who has done for you those great and terrible things which your own eyes have seen. Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong, and now the LORD, your God, has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky." (Deuteronomy 10: 12-22)

Is it possible for one to follow God’s ways exactly?  Without the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, this is an absolute impossibility.  God in His great love is so “attached” to us that He gave us His precious Holy Spirit to help us to conform to His will more exactly.   God is our glory and has done for us “those great and terrible things which your own eyes have seen.”  To Him be praise and glory forever!