Leanness Of Soul

   Psalms 106:13-15, “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

   In the verses just given, the psalmist is speaking of the children of Israel, while after leaving Egypt, and while in the desert journey, how they had been so greatly blessed and prospered by God. But he also writes of how the children of Israel chose to forget the blessings of God, and how they began to become arrogant in themselves, and filled with the lust of their own wants. Or as one commentator writes it, “They seemed in a hurry to get the Lord’s mercies out of their memories; they hasted to be ungrateful.”

   This is a very tragic site to behold. How my Father must have grieved so deeply. But He, being the merciful God that He is, showed them great mercy by just allowing them to continue living. He could have expelled the whole plan of creation, and spoke a sinless galaxy, one in total perfection as was the garden of Eden before the fall. But He so loved this world that, even when the whole earth grieved Him, He would show mercy enough to spare it from eternal separation from Him.

   On the other hand, although God showed great mercy by simply allowing the children of Israel to continue to have the gift of life, He also in a way would resign Himself from them. He would let their hearts go un-wooed by His great presence for a time. He would grant them their desires that was not at all in His plan for them. In this particular case, they became tired of eating the manna that God would let fall from Heaven, for them to just step outside and simply pick up and eat. They became tired of what is often referred to as “Heavenly food” and lusted after some other source of sustaining life. So God granted them their selfish, and foolish request. He sent them quail, and let them run with their evil appetites of flesh. But the scripture says that with giving them their selfish request, He also “sent leanness into their soul.” This simply means that they became spiritually scrawny, as becoming spiritually starved. One only becomes lean in such a manner when there is no substance for them to digest. Can I tell you, this is very tragic, for in order for this to happen would literally mean, God left them. He had to turn them over to a reprobate mind. He gave them their lustful desire, but in so doing, He withdrew Himself from them, and they became spiritually lean of soul, just so their belly could have a temporary feel good.

   Beloved, this is where most of the church world is today. We have such a supply of Heavenly manna, (the bible) and yet, we always look for a way to dilute it somehow. Or if we don’t dilute it, we just simply never read it. Leanness of soul is an affect of such an act. We must not desire the meat of the flesh, but lets take this Heavenly manna, and eat daily. The fleshly feel good will only last for a season. Soon it will run out your nose, and you will be sick of flesh, but God doesn’t have to turn His ear back to you again. In fact, it is only by His Grace He does.

   Lack of reading Gods word and finding delight in such Heavenly manna, is one of the main reasons for leanness of soul in the Church today. But walking hand in hand with this spiritual catastrophe, is one of equal disaster. And I will without a fear of contradiction proclaim these two lacking ingredients to be the main reasons for such a leanness of soul in the Church today. The second thing I know is causing this great leanness is prayerlessness. Do we really pray anymore? I am not speaking of a small talk with God, but I am speaking of a praying through. Where the barrier of flesh breaks, and is found humbled, laying hold of the eternal power and presence of Almighty God. Without this praying through regularly, leanness will soon creep in. It may be to late for restoration when the hour of recovery is finally seen needed by the lean soul. For Christ may return, and all those found in leanness of soul, will not go with Him in the rapture. And if that is you, dear friend, the end is to late to get it right. Get fat in God now. Don’t be found in leanness of soul when He returns. Don’t be caught in selfishness, and neglect. Get it right. There is other things that will produce a leanness of soul, but these are the main two causes of leanness. Beloved, let us join together, and become the church once more. I love Christ, and I love the Church. I hate to see so many die in such a leanness, when God desires to make us rich and healthy in Him. Let us lay aside everything if we must. Let our natural life become faint if need be, from fasting and praying, but let us gain this Christ. Let our eyes become weak from reading, and studying the word of God, but let us gain this Christ. Let all be lost if that must be, just as long as we gain this Christ! Just as long as we are made to know Him, to be birthed of Him, and to be prosperous in Him. So let us do anything, even though we will be labeled extreme. Let us do anything but be found, …in leanness of soul.