Fly the banners!

Psalm 20

There are numerous accounts of battles won and lands claimed almost as far back as time began. As soon as sin entered into the great story of life, the tale of good versus evil set roots on the earth.
Think of all the movies we watched and books we read as kids ~ Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King ... and on and on. 
Stories are still being created or retold, weaving the threads of lives wronged and lives rescued. Television shows and Hollywood movies continue to tell us in the comfort of our own living rooms. 
Real life itself is testimony to the same fact.
There are times of trouble.
Always have been.
King David was familiar with the good and the evil. He was pursued by a madman for years, and then after becoming king, was involved in many brutal battles.
He knew evil.
He knew trouble.
But, he also knew something else.

There is a conqueror. 
A victor over evil.
The Good.

Psalm 20 opens with a prayer of sorts, for safety, strengthening, favour, and the answer. 
And then the response.
"May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honour our God." (vs.5)

I love that image of flying banners to honour the victor.
Numerous times in history, we have seen the same. When an enemy is defeated, the victor raises his flag as a sign of the victory. A sign of the triumph. A sign of hope claimed.
The symbol of raising something up is synonymous with victory ~ think of raised arms after a goal scored in a sports event, fists pumping the air; think of a hand held up with two fingers in the shape of a 'V'; think of people waving flags or pennants with their favourite team name during a sports game; think of a birthday party with streamers and banners that honour the one whose special day it is. 
And shouts of joy ensue.
We lift up those who we deem special; and those who we deem as victors. 

What joy for those who put their hope, their claim in the Lord. 
Our marriages, our families, our sicknesses, our weaknesses, our finances, our hurts ~ all to Jesus. 
We can raise our flags, our banners on each of those things. On each mountain we climb, on each fortress we scale.
What shouts of joy will rise from our lips, pouring out from our hearts. 
For there is one ultimate victor in this life. 

And He is The Good.

Lesson in the journey ... God's ultimate victory merits our ultimate banner-flying praise.

The sun is a happy face

Psalm 19

What a fantastic Psalm this is. The scene opens with the heavens crying out to the glory of God. Nature in its fullness. Nature in its purpose.

The heavens declare His glory. (vs.1)
They speak and make Him known. (vs.2)
They speak with no words and the whole earth receives and sees the message. (vs.3,4)

God is great.
God is Creator.

We look towards the heavens and see the sun ~ the great light that provides and supports life to those on the earth.
And the sun bursts forth in radiance. (vs.5)
It rejoices. (vs.5)
It is ever-present. (vs.6)
God placed it in the heavens. (vs.4)

When I was a kid, I often drew a picture ~ you know, the one with a house, some trees, some birds that look like 'm', and the sun in the corner with lines for sunbeams ~ I also put a happy face on the sun. I think it's a common picture. One that most of us have drawn.
And it's no wonder. We see the sun as cheerful. As happy.
This Psalm shows us that the heavens and the sun are happy ~ creation is happy and points to the One who made all things.

The next part of the Psalm talks about God's law, His decrees, His commandments.
Perfect, reviving the soul. (vs.7)
Trustworthy, giving wisdom. (vs.7)
Right, bringing joy to the heart. (vs.8)
Clear, giving insight to life. (vs.8)
True and fair. (vs.9)
More desirable than gold. (vs.10)
Sweeter than honey. (vs.10)

All about God Himself ~ why nature tells of His glory.

He knows what is best for us.
He knows what is good, and right, and true.
He is trustworthy and deserving of our praise and our collective declaration of His greatness.
So I join in with nature and stand in awe of Him.

Lesson in the journey ... God reveals and teaches what brings joy to our hearts.

Joy in His Presence

Psalm 16

"No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises! ... You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence ... " 
(vs. 9, 11; NLT)

David gives a few reasons to be joyful in this Psalm and his heart is stirred to praises and blessings poured out from a humble spirit.

God is a refuge. (vs.1)
He is Master. (vs.2)
He is giver of good things. (vs.2)
He is my inheritance. (vs.5)
He is my cup of blessing. (vs.5) 
He is the guardian of all that is mine. (vs.5)
He is the One who guides me. (vs.7)
He is always with me. (vs.8)
He is right beside me. (vs.8)

That's God's part.
Then David states his ~ and our ~ part.

I will bless the Lord. (vs.7)
I know He is with me always. (vs.8)
I will not be shaken. (vs.8)
I have a heart that is filled with joy. (vs.9)
I have a mouth that shouts praises. (vs.9)
I can rest in safety. (vs.9)

And then, again, God closes up the Psalm.

God will not leave me. (vs.10)
He will show me the way of life. (vs.11)
He will grant me the joy of His Presence. (vs.11)
He will grant me the pleasures of living with Him forever. (vs.11)

God's Word tells of His character. Who He is. And then who we are in Him.

Indeed ... no wonder my heart is filled with joy! 

Lesson in the journey ... I can be secure in the Great I AM.