Psalm 40
Despite the bad we see in the news everyday, good still happens.
Despite the sadness and despair, joy and hope still lift.
Despite the hate and anger, love and kindness still triumph.
It's really hard sometimes, to see the good through the bad, to feel the JOY through the pain, to have the love through the hate.
But it's possible, really possible.
In fact, it's preferable.
It's profitable.
And that idea is profound.
In Psalm 40, David begins with an explanation of God's love.
~ He heard David's cry. (vs.1)
~ He lifted David out of the pit. (vs.2)
~ He steadied David. (vs.2)
~ He gave a new song ~ a song of praise. (vs.3)
(NLT)
God revived a broken man.
And then ...
David tells of how others will see what God has done in his life, and will in turn put their trust in the Lord. (vs.3)
The proclamation?
"Oh, the JOYs of those who trust in the Lord ... " (vs.4)
JOY for trusting.
And further ...
"I take JOY in doing Your will, my God ..." (vs.8)
JOY for faithfulness.
Then ...
"But may all who search for You be filled with JOY and gladness." (vs.16)
JOY for seeking.
In the bumps and bruises that life sometimes delivers, the JOY still stands.
In the pain from the past, the pain from sickness, the pain from fear and worry, the pain from anger, hate and hurt, JOY still stands.
Sometimes we have to chase it down.
Sometimes we have to let it catch us.
Sometimes we just have to be reminded ...
"Be still and know that I AM God." (Psalm 46:10, NLT)
When we get to that breaking point and realize that we can't handle it on our own, we can humble ourselves before the Sovereign God, the source of all love, peace, hope and JOY.
Take hope in the Possible.
The Preferable.
The Profitable.
The Profound.
He's got this.
Lesson in the journey ~ Trusting The Great I AM brings JOY.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Stand by Me
Psalm 35
"I've got your back."
How many times have we heard this line in a movie or book?
How many times in real life have we heard someone say something like this?
I have prayed it over my own husband, who is a paramedic. When there are emergency calls that are dangerous, he needs his partner's support. I pray that his partner 'has his back'. And that he has his partner's back as well.
In a military operation, soldiers need to have each other's back.
Fire-fighters and police likewise.
Going into an unsafe building or situation is tricky enough without someone else watching out for you.
It's part of team work and service and it involves several simple principles ~
Protection.
Support.
Safety.
Security.
In those Biblical days of old, David faced a many adversities.
His best friend was the son of the king. This king wanted to kill David.
Countless times, David fought battles.
The list of enemies tortured his emotions, his physical well-being, and attacks were often almost too much to bear.
He talks about those wanting to kill him - verse 4.
... about those "malicious witnesses" who speak against him - verse 11.
... about those who take joy in his troubles - verse 15.
... about those "treacherous enemies" - verse 19.
He had it rough and he cried out again to his God for help.
And again, as he did in many other psalms, David mentions that beautiful word ~ JOY.
YET ~ David takes a different angle for JOY this time.
He has a request.
Not a proclamation with shouts of JOY this time.
He has an acknowledgement.
"But give great JOY to those who have stood with me in my defence." (vs. 27, NLT)
I see it like a movie scene playing out.
One by one, those who defend, support, protect, befriend ~ stand up.
Stand up for what is right.
Stand up for those who are broken.
Stand up for those who are mistreated.
Stand up for justice.
Proclaiming, "I've got your back."
In David's time of trial, he remembered those who had stood up for him. He knew what JOY truly looked like because he experienced it himself. And he wanted others to know that God-JOY too. He wanted them to have great JOY.
JOY as a gift, a blessing from the Lord.
JOY from standing up and having someone's back.
Lesson from the journey ~ Great JOY is a reward for having someone's back.
"I've got your back."
How many times have we heard this line in a movie or book?
How many times in real life have we heard someone say something like this?
I have prayed it over my own husband, who is a paramedic. When there are emergency calls that are dangerous, he needs his partner's support. I pray that his partner 'has his back'. And that he has his partner's back as well.
In a military operation, soldiers need to have each other's back.
Fire-fighters and police likewise.
Going into an unsafe building or situation is tricky enough without someone else watching out for you.
It's part of team work and service and it involves several simple principles ~
Protection.
Support.
Safety.
Security.
In those Biblical days of old, David faced a many adversities.
His best friend was the son of the king. This king wanted to kill David.
Countless times, David fought battles.
The list of enemies tortured his emotions, his physical well-being, and attacks were often almost too much to bear.
He talks about those wanting to kill him - verse 4.
... about those "malicious witnesses" who speak against him - verse 11.
... about those who take joy in his troubles - verse 15.
... about those "treacherous enemies" - verse 19.
He had it rough and he cried out again to his God for help.
And again, as he did in many other psalms, David mentions that beautiful word ~ JOY.
YET ~ David takes a different angle for JOY this time.
He has a request.
Not a proclamation with shouts of JOY this time.
He has an acknowledgement.
"But give great JOY to those who have stood with me in my defence." (vs. 27, NLT)
I see it like a movie scene playing out.
One by one, those who defend, support, protect, befriend ~ stand up.
Stand up for what is right.
Stand up for those who are broken.
Stand up for those who are mistreated.
Stand up for justice.
Proclaiming, "I've got your back."
In David's time of trial, he remembered those who had stood up for him. He knew what JOY truly looked like because he experienced it himself. And he wanted others to know that God-JOY too. He wanted them to have great JOY.
JOY as a gift, a blessing from the Lord.
JOY from standing up and having someone's back.
Lesson from the journey ~ Great JOY is a reward for having someone's back.
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