1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
Once again David is asking for help and for deliverance from his enemies. But what I noticed in this Psalm is something I encourage people to do all of the time. Look back at what God has already done in your life and let that be comfort and encouragement for what you are going through now.
David tells how God took care of him in the past 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Then he tells of his confidence in God. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear ; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.
David had some other good habits - or perhaps I should say "spiritual disciplines"
He wanted to spend time in God's presence: v.4 "one thing I have asked for..."
He brought offerings with joy: v.6 "And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy"
He sang praises to God: v.6 "I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD"
He asked God to teach him and lead him. v.11
Then he ends the Psalm with what may be the hardest thing to do when dealing with difficulties of life - waiting. 14 Wait for the LORD ; Be strong and let your heart take courage ; Yes, wait for the LORD.
Waiting on God. Ooooo. That can be soooo difficult. But if we are doing the other things in the Psalm, (giving, singing, being in His presence, letting Him teach us) then the waiting is much easier and the purpose behind the waiting is often seen.
. Oh... and it's a whole lot easier to have these things in your life during the difficult times if you are already doing them in the good times. So add these to your life today! :-)
2 comments:
Yesterday's Psalm (26) ended with the phrase of "My foot stands on a level place..." and then I saw in this Psalm, verse 11, the NASB translated that as "Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path...." Both of these uses of "level" made me think again about how much I love consistency and order. But life is not that way. The first part of this Psalm made me think of how my path can be "level" even when my life is not: "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock."
Kind of makes me think of Paul's words "This one thing I do...." (Philippians 3:13). God is faithful, we/I just need to keep focused on Him; and, as the Psalm closes, do the thing that is hardest for me.... "Yes, wait for the LORD."
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
I think that means here on this Earth. So hard to do waiting is.
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