Showing posts with label Refuge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refuge. Show all posts

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Pr. 14: Proverbs for Living

Proverbs 14:32 "When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge."

If you don't have an oxen, the manger is empty. Without the oxen, you don't fill the manger, and you don't readily feed your other livestock? Is this just practical, or is there something more behind this? An ox may be slow, but the result of it's labor is survival and sustenance for the many. I'm sure you can apply this principal to aspects of your life. (v. 4)

The pursuit of wisdom is a serious undertaking, not to be taken lightly. This is why mockers don't find it, they are insincere. The discerning find it easily. (v. 6)

Making amends for sin seems antiquated (apparently, even back a million years ago when the Proverbs were written), and therefore goofy or unnecessary. But it is very important restore that goodwill between you and God. (v. 9)

The wrong way can seem so right. But it leads to death. Maybe the right way then seems wrong? (v. 12)

There is a difference between getting repaid and rewarded. I'd rather be rewarded. Repaid sounds nice, but not when it's payback. (v. 14)

Don't take things at face value. (v. 15)

When was the last time you planned something that is good? What a concept! Go find some love and faithfulness. (v. 22)

Monday, April 06, 2009

Ps. 46: Stillness in Chaos

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

There's a lot of chaos in the world, and it can derail a Godly person. There is plenty that can potentially induce fear and panic. But before things get to out of hand, the Psalmist writes that God is the refuge and strength. Always there, an ever-present help.

Disasters will come and nations will rise and fall, but the constant is God. And if the constant, the rule, is trusted, then there is no reason to doubt that God will be shaken. Also, I think it's important to keep in mind that in an equation with one constant, everything else can be variable. I was never a math whiz, but that's my God Constant Theory. So look for change. Look for upheaval, and know who you trust.

It is repeated twice in this chapter that "the LORD almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress." Must be important.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Ps. 28: Prayer for Deliverance

Psalm 28:6 "Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy."

Yet another prayer for deliverance from the evil people who surround him. I think a few things about this. First, David must have had a lot of time to write these things. Secondly, I wonder how often this happened? Last, maybe it didn't happen so many times, but it just inspired him to write about what happened to him. A lot of these prayers for deliverance contain similar elements, with many seeming to contain all of them. 

David is in trouble.

David calls on God to deliver him.

David recognizes that God is his deliverer and shield.

David reminds God how blameless he is.

David doesn't want to be counted among the evil, concerning himself with God's reputation.

David wants to be with God.

David praises God for deliverance and greatness.

David encourages others to do the same.

What is different here in the 28th Psalm is David's desire for God to repay those people who wronged him, and to remember them. David doesn't offer God any suggestions for ways to pour out His vengeance. Instead, David trusts God's justice. Whatever it is God decides to do will be far more effective than anything our minds can comprehend. And believe me, when I wanted retribution on the people who hid things from us when they sold me my house, I thought of a lot of things I wanted to do. As I took care of these repairs, it worsened. But I had to come to the point of realization that God is a just God, and he would be my vindication. But it also occured to me that perhaps what I'm dealing with is vindication for the sins of my youth...I don't know. Praise God anyway. 

But God will rebuild me.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Ps. 27: Whom Shall I Fear?

Psalm 27:13 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

David starts the 27th Psalm in much the same way Moses and Miriam started their song back in Exodus 15. What is most interesting is that these writings came under very different circumstances. Moses and Miriam had just been delivered by God from the Egyptians by crossing the Red Sea. David, conversely, was living in daily fear of his enemies. In both situations, they knew who to trust, and who would be their deliverer. Because of that, they had no one to fear.

David again commits to heart his belief that God alone will be his fortress and defense. It's through nothing David personally did, but because God chose to protect him. He trusted God's promise that he would be King.

Another thing that consistently blows my mind about David is his incredible longing to be with God. Not to die and go be with him, but to "dwell in his house" and "gaze upon his beauty." Who says that? About anything? With sincerity? I personally am not at that point. Once again, this would require a complete shuffling of priorities to feel this way. I like my TV and my car and my family and my job and my music. I don't find myself wishing that I was in God's presence. I do enjoy stopping to wonder about why God does certain things. I also obsess over why I think he would do certain things that he does that are confusing. David cuts through all that, and sort of makes it his own life's purpose to just be with God.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Ps. 17: The Enemy Closes In...

Psalm 17:15 "And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness."

This is getting critical. I wonder if David was really hiding in secret from Saul's men. He writes this desperately. The language is quite intense. "They have tracked me down...they now surround me." It sounds as though he is writing his final entry in his diary. I imagine this was probably quite literal. 

Here David is pleading with God with all his might to protect him. David continues to affirm that he will hide in God...as verse 8 puts it, in the shadow of God's wings. I love that metaphor, because it says more about the hen protecting than it does the chick hiding.

David is thoroughly convinced he is in the right. But here comes the army of men after him to kill him. It doesn't matter to them who is in the right, they're under Saul's orders. David goes through the various ways he has been righteous. In a way, he appears to be "reminding" God about how he has continually walked in God's ways, never leaving his path. 

Probably what I enjoy the most about this passage is that David realizes what happens with the wicked men. Sure they will prosper materially, and maybe enjoy a life of spoils and luxury, but I cannot get over how simple and beautiful verse 15 is. What peace must have inspired David to say "in righteousness, I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." Amazing! I hope you ponder on that verse for a few moments. There is nothing on earth that interests David as much as seeing God's face after all is said and done. The idea that you are completely clean and can come before God hiding nothing, wearing no mask. Having nothing get in the way of you and God. O, that I would gain that attitude. 

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Ps. 16: Toward Pleasant Places

Psalm 16:6 "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

"Keep me safe," the 16th Psalm begins, a la David, the sentient robot in Kubrick's sci-fi epic A.I. Artificial Intelligence. And I think it is an apt illustration of how I imagine King David saying it. In the film, mecha David desperately clings to his flesh and blood brother hoping for protection from those who would bully him. I assume this behavior was programmed into him to preserve him. How that fits into Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics remains to be debated. King David knows that preservation comes truly only in the arms of God.

No good thing? In verse two, David claims that apart from God, he has no good thing. That is pretty astounding to think about. Consider these things that we have and own and enjoy like video games and coffee and V8 Engines and HDTV. These are neat, but not "good." They may in fact pull us apart from God. That's not a good thing. These things we love...can they be distractions? Are they only if we let them? I guess that's personal...subjective. David wouldn't consider them good though. To follow another God...another distraction...would only lead to sorrow. I suspect the "good things" David refers to are less...tangible?

Re: v. 5. What is assigned by God is secure. No more, no less.

The LORD counsels David. Teaches and instructs David. Can you imagine having that? I just wonder how my life would change, how different my life and my worldview and my time management would change if I received direct verbal counsel from God himself. Chilling. I realize I have the Bible. But to be in a position like King David...

Gladness, rejoicing and security are the things David celebrates having because of this close relationship with God. And those three things lead to one over-arching sort of gift, and that is peace. Even in David's unsettled situations with surrounding nations, Saul, Jonathan, Absalom, Bathsheba...all these things...he was still able to make it through because of gladness, joy and security that came from God.

Verse ten mentions that David will not be abandoned to the grave. Of course we know David died, but it wasn't because God left him. And even in death, does God abandon him? David didn't come back to life...

Monday, March 02, 2009

Ps. 11: Foundation for the Upright

Psalm 11:7 "For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face."

Verse one was a little obtuse for me until I read it a bunch of times. The meaning here is that once we have run to God as our refuge, we need no further retreat or cover. A bird, already gifted with escape via her wings, ofter has no reason to fly away to a mountain. That would be extranneous. But here, those on a not so solid footing take aim at those whose foundation is God. The upright. 

The upright are the people God will protect in time of trouble, as God is constantly watching (examining is the word used in the NIV) people, and he knows who the just are, and he knows who the wicked are. It says his soul hates those who love violence. And the question comes up, does/can God hate? What does this mean? God has commanded against hatred. Its likely a translation issue. Those who God is said to hate are those who most likely hate God and have barricaded themselves against Him, rejecting Him. As punishment for this wickedness and fleeing from God, David says that God will rain fiery coals and brimstone on them.

Better be good. Better be upright, and that comes from being rooted in God.