Ps. 62: Soulrest

Psalm 62:11 "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,"

There's a few things that struck me here in the 62nd Psalm. The first thing is the idea of a soul's rest. Salvation is a part of that. Salvation by God contributes to soulrest. Without salvation, there can be no rest. Salvation is a fortress. It is the place to go when everything else fails. Interesting that it is often the last resort when it has been shown to be the only true resort. In what ways do I avoid running to my fortress, thinking I can handle assaults on my own? If I don't want to be shaken, why wouldn't I run to my fortress for soulrest?

The idea of blessing with one's mouth, and cursing with one's heart is another interesting paradox. I've done it. Who hasn't? These are people David trusted. People who wanted to be seen as something different than who they really were.

Another interesting thing is that David says that his salvation and his honor depend on God. They only depend on God. David's has all his eggs in the God basket. There is nothing else. Nothing else, however could bring him salvation and honor. Despite his high position, and respect from his allies, he doesn't pull his honor from acclaim. That stuff fails because people are fickle. God is not. Also, if God isn't who He says He is...that's the only way David fails.

In verse 11...I like this. One thing God has spoken...and its two things. They say the same thing about God. God is strong and God is loving. His love is strong. His love is an outpouring of his strength? I suppose I never equated the two, or figured one could be part of the other. Then God could pass on His love to us, and make us strong.

Ne. 13: Nehemiah's High Horse

Nehemiah 13:14 "Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services."

I don't know the timeline of when chapter 13 occured in relation to chapter 12, but I imagine it could be a huge holy buzzkill. Just as the people are celebrating and thinking pretty highly of themselves, Nehemiah comes along and points out all their faults. In a way, I love his direct approach, including but not limited to pulling the hair out of men who married foreign chicks. You have to get attention somehow. And these things the people did were expressly forbidden. Dozens (probably) of times in scripture alone. Never mind the examples of what happened to revered forefathers of Israel when they hooked up with foreign broads (Solomon?). 

But another way to react, as I did, was to bristle at how Nehemiah treated the people. He didn't sugarcoat his judgment on the people. He didn't try to reason with them. Straight up he was with the people he knew were blowing it. This was no milquetoast believer. I don't respond so well to direct hostility. Chances are, I know when I'm a screwup, and personally, I'd need someone to show me how to change.

And I don't mean to suggest that these violations were minor. Eliashib allowing Tobiah (yeah, that Tobiah who aided in spreading rumors and impeding wall construction) to use a room in the temple was pretty out of line. In fact, the whole temple situation was in disarray, with people not at their posts (out farming, because people weren't giving the priestly portions with their offerings) and people working on the Sabbath. Lets not forget how important rest is to the LORD.

So Nehemiah does a lot of purificatin', and does his best to implant reforms that will get things right again. These are the things Nehemiah wants to be remembered for, and I think he is.