Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is: Psalm 31, Psalm 35, John 11:30-57
Happy Monday Everyone!
I'm going to focus on Psalm 35 today. Starting with Psalm 35:1-16, David talks about his enemies pursuing him. He talks about friends who repay his friendship with malicious slander and talks about an overall diffucult time. He feels as though his prayers are returned unanswered and begins to plead "O Lord, how long will you look on?"
17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
What catches my eye - and my spirit - is that he does not plead WHY do you look on, He does not question whether or not God will rescue Him, he just asks HOW LONG, in full faith that God WILL save him.
The next thing that spoke to me with this passage was verse 18:
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
Can you believe it?! Afer everything David is going through and pleads with God for in verses 1-17, he GIVES THANKS. How amazing is that? Through his hard times, his pleading with God, his betrayal of friends, in the middle of all of this he stops to give thanks to God. There is a lesson to be learned here. How do we take the focus off of self in the midst of trials? How do we hold fast to the trust that God WILL rescue us from our struggles? We find the answer at the end of Psalm 35:28.
"My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long."
The answer? Speak of God's righteousness, sing His praises - ALL DAY LONG. Not just when the world spins the way we think it should, not just when life is good and easy, and not just when we feel like it - but ALL DAY LONG!!! No matter the situation of our lives, there is always reason and opportunity to speak of God's righteousness, sing his praises and give thanks.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 36-38, John 12:1-26
4 comments:
Psalms like this are probably why it's important to memorize Scripture. Such valuable wisdom there!
Thanks for pointing out the "how long" instead of "why". I had never considered the fact that David did not doubt that God would, he just wanted to know when. What a faith to aspire to.
Love the "how long" instead of "why" as well. Faith despite circumstances, praise and thanksgiving despite circumstance - once again, focus on God instead of on us. Seems to be a recurring theme lately!
Thanks, Jody! Wonderful to be reminded to sing His praises all the time. This is definitely one of the keys to having joy in every circumstance.
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