Sonshine's Journal

As we continue to follow David as he flees from Saul, his life hinges on today and tomorrow. David is beside himself and echoes what many face when between a rock and a hard place. Do you sit and moan or do you do as he did, call out to God and remind yourself of who God is. 

Put yourself in his shoes and listen how he faces the many thoughts that come to mind. David is asking: How did I get here? What is happening God? So David begins with his call out to God in  prayer: “Do not ignore my appeal for mercy.  Pay attention to me and answer me. I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself, because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me,for they hurl trouble down upon me…”  Can you relate to him? Have you ever been where there seems no way out of this problem you find yourself in?

David is telling us the solution is to cry out to God and seek His comfort. He knows humanly speaking, he has no solution, but then….God. God is listening to our heart’s cry. God’s heart hurts just as ours does. God is listening. Trust God in times and seasons of life when this what we face. Trust Him, but also cry out to Him with passionate words and then do as Isaiah said:wait on Him and His answer. It may come today or tomorrow or in eternity but we are called to wait on Him.

Vs 17: “During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, and he will hear me.  He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, Psa 130:5 “I rely on the Lord. I  rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word.”  

We have many thoughts and ideas about God and we use these in prayer to Him who holds the universe in the palm of His hands. Over and over David echoes those thoughts as he pens these psalms for us to read and meditate upon. One psalm we recently read said that our tongue is like a pen ready to write these words. Today as we enter the quiet room of David’s thoughts we are once again brought to the throne room of God and see His power and majesty. He protects, He guides, He looks down upon man to see his needs which He provides. 

David notes: “Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long.” Men have evil hearts but God’s love for His own is front and center and what we can cling to in times we find ourselves held fast by words and actions of the evil ones about us. Paul noted that in the first chapter of Philippians when he was imprisoned. Paul wrote to the Philippians not to be frightened but those who know God can trust that no matter what comes our way, His love is stronger and present because He rescues His own. 

Is He your rescuer? What frightens you today. One of the ladies at the Assisted Living answered that she is frightened by being alone even though she has many about her. Perhaps you can relate, if so, tuck this psalm in your diary for today. His love is loyal and stronger and protects all day long. 

No matter where we are or what is on our plate for today, one thing is clear: men do not have the heart of God, but they are accountable because He has given us His Word to show us and call them to Himself. The psalmist reminds his audience that there is one thing God requires and desires: The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. It isn’t money or tributes from men but it is the heart of man that God seeks and calls men to repent and humble themselves before Him. 

Contrast this to show how fallen men think and how they measure their days. They do  not fear death because just like the one man (a movie critic R.Ebert) echoes what Romans chapter one says: “I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. All I require of a religion is that it does not insist that I believe in it.” But Luke 16 tells us a different story, a story of a man of regrets who had all the evidence a man could want or desire and in the end he stood looking across the great divide and asked for one to go and tell his brothers about this truth. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through Me.” [Jn 14] 

Should we insist on this truth? Where are we today? Do we fear death? Do we have a humble spirit and heart? Do we desire what God desires? What is our heart calling us to say today? 
 

The psalmist like most of us face daily struggles of stress, whether it be family or national thoughts that distract us from our road of peace. The psalmist offers this as his way of walking through these times. It is to sing, sing, and sing. This is exactly hat one needs to do when feeling overwhelmed with the thoughts of what needs to be done today and beyond. So what song comes to mind as you face these struggles? 

One of my favorite songs is one you have probably not heard of: The God of Abraham praise. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJszBGBTeYE

Or here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pKAIWQpbSH8

As you listen and marvel at this song, be refreshed and ready to meet the new day. 

David had many of the same thoughts we read about throughout the entire Bible!  But in contrast to these, David anchors his thoughts with this comment: “I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.” Is this true of you and me? Does the Word dominate our thoughts and then proceed to our actions? If that were true, then we would not be like Sodom and Gomorrah’s residents. But, the call of the evil one is ever  before us and we often do not reject it as we saw in the life of Lot. Peter says he is righteous but they who are righteous choose to not follow their ways. Psalm 1 gives us the standards: we choose to not walk, stand or sit in the counsel of the unrighteous. 

I struggle with Peter’s assessment of Lot, do you? I have to trust God in this.

And then we have this verse: “enemies ask this cruel question about me, “When will he finally die and be forgotten?”  The Pharisees were like this. They wanted to not have Christ before them but He is here and He is not forgotten! Praise God for that truth. 

We go through our days often without thinking about what is next or if we are safe. How often we just go here and there without thinking or praising God for our safety?

David reminded his readers that “ The angel of the Lord camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.” Stop and ponder that word: camps. It means He who is the author and protector of our salvation, “The Angel of the Lord” (v. 7) is undoubtedly a reference to the Lord Himself. 

Remember what He told Gideon? Jdg 6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared and said to him, “The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!”  Gideon did not see himself this way but God did! God is the Angel but also has his angelic forces that surround us to protect us. Not only does He send his angels to camp around us but He delivers us. There is a condition of course. One must be a loyal follower. I often stop at this verse and think of Gideon who was fearful of the Midianites, but just as the Lord promised, Gideon and his forces were protected. Gideon and his armor bearer were able to sneak into the camp during the night as the enemies slept. Then they knew God was for them and against the Midianites!  Jdg 8:28 The Israelites humiliated Midian; the Midianites’ fighting spirit was broken. AND! The land had rest for 40 years during Gideon’s time.

Who today is feeling fearful or is going about his/her day but could use this as God’s  present day promise? 

Once again as we read these psalms one overarching theme is to seek God for He is the heart of what is true, right and pure. David knows his sin is grievous and He is without hope minus God. God reveals all that is right and all that is wrong. “My heart tells me to pray to you, and I do pray to you, O Lord.” Is this where we begin when the Spirit reveals to us our wayward ways or our purity and integrity? It is through prayer that God speaks to our heart through the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

The psalmist writes: The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live. Apart from that principle we are of all men most miserable for we seek our own way not His. “May he show the humble what is right. May he teach the humble his way.” It begins with the principle of being humble before God. 

Today as you walk the path that God has for you, begin there. May your prayers be open to what God has to say. Our hearts tells us to pray. What is your heart telling you this morning as you with God? The chorus reminds us:  may it be a sweet sweet sound in Your ear. 

That is the question asked by the psalmist. He answers: He is the Lord God Almighty who is the Creator of heaven and earth. He holds the universe in the palm of His hand. He is ever before us in beauty and holiness. Yet He left that place of comfort and peace to come to a world where men flogged him and put a crown of thorns on His head. Why did He come? It was to redeem mankind who have lost their way. Who is this Majestic King? He is the Lord God Almighty. We are to share these truths with the next generation that they may know Him! And revere Him! And love Him! 

Who is this Majestic King? He is our Shepherd who guards us, leads us to quiet waters, to pleasant lands of soft green grass and where we can lie down in peace and quietness to meditate on Him. “You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.“ 

Today as we begin our week, stop and ponder this question and seek your answer from His Holy Word. Find peace and quietness beside the still waters. Lie down in the sweet smelling green grass. Meditate on these thoughts as you begin and end each new day.

One writer shared his thoughts: “The world is putting on a show for you, if you’d just stop running long enough to watch it.” And yes, David noted that and put his thoughts on paper for all of us to read and to ponder.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.” Each morning as I sit with God and watch the sunrise or each evening as the sun sets in the west, this is what I yearn to carry with me. There is a praise song that we sing at church: “day and night, day and night, let incense rise…” Incense is the aroma of our prayers that the people of Israel clung to in uncertain times and it reminded them that although our days are governed by the 24 hour clock, God’s clock remains firmly placed in the heavens for us to see.

“Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard. Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon.” Stop and ponder that phrase: no actual speech or word, yet as we observe the heavens His voice is there for us to “hear.” Are we listening or running? Are we steadfast, immovable always abounding in His work? 

Does this sound familiar? David echoes the question of Job and the question of men today.  “How long, Lord, will you continue to ignore me? How long will you pay no attention to me? How long must I worry, and suffer in broad daylight?”Who are these that speak? These are they that say: “Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”

Yet, we know that God is still in the same place He has always been and He hears just as he heard the voice of Job and now of David. The same is true for us!  We can know for certain this truth that David wrote: “The Lord looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.” And what did David finally conclude? “Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one.” 

So when you feel adrift or wondering about today and tomorrow and the next day about the people about you, recall these verses as a challenge to witness to His loving kindness. Why?  So that they may come to know the true God and His plan to save each one because He is not wiling that any should perish but come to repentance.