A Constant Reminder, About Constant Love
Today was a full day at church for me and Debbie. I had an early meeting at 8:30 and Debbie came later for her grief-share class. I ended up staying through the morning, helping with the prayer team at then end of the second and third service.
The weather was great once again and I hoped to get out and trim some rose bushes or go to the fitness center, but instead I did get in a short walk with Debbie and the dog. That was after a nap. So I will try to get back into the swing of things tomorrow and do some exercise at home for today.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But I will sing about your strength; every morning I will sing aloud of your constant love. You have been a refuge for me, a shelter in my time of trouble. I will praise you, my defender. My refuge is God, the God who loves me.” Psalm 59:16,17 (GNT)
The closing verses of this Psalm are set in contrast to the dangers from enemies and their constant threats. David begins the Psalm with a plea of “Save me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who attack me!” (v.1) He then petitions the Lord, “Rise, Lord God Almighty, and come to my aid…Listen to their insults and threats.” (v.5,6)
For fifteen verses of this Psalm David reminds the Lord about the attacks against him and implores the Lord to take action. He describes their relentless schemes and even vacillates in what he wants the Lord to do, “Do not kill them, O God…Scatter them by your strength and defeat them…” (v. 11) “…destroy them in your anger; destroy them completely…” (v. 13)
When we become overly focused on what is against us, we don’t even know what the real resolution is that we would like to see. So as David describes the constant attacks in words and deeds from his enemies, at the same time he resolves to be constant in his focus upon the Lord.
David says, “But I will sing about your strength…of your constant love.” It is important to remember that each day brings its own unique challenges that we must confront. They may be subtle, they may be direct and unrelenting. But praising the Lord arrests our attention away from our problems to the God who is with us. Who is with us to give strength and protection all because of His great love.
David was a warrior. Certainly no wimp by any imagination. Yet he was reassured when he realized that the Lord God was his “refuge”, “shelter” and “defender.” And this mighty warrior takes heart in the God who loves him. These verses twice mention God’s love and God as a refuge. The style of the Hebrew poetry has these repetitious words and concepts for emphasis. They are to call us to stop and ponder and meditate on what that means for our life.
As we do that our attention is drawn away from the troubles and dangers around and focused on the Lord who is on our side. And when that happens we are ready to face each new day, each new challenge with hope and confidence.