October 14 – The Ultimate Living Epitaph

        Psalm 73:26 – "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and he is my portion [in life] forever."

        Yesterday's (Oct 13) thoughts about Psalm 73 took a general view about the entire Psalm. Today's thoughts focus on verses 23-26. They are contrasted against verses 21 & 22: "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a brute beast before you." Do you get angry, frustrated, even cynical with the circumstances surrounding you – the situations that seemingly will not resolve themselves? A change of attitude and thinking is then necessary.

        A bold declaration is needed in the midst of ongoing trials. Let's start with verse 23: "Yet I am always with you [God]; you hold me by my right hand." This promise is re-iterated by Jesus in John 10:27-29: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my father's hand." And, as if two persons safeguarding my life were not enough, triple protection is found in Eph. 1:13, 14: "You also were included in Christ, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession....." What a promise!

        Verse 24: "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward, you will take me into glory." This is affirmed by Jesus in John 14:26: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Earlier in John 14, Jesus states (vv. 2,3): "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you otherwise. I am going there to prepare a place for you; therefore, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." This is the promise of an eternal home with God.

        Verse 25: "Whom have I in heaven, except you [God]? Earth has nothing I desire besides you." Peter re-iterates this thought in John 6:67-69: "Jesus asked the Twelve, 'You do not want to leave me, too, do you?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.' "     

        Finally, the best faith statement declaration of all comes in verse 26: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of of my heart and he is my portion forever." If I live to old age, then surely my flesh and heart will fail, My body will run down, but God will be there to give me strength, both physical and spiritual, encouraging me to praise him to the end, knowing that soon, I will be with him in bliss. No matter how bleak your life looks at this moment, take courage from these verses, and press on in God's strength.

        There was a popular praise song in the early 2000's called "Lord, (I Don't Know)" that had the same rock-solid faith sentiment in its chorus. (The Newsboys were one band that played it well.) The words are: "Lord, I don't know where all this is going, or how it all works out. Lead me to peace that is past understanding, a peace beyond all doubt." May God use these verses from Psalm 73 to lead us to a peace in our hearts that is beyond our doubts.

August 8 – Clouds

        Psalm 68:32 – "Sing to God, oh kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to Adonai, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice."

        How often do we contemplate the sky, the clouds, and the way they are formed and move over our heads? The grey overcast sky with no rain can be depressing, but the billowing clouds of summer thunderstorms can be awesome. I believe that Psalm 68 was written by David in triumphant fashion as a song that reflected the pageantry of the final journey of the ark of the covenant, to the tabernacle in Jerusalem. It was a picture of God ascending Mount Moriah to take his place as the triumphant king, reigning over Israel's territory.

        It is quite interesting to hear David use the poetic words "to him who rides the ancient skies above." What? God rides and travels, and transports himself on the clouds? I thought that the spirit of God appears wherever he wishes, in the blink of an eye. Why does he have to take the time to float by, in the clouds? It is to give us an impression of God's power and sovereignty. Psalm 18 also gives us a picturesque, hyperbolic view into the awesome view of God. In summer, the clouds start to thicken as the heat of the day rises higher and higher. From a distance, we can see the skies growing darker as the storm forms and approaches. Lightning flashes and peals of thunder follow. Then the downpours come, possibly with wind, and the storm passes by, doing God's bidding. I like to sit on the front porch to watch as the storm approaches, usually from the west or northwest, here in the mid-Atlantic region. It really is a display of the power of God. As David Zaffiro states in his song "Through His Eyes", "like a mirror held to God, the storm reflects his strength".  What an awesome word picture!

        One October I spent an evening by myself at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. As dusk approached, I sat upon the rocky slope looking west. God seemed to ride on the clouds and linger for awhile, as he painted the sky with purples and yellows that I had never seen mixed before. I took the best sunset photos that I have ever taken. And then he flew away into the fading grey.

        Praise be to God for the daily change in his clouds, for his daily display of power.