Echo of Guidance

They’re the phrases that follow you through life, the reminders that you “hear” even far from your parents.  Some are simple; some are quite profound.  In a sense, the depth of the command is irrelevant.  We are formed, in large part, by what we hear early in life.  Phrases like, “Buckle your seatbelt!” and later, “Leave plenty of following distance.” ring in my ears at times as if she was sitting next to me in the car.  When I leave the house, my dad’s reminder to “Remember.” stays with me.

It was these kinds of echoes that I thought of as I read Psalm 17:4 this morning:

As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.

I have stayed away from violent (destructive) paths by Your words.  Just like my parents’ words, even now, echo in my ears and heart to continue the protection that wisdom brings, so God’s words provide guidance and protection.

Wealth

Are you tired of hearing about the economy yet?  Is it horrible to say that I am?

I’d take a boring, humming-along, not-exploding-because-it’s-growing-so-fast economy over the boom or bust of the last few years that have pretty much made up my entire lifetime so far.  I understand that a boring economy is not what the experts say we need, (maybe because if the analysts lost their jobs, they would drive unemployment up further?), but what would happen if we focused on something besides how much money we (don’t) have?*

We might focus on something more important.

I read The Wealthy Ones by Don Best this morning, and when I finished, I cared even less about the economy for the sake of the economy.  I care about people and how the vast economic forces impact them, but maybe we have a lot to learn from Jesus-followers in the middle of the Amazon whose economy consists of catching fish for dinner.

Here’s a quote:

“If you should ever go back to New England,” he said, “tell them we’re praying for them.  That they might become people of faith.”

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*I am very thankful for my job, and thankful for the many ways that God provides for me.

All a matter of perspective

One of my piano students, after a week of working with a metronome, proudly told me about his progress: ”I started at 101, then I moved up to 102!”

For those of you who are unfamiliar with metronomes, the beeps are measured in beeps per minute.  60 beats per minute is 1 beep/second; 120 beats per minute is 2 beeps per second.

I’m generally of the opinion that every bit of progress is worth celebrating…I’m just not used to celebrating an increase in tempo of 1 beat per minute!

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

-Psalm 27:14

As a side note: This is the last verse of the chapter, so if you’re memorizing it, we’ve got a day to review!  If you don’t mind, leave a comment or send me an email if you joined the memorization fun, especially if you shared it with someone.

The word wait fascinates me.  I didn’t say that I’m good at doing it; I’m not.  I easily get frustrated and impatient, wishing that the heart strengthening, prayer answering, project finishing, and promise fulfilling would happen now.  And sometimes it is, and I don’t recognize it as such!

But back to wait. The first two definitions given by Strong’s Concordance for this word are:

1. to bind together  (perhaps by twisting)- brings to mind images of carpet threads
2. to expect

Neither of those are my natural default synonym for wait. They do, however, shed fresh light on a the subject.  If I wait on God by being drawn closer to Him, it is active.  If I wait on God by expecting Him to work, it is active.  There is no twiddling of thumbs in this picture, and there is no staring at the ceiling.

This is living life, not watching it go by, as I wait.

Psalm 27:13

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

In other words…

I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth.

Psalm 27:13 (from the Message)

In “On Obstinacy in Belief,” C. S. Lewis notes that the common usage of the English word believe often indicates a very weak persuasion instead of a strong one.  The Christian usage of believe, to the contrary, can be used to indicate a very strong persuasion despite evidence to the contrary, not because of circumstances, but because of Who God is.  Lewis says,

If human life is in fact ordered by a beneficent being whose knowledge of our real needs and of the way in which they can be satisfied inifinitely exceeds our own, we must expect a priori that His operations will often appear to us far from beneficent and far from wise, and that it will be our highest prudence to give Him our confidence in spite of this…We trust not because “a God” exists but because “this God” exists.

pp. 24-25, The World’s Last Night: And Other Essays

So whether the “seeing” comes today, tomorrow, or after the resurrection, because of this God, full of goodness and faithful to His word, there will be no fainting.

Psalm 27:12

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Psalm 27:12

I hope that you’re not facing any particular situation with false witnesses…but the truth is that if you are following Jesus, you’re facing the accusations of the one called “The Accuser” himself.

So when the lies mount and the fight gets long, I plan on praying this verse.

Psalm 27:11

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

-Psalm 27:11

Maybe it’s odd, but what hits me when I read this verse is the last phrase: “because of mine enemies”.  The word translated “because” can indicate motive or purpose, so it makes sense that the reason David is praying to learn God’s ways is the existence of his enemies.

The commentaries I read seem to agree that one’s enemies are looking for failure, and a plain (level, straight) path will keep us from falling prey to their traps.  I wonder, though, if a level path in God’s way, could be good for our enemies as well as for us.

What if our enemies saw the way of love?  What if our enemies watched us walk in the way of peace and patience despite their best efforts to fluster or offend?  What if our enemies observed our Spirit-birthed joy in the middle of the brokenness of life?  What if, instead of tripping on the trap of pride, we walked in the way of meekness and gentleness?

What if…

…how our enemies might be changed!

Psalm 27:10

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

-Psalm 27:10

Vulnerable to oppression and potentially in great need, orphans are common.  In Africa, 12 million children lack at least one parent.  This child lost his momma, the beautiful woman holding him in this picture, a week after it was taken.

The promise of this verse is that the orphan will be taken up- restored- by the Lord Himself.  How does He do that?

Maybe through you.  Check out Project Impact and the four things you can do today to help restore: sacrifice, give, share, and challenge.

Psalm 27:9

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

-Psalm 27:9

If you’re joining the memorization fun, keep it up!  We’re more than half way to the end with a week until Thanksgiving.  As you internalize these truths, I’d highly recommend praying these verses and applying them to your own life or the lives of those around you (and/0r in need).  If you don’t know anyone who needs God’s help and constant presence, let me know…I do.

Psalm 27:8

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

-Psalm 27:8

There’s something to be said for internalizing a command.