Psalm 27
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold [refuge] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet [in this] I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire [meditate] in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
2 Peter 3:8
Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Jesus has made a choice, He knew raising Lazarus would lead to His arrest. Jesus is taking time with His disciples in Ephraim, Bethany, Bethphage, the Mount of Olives, brief trips to Jerusalem. Jesus is spending time with the ones He loved. The Gospel of John from Chapters 11 to 17 talk about the final week of Jesus' life before His trial and death.
Luke 12:49
I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
Look at some of the small things. A celebration among friends - Jesus has saved Lazarus from death - so Mary, Martha and Lazarus have a dinner for Jesus. Martha serves dinner for Jesus, Lazarus rests with Jesus at the table. The house is perfumed as Mary anoints Jesus and the beautiful perfume fills the air. And what does Jesus do with this wonderful evening? He gives this joy to His disciples. He will, later this week, wash the feet of Peter and the other disciples.
Jesus has taken time to live in joy the remainder of His days. His joys, He will share. How do we know?
John's Gospel in the 17th verse, during Jesus' prayer for us:
John 17:13
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Jesus told us in Psalm 27. We will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Jesus dwells in the house of the Lord all the days of His life. Because the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus rests securely with His Father.
Father God, we are Your beloved. When two or more are gathered together You call us Your Bride. Jesus was never the reluctant Bridegroom. We attend to Jesus this week. We listen for Your voice and are filled with Your Joy at the Bridegroom's voice. Your joy is ours. This week You will atone for us, but You did not drag Your feet, but spent Your time in with the ones You love.
Your Fire is still burning, Lord Jesus Christ. This week help us to spread the Fire of the Holy Spirit. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
<><
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment