A Psalm of David.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there Your hand shall lead me,
and Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in Your Book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with You.
Oh that You would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against You with malicious intent;
Your enemies take Your Name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
In the last several years, I had a conversation with someone who asked why God makes such a beautiful Psalm and, suddenly< there is talk of harm, evil, death and judgment. Real life. If you are having a child in the middle of war, you are very protective. This is about the realities of life. It's about having your first child and being fired for the whim of a new boss. This is real life.
When the Bible is talking about enemies, these fall in several categories. Things we do ourselves that harm our lives. 95% of life is our reaction to the wrong, which is 5% of life. Usually. We are talking about when you are having a sunny day and, suddenly, the situation is so intense and so dramatic. It's as if massive black birds attacked you. Then you know you have been part of Spiritual Warfare. And the Bible and Jesus Christ are the place to turn when life has taken a massive turn and you are bewildered and worried all of life will seem like this.Who battles with us when this is the reality. No one can talk an employer into not having a whim. No one can stop an attack that is Spiritual. No one can stop your own reactions that harm your life. Only the Lord. Only Jesus.
And Jesus has a way of saying the front of life is Good like God is so delighted and makes many comments on life being good. Jesus is focusing our Spirit and Strength Like Philippians - seeing what is noble, pure and right and focusing on the beauty of Life. Re-directing our attention first to the Willingness of God. What God would have us see first.
Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone.
Malachi 4:2
But for you who fear My name,
the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;
and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God,
holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Abba, Father,
Blessed be Your Name.
We would follow You on the wings of morning.
Your mercies renew.
As Your children fled from Romans - the children hearing of the Good News of Jesus Christ
for the first time were in awe to learn that God would just "give."
You have given to us by choosing Your Plan for us long before time began.
You have given us a Hope
and a Future
for those who have called upon Your Son Jesus earnestly.
Night will be no more.
We will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be our light,
and Jesus will reign forever and ever.
These words are trustworthy and true.
And the Lord, the God of the Spirits of the prophets.
Blessed is the one who keeps the Words of God.
We thank You, God,
You are the fulfillment of the Law.
Father God, even the darkness is not dark to You;
You formed my inward parts and You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
My frame was not hidden from You,
when I was being made in secret, intricately woven.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance.
Your love had You write my name,
in your book were written,
every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Your Love is higher than all the heavens,
in order to fill the whole universe.
This is the Fullness of You, Father God.
Open the eyes of all people.
To receive the blessing and joy of the healing of Jesus Christ the Lord,
with earnestness.
I am still with you. Upon Your mercy and grace, in Jesus, we hold fast
and ask Your favor upon us
and the ones we Love.
You have blessed us.
We lift up healing to Jesus Christ.
Amen in Jesus.
We Thank You, Father, Your Book of Life is Hope and Future for us all. Life.