Archives: March 2006

Sometimes we think certain occupations are “just” occupations. Not much. Unimportant. Lowly. Insignificant. Not glamorous.

Amos was in that category. He was merely a shepherd, just a herdman.

“The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa…” (Amos 1:1).

But God saw him, and knew him, and called him, and used him. Like He did other shepherds — Joseph, Moses, David, and others.

God sees and knows me, too. He calls me and wants to use me. Even if I’m just a stuck-in-the-office-out-of-sight Internet book peddler.

Imagine that!

“Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:164).

That’s roughly every two waking hours.

For at least a bit of praise focused on God’s justice, righteousness, and Word.

And maybe another seven times for praise focused on His other blessings to me.

So I could alternate praise times every waking hour.

I assume that would make it difficult to stay discouraged for very long.

(I have to assume because I have no experience at it.)

Speaking of seven times, this verse reminds me of this one in Proverbs:

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (24:16).

I suppose that individual praises the Lord each time (seven, you know) for the grace, strength, courage, desire, and ability to get up and try again after each fall.

Having said all that, I suspect the use of seven is meant to suggest that any time is a good time to praise God. And any time is a good time to get up from a fall.