Archives: April 2008

Reading:
Psalm 144

I came to this verse…and grabbed it:

“That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace” (12).

That sounds like sons that I want — strong, sturdy, firm, sound, grounded, healthy, fruitful, useful, attractive.

That sounds like daughters that I want — anchored, anchors, useful, solid, unmoving, dependable, sturdy, sound, strong, attractive, useful.

Those are the kind of children and grandchildren I want!

Yes, indeed — “Happy is that people”!!!!

But the odds of my children having that kinds of spiritual character, power, and success likely decrease significantly if their dad doesn’t.

So I cry out with David . . . .

“Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children” (7).

“Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood” (11).

[Blessed be the LORD my strength...my goodness...my fortress...my high tower...my deliverer...my shield...he in whom I trust (Psalm 144:1,2)]

from Psalm 144:1,2

A little bit more from Psalm 144: Happy Is That People

When some choices are so many and so desirable...

Psalm 143

Which verse, that is.

So many of them in today’s short reading speak to the need of my heart as I awoke this morning.

I went to bed feeling like so many “things” and people that are important to me are fraying and tearing and coming apart. I awoke with my thoughts seeming to pick up where they left off.

“What is happening to me?! And my family and my church and my school and my mission? We are going down the tubes!”

Then I come to this Psalm and I hardly know which verses to latch onto for the various portions of my meditative and devotional exercises. And to narrow matters down to one verse for this blog seemed almost impossible. So, without further comment, here is my choice (followed by my other choices!).

“Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness” (Psalm 143:1).

“For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead” (Psalm 143:3).

“Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate” (Psalm 143:4).

“I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land” (Psalm 143:6).

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee” (Psalm 143:8).

[Teach me to do thy will...lead me into the land of uprightness (Psalm 143:10)]
from Psalm 143:10

A little bit more from Psalm 143: Deliverance and Refuge