...therewith to be content

Well, I am experiencing quite the weekend…  (although, I am sure there are many who will say, “That’s all you have to worry about?”).

First of all, this is the weekend we have been anticipating for months! Our daughter is coming in to teach her once a semester Module Class! YAY!! Add to that, my mother-in-law comes in Tuesday, and our son-in-law comes in Thursday! This is a lot to be excited about~so, why is this entitled 

“…therewith to be content”?

This also happens to be the weekend ‘everything else’ takes place~~out of town!

Four weeks ago I had managed to work out all the planning and preparation details around all the scheduling conflicts and other activities. I was comfortable with how it was all going to work out!

Three weeks ago, some plans changed, and things looked even better. I rearranged my train of thought and plan of action around the new schedule. Once again, I was comfortable with how things were going!

THEN, Wednesday of this week, plans reverted back to the original schedule. The only problem was ‘when was I going to do the stuff I had scheduled to do on Saturday?' Every minute of Thursday and Friday were filled (plus the fact that I have been fighting a sinus/head cold).

As I began evaluating the MUST DO list, and with the help of a wonderful, supportive, fantastic hubby, progress was made~but not enough to satisfy me.

On my way to work Friday morning I was once again hashing through the mixed feelings of being excited for seeing our daughter (now on Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday evening) and what still had to be prioritized before leaving town early in the a few hours. During this conversation with myself (I’m thinking I probably should have been having a conversation with God rather than with myself), I said, “I don’t regret any of the additional activities of this weekend. It is an honor and privilege to be a part…but…

'if only the timing weren’t so bad!'

Then I caught myself. What had I just said? “If only the timing weren’t so bad?…”  Whose timing? Mine or God’s?   

I then remembered my husband’s Wednesday Night Bible Study from Philippians 4:11-13. “…therewith to be content…” His summary statement was “Be satisfied in whatever situation you find yourself.” 

How did he know I was going to need that a couple of days later?

So, I had no choice but to take a sigh of relief and let it go! The timing IS perfect, and I must be satisfied with the situation… 

and I am...

Debbie

...out of deep waters

Returning our thoughts to Psalm 18 from my previous post, I would like to invite you to check out my March 28, 2011, post from my archives. Here I presented some interesting and encouraging thoughts regarding the use of the word ‘overwhelmed’ in Psalms 61.

As I was going through that first section of Psalm 18 a couple of weeks ago, I thought of that blog post as I read verses 4 and 16. 

Let’s put the two together.

The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

Once again, as seen in Psalm 61, and other Old Testament passages, the word 'overwhelmed' is used in context with completely being covered over, like a flood.

And, although the word 'overwhelmed' is not used in verse 16, we can still see the same word picture.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

So, as we refer back to March 28, 2011 and Psalm 61, we see David once again called out to The One who can handle the ‘flood’. 

Lead me to THE ROCK that is higher than I. 

He draws us out of the deep ‘overwhelming’ waters and places us in a safe, spacious place (18:19).

As I stated 18 months ago~~

Maybe you can remember this little ditty to cling to when you feel overwhelmed:

When he was overwhelmed, David knew just what to do. 

I, too, will follow Psalm 61:1-2

Debbie

THEN........

As many of you may recall from past posts, I love ‘running across’ the word BUT in the Bible. It usually shows up in sections that portray the sinfulness of man followed by the  glorious words, “but, God…” What joy and relief that thought brings to mind! Then, sadly, it also shows up in sections that portray the faithfulness, grace, and mercy of our loving God~~followed by the dreadful words, “but, man…”

Well, in my continued readings from Psalms (by the way, I am now on page110 out of 1528 in Spurgeon’s Treasury of David—see July post.), I came across another revealing word~~the word, THEN.

In Psalm 18:1-3 David begins with a song of praise to the One who is his strength, his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his salvation, and his stronghold. David knew where his help came from! (See also Psalm 121:1-2). You see, David once again found himself in quite a predicament as he continued to hide from the wrath of his enemies. David expressed the depth of his situation in verses 4-5, and in verse 6 he called out to his help.

~In my distress I called upon the Lord….and He heard my voice~

Now comes my word! THEN.....

Just as discussed in my previous two posts, David arises with confidence and his stance of victory-He ‘raises his shield’ and proclaims:  THEN… 

I considered just posting the passage and having you read it yourself—but this is too good to have someone miss out if they don’t have a Bible by them. So, albeit long, enjoy these THEN events as seen in verses 7-15!

                THEN the earth shook and trembled: the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it.

                He bowed the heavens also and came down with darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 

NOTE HERE: Spurgeon explains this shaded darkness as “the secret chamber of the invisible, but wonder-working God” Although we may not be able to see His workings, He is still there fighting for us!

Let’s pick this magnificent scene up again. 

                The Lord thundered from Heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

David concluded this section with his rescue in verses 16-19.

                He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me…But the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

You can continue this particular Psalm on our own—I think you get the message! If you couldn’t say, “WOW” after all that…...

Didn’t that make you want to just jump up and shout! These are words to dwell upon next time you find yourself completely overwhelmed with the pressures, struggles, and enemies of  this life.

In closing, although this has been long, I couldn’t help but consider the following stanza from the old hymn, ‘O Worship the King’ as I read verses 9-12 as noted above:

O tell of his might,
O sing of his grace,
Whose robe is the light,
Whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath
The deep thunder-clouds form,
And dark is his path
On the wings of the storm.

Debbie

Next time we will consider phrases from verses  4 and 16 and refer to a post I wrote 18 months ago!

Take Heart~~and Sleep!

Last time we looked at the SELAH of Psalm 3:2 and the encouraging promise of verses 3-4. We saw that the discouragement and enemies we face don’t have to get us down. When it looks like all is against us we can raise our hands in the face of bad times and say, “No-oo, you’ve got it all wrong.” God DOES love me~He DOES have my back. He is my shield-not only my shield, but my buckler (which protects a soldier from all directions)! I can lift my head with confidence. God hears my cry from His hill! I CAN face this struggle~I am not alone!

We have determined that we can face the day with confidence. But David isn’t finished. Check out verse 5! We can end the day with confidence as well. We CAN sleep peacefully in His arms of protection!

We don’t have to allow anxiety, uncertainty, and fears keep us up at night. We don’t have to pace the floor as King Darius did in Daniel chapter 6. We don’t have to toss and turn in sleeplessness. 

The confidence that David mustered from His faith in God not only led him through the day, it got him through the night as well. 

On the run, hiding from his enemies (actually his own family!), no place to lie his head~~~David stated he could lie down and sleep! He could wake up the next morning claiming, “the Lord has sustained me!”, and then begin another day proclaiming, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me!”

If you jump ahead to Psalm 4:8, David makes the same statement, 

   “I will both lie down 

                                         in peace, 

                                                       and sleep. 

For YOU alone, O Lord, makes me dwell in safety!” 

What peace! What confidence!

During the day, turn to your buckler, lift your head, and face what comes with confidence. 

At night, turn to your buckler, LIE DOWN IN PEACE and SLEEP!

Nighty Night!

Debbie

Take Heart~~SELAH

About a week ago I started reading through Charles Spurgeon’s Treasury of David (even though there are 1528 pages, and I am only on page 15!).  

 

Today, a passage in Psalm 3 struck me. It actually struck me so hard that, as I read verse 3, I 'added words' in my head. This realization left me to say, “wow~that’s good stuff!”

Here is what led to that ‘added phrase’.

Spurgeon used the opportunity from verse 2 to introduce the word SELAH (I have a friend who named their daughter Selah. What a beautiful name when you consider the following description). He defines SELAH as a musical pause to prepare the voice or the instrument for a change in pitch or volume to introduce a dramatic theme or conclusion. I think of it as the high soprano taking that deep breath before ‘belting’ out the high note at the climax of the cantata! 

Spurgeon states that with a SELAH "there is always something excellent where we are required to rest, pause, meditate, or lift our hearts in grateful song." He encourages us to read and contemplate on what comes just before and just after the SELAH. 

So, I went back and reread the end of verse two and the beginning of verse three. In verses 1-2, David laments his troubles as he runs from his son, Abasolm. He admits that his enemies are taunting that even His God has turned His back on David and can’t/won’t help him now! David probably feels this as well as he recalls his sins against Uriah and Bathsheba (a Spurgeon note).

Then verse three follows the SELAH: But…..You, Lord….

At this point, I wrote in the margin~ But “no, they’ve got it all wrong”.  Actually I wrote “NOO-ooo, they’ve got it all wrong!” Can’t you just see David rising, placing one hand on his hip and shaking the pointer finger of the other hand and saying, “They may say you have turned against me too, but NOO-ooo, they have it all wrong, because you O, Lord are my shield, you lift up my head, and you hear my voice from your Holy hill!

Wow! Can’t you just hear (and feel) the confidence return? 

Spurgeon explains that the word shield is actually from the word buckler, which protects you from all sides. 

Are you in a tough spot? Going through tough circumstances? Feel like everything and everyone is caving in around you? Feel like even God has forsaken you? Take heart~~~

Take that deep breath and belt it out~~NOOO, I’ve got it all wrong! 

He is my shield (my buckler!)

          He will lift my head

                   He will hear my voice from His holy hill

Get out of the pit and move forward~~~The sovereign creator God has your back!

SELAH,

Debbie