Hello, my friend. All of us, I am sure, have occasionally a time of reflection, prayer and renewal in thought and in action, when all the celebration, music and rejoicing is past and life gets back again into its usual, and really significant routine. Even as a wedding is a great, exciting and beautiful celebration, it’s the marriage that counts. And it’s often what we are in dull-times that reflect who we really are! We all thrive on excitement, but Grace often grows best in winter. So we look into our next PSALM 31 to see what it has to say about the daily grind.
It’s a long Psalm and again so much of it is consumed with David’s lament over his difficulties. Seldom in all of Scripture do we see a man who seems so anguished over his situation to the point that he says, (vs.10, following) “My strength fails…my bones grow weak…I am the utter contempt of my neighbors…I am a dread to my friends—those who see me on the street flee from me…I have become like broken pottery.” If you are having one of those low-esteem pity-parties, you’ll find a companion in David at one of his darkest moments in this Psalm. But he never remains there. Notice how his mood shifts in vs. 14, “But I trust in you, O Lord,” and here, marvelously, his whole lament is changed into thankfulness for the Lord who becomes a refuge, whose shelter is a presence to hide him (vs.20).
One of the keys to this Psalm is in vs. 6, where David says, “I hate those who cling to worthless idols, I trust in the Lord.” It’s useful, now and then, to see if there are any idols which have crept in, some things which have assumed primary importance in my life, in my time, or thought, or treasure or the use of my talents. Jeremiah 2:5 says, “They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” They did not ask, “Where is the Lord…?” What a solemn statement: what we pursue we become, because our goals define who we are. Speaking of idols, Psalm 115:8 says, “those who make them will be like them, as will all who trust in them.”
So thoughtful review becomes an inventory-time. Even simple, seemingly innocent things can become idols, including self-pity, bitterness, indifference to God’s presence and His will. Big things like money and prestige and power can become idols, but they seldom have any place in our lives. But whatever the idol is, it can be joyously replaced by the presence of the Sovereign Lord. This is true worship.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the privilege of pondering your Word together and listening to it speak to us. Thank you for my friend who is along, even as we pray for each other and seek to know you well. Bless each one, even as we think today of some who are critically ill. We love them Lord, and pray for their loved ones. Thank you, Lord.
And thank you, partner, for your fellowship. I thank God for you. Cheerio!
Village Schools of the Bible 