Morning Moments

I find an interesting paradox in Psalm 31. Maybe it will be an encouragement to someone today.

The Psalm probably falls into a place following the closing of 2 Samuel. It is a plea for God's protection and at this point in time God was really upset with Israel. It really proves what I was saying last week regarding Providence or Accident. To understand this, we must compare 2 Samuel 23-24 with 1 Chronicles 21:1 as we carefully consider this Psalm.

In Psa 31:10 David says, "I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel."

Now here is the paradox: Psa 31:1 reads, "In thee, O Lord do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness." Then in verse 10 he says, "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth BECAUSE of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies...".

Here is the important thing to learn about these passages: People may be used of Satan to attack you, talk about you, laugh at you, and taunt you for your wrong doing, but it is GOD before whom we do not want to be put to shame, blamed, or forgotten. So, David looks beyond the enemy and all the hurt, to the Eternal God of love and forgiveness and says, "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou has laid up for them tat fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Peter puts it this way: "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your FAULTS, ye shall take it patiently? BUT if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, THIS is acceptable with God." 1 Pet 2:20

We all have faults and there are those who wish to focus on our faults rather than our Father. Even when they are used of Satan to do that, God who is Sovereign is using them for our good and His glory...so take the criticism, etc. patiently and God will be glorified. HALLELUJAH!

Remember the story of the old lady who was praying for bread? Two mischeivous boys were outside her window listening as she prayed. So they ran to the store bought some bread and took it back to the old lady.

She said, "O praise the Lord, He has answered my prayer. To which the boys replied, "Nope, we heard you praying, ran to the store, bought the bread and brought it to you ourselves.

The old lady responded, "The Lord sent it but the devil brought it."

PRAYER: Lord, help us to see that even in what we call accidents and tragedies, you are working it all for our good and your glory.