December 7 thru 13, 2009

Scholars tell us that Psalm 31 is a prayer that was written for use by individuals needing deliverance from personal enemies. Today our enemies may not carry swords or shot arrows at us, instead they may us half-truths and manipulation against us. And of course there are enemies that aren’t human which we must face, including our own tendencies, past failures and fears. I hope as you spend the week with this Psalm it will encourage you, inspire you and give you the confidence you need to serve the Lord a renewed trust, no matter what.

Day One: Psalm 31:1,2. Psychologist learned many years ago that people don’t think in words, they think in images. The poet begins by creating powerful visual images through the use of carefully chosen words. Throughout that land there were special places where an individual could seek refuge. Those who were seeking to harm them were not allowed to enter these places of refuge. The poet then continues with a plea for speedy rescue. Several months ago most of us were captivated by the story of the miners who were trapped in a coal mine back east. The miners were rescued, but no doubt the trapped miners were wondering what was taking so long. We know that the rescue crews worked as fast as they could but that but it took time for the engineers and workmen to do it safely. In thee, O Lord, do I seek refuge…be thou a rock of refuge for me…rescue me speedily!

Day Two: Psalm 31:3-5. A man and his family were on vacation in coal mining country and stopped to tour an old mine. Each tourist was given a miners helmet with a lamp on it as their guide explained that it was pitch dark down there and gave careful instructions about going through the tunnels. Dim electric bulbs lined their way into the mine, but once they were in the mine, the guide instructed them to light their miners lamps and then for dramatic effect, he turned out the electric bulbs. Suddenly the group was engulf by the darkness. The meager light from their lamps didn’t seem to penetrate it. Then they began to move forward into the darkness. Somehow the man had become separated from his family and wound up at the very back of the tour group. He said that most of the time he couldn’t see the person in front of him. He knew they were there, but he had to simply follow their sounds and walk in the light provided by his own small lamp. Suddenly, he became aware of red flashes several feet in front of him and realized that they came from his son’s athletic shoes (you know the kind that have a small light on the heel that flashes every time you take a step). He knew his son had positioned himself right behind the guide and he felt a sense of security in the midst of the darkness because he knew that if he followed the flashing lights he’d be guided safely out of the dark tunnel. “Lead me and guide me…into thy hands I commit my spirit…”

Day Three: Psalm 31:6-8. Lincoln is supposed to have said “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Whether he said it or someone else said it and he got credit for it doesn’t alter the fact that it is a true statement. The poet, beset by enemies declares that because he trust in the Lord’s steadfast love and deliverance he has decided to rejoice and be glad. In one of my dad’s old sermon briefs dealing with this passage, all he wrote beside verse seven was, “Counting hundred dollar bills on the half…tell about Jack.” I don’t know who Jack was, nor do I know the story he told about him, but I do know what counting hundred dollar bills on the halves means. There is an old saying that “some people would complain about the work if they were counting hundred dollar bills on the half” meaning they would get half of the money they counted. The obvious point being that some people choose to be unhappy and complain no matter what. As the objects of the Good Lord’s steadfast love, we should choose to find reasons to rejoice and be glad. The Psalmist declares “I will”, not “when things get better”. The greatest gift besides Jesus that we’ve been given is the ability to use our mind to make choices. The greatest choice we can make each day, regardless of circumstances is to find reasons to say with the Psalmist, “I will rejoice and be glad…”

Day Four: Psalm 31:13-16. Several years ago, I heard about a college aged church group that went mountain climbing. Naturally, they had experienced guides and the best safety equipment they could find. Everything went well until they reached the summit. The lead guide went first, followed by the department director (himself an experienced climber). In order to get to the summit, it was necessary to grasp the ledge with your hands, then swing your leg over the top and pull up onto it. The problem happened with the girl who was behind the department director. After she had placed her hands on the ledge, she looked down—and froze. “I can’t do this, she cried, if I swing my leg up I’ll miss the ledge and fall.” Calmly, the guide put his hands over hers and said, “Sue, God’s got you this far without falling, don’t you think he’ll get you the rest of the way?” Sue took a deep breath, swung her leg over the ledge and pulled herself up. Now this guide could have pointed out all the safety harnesses and ropes that would keep her from plunging to her death, but instead he tapped into her faith “God’s got you this far…” That’s what the poet means when he says, “My times are in thy hand…” Regardless of what obstacles we face, we can remind ourselves that God has gotten us this far and that proves he won’t fail us now.

Day Five: Psalm 31:19-20. I’m sure some people limit the meaning of verse 19 to a place we call Heaven. There is no doubt that Heaven will be a place of riches and splendor, but I don’t think the Psalmist was referring exclusively to the “sweet by and by” when he penned these words. I think he had been contrasting his own experiences. Like most of us, he no doubt had periods in his life when he tried to handle things his own way. During those times he had discovered just how meager the resources available to him were in his self-created refuge. Having grown in his faith through the years, and having learned to trust God in all of his circumstances, he knows from experience that within the refuge God provides there are riches of wisdom, peace, hope and deliverance. These are “laid up” in the place of refuge. All we have to do is enter it and discover its wondrous bounty. “O how abundant is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee and [are] wrought for those who take refuge in thee…”

Day Six: Psalm 31:21,22. Anyone who has lived any length of time has probably experienced feelings of total hopelessness, despair and alienation. Perhaps it was due to the loss of a job, financial difficulties, the break up of a marriage, the death of a loved one or it may have been because people they trusted betrayed them. That is the sense that I get as I visualize the scene the poet sets before us. He tells us that there have been times in his life when he felt like there was totally surrounded by adversity. He speaks of feeling alienated by his problems from not only his friends but even God. But then he declares that no matter how bad his circumstances or how hopeless his case appeared, God always heard his cry for help and came to his assistance. Of course, God doesn’t always give us instant relief by rigging the state lottery or casting magic spells to make our problems disappear. No, instead he does what any loving parent does, “he shows us his steadfast love” by responding to our cries for help with the things that will make us stronger, bigger and better. It might be fresh insights into a problem, it could be through a series of coincidences that introduces us to new people who are able to help us, or it could simply be giving us renewed hope and encouragement that helps us realize we have the resources to handle the situation. “Thou didst hear my supplications, when I cried to thee for help.”

Day Seven: Psalm 31:23,24. There are some important truths hidden beneath the surface of these verses. The worst thing for a relationship is one person to taking the other for granted. The fastest way to turn an ally into a foe is to take complete credit for his or her ideas. The opposite of love isn’t hate, it is indifference. The way to “turn off” a helpful friend is to become overly dependent on them for advice or help. For that reason, the poet encourages us to Love the Lord, be strong and think courage not fear in the face of adversity. Then we can be assured that when we wait for him, he will preserve us. “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”