Tag: trust

2 Samuel 15:13-31

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            David seems to be at his best when he is at his lowest.  His son, Absalom, carefully designed a conspiracy to take over the kingdom and it was looking as though he might just do it.  David and those loyal to him had to flee Jerusalem in order to avoid being done overthrown and killed.  They were between a rock and a hard place, to put it mildly.  David was running for his life.
 
            If we were to put ourselves in David’s sandals, what would be our response?  At the least, we would likely complain, find ways to maintain power, and get back at Absalom.  I am humbled by David’s unflagging trust in God.  Like Job centuries before him, David is willing to receive anything from the hand of God whether it is good or evil:  “let him do to me what seems good to him.”
 
            Yet, at the same time, David was in touch with his emotions as he left the city and ascended the Mount of Olives.  He wept and lamented over the situation he and all those with him had to experience.  A thousand years later, Jesus took the same trek out of the city in great sorrow because of people who conspired against him.  Christ faced the agony of the cross through the machinations of sinful humanity who did not want him as Lord over their lives.
 
            Our confidence must rest in the God who knows what he is doing.  We must rely on our prayers to the Lord as we navigate the difficulties of this life.  Humility goes a long way toward letting the will of God rule the day.
            O Lord, please turn the plans and the counsel of evil persons into foolishness.  Do not let the sinfulness of people have its way and run roughshod over my life.  I trust in you to bend a bad situation toward your own good purpose through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.

Psalm 61

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The Psalms are the prayer book of the Bible.  Sometimes evangelical Christians might forget the simple reality that not every prayer they utter has to always arise spontaneous from the heart.  There are many times, especially when overwhelmed or under duress, when speaking aloud a psalm perfectly captures the state and intent of our prayers. 
 
            As I sometimes do, today I offer my own contemporary paraphrase of a psalm that can be prayed by God’s people in times of difficulty:
 
O God, listen to me as I cry out to you from the depths of my heart,
            and bend your ear toward what I am saying to you;
from this emotionally faraway place I call to you,
            because I am about to faint with stress.
Lead me to the place
that is higher than my fears,
for you have been my refuge,
            a mighty fortress against the enemy of my soul.
 
Let me live in your safe-house forever!
            Let me be in a secure room with you standing guard!
O God, you have heard all the commitments I have made for your name’s sake;
            and you have given me a special place along with others whom you love.
 
Prolong the life of your committed servant;
            and may my years on this earth multiply with you in charge.
May I be seated with you forever in your glorious presence;
            command your grace and faithfulness to continually watch over me!
 
I will not stop singing about your great name,

            as I live for you with all my heart day after day.  Amen.

Psalm 20

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            At times the connection between our present situation and the past biblical historical context is readily apparent and sometimes it is not so clear.  In the crucible of life and the struggles of daily living we might too quickly pass over the grace, relevance, and truth of God’s Word to us.  In order to unite a bit more deeply with today’s Scripture, I offer this contemporary rendering of Psalm 20:
 
May the LORD answer you in the stress of your life!
            May the name of the God of all time protect you!
May he send you help from his holy place
            and give you support from heaven itself!
May he remember all you have given for him
            and be pleased with everything you have sacrificed on his behalf!
 
May he give to you your heart’s deep longing
            and carry out every good plan you conceive!
May we shout for joy when you overcome such incredible pressure,
            and in the name of our God throw a big party!
May the LORD bring to fruition every one of your prayers!
 
Now I know that the LORD delivers his people;
            he will answer them from his holy heaven
            with the full force of his saving power.
 
Some trust in military might and some in financial security,
            but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They collapse and fall,
            but we get up and stand with confidence.
 
O LORD, save us all!

 

            May he answer us when we call.

Isaiah 26:1-15

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            Today demonstrates and illustrates why I often make a big deal about following a more liturgical way of life through observing the Church Calendar or Christian Year.  How we live our lives through the time we have been given is not a neutral thing; it matters to God.  In my typical procrastinating manner, I just finished writing checks to the U.S. Treasury and the State of Wisconsin on this secular anti-holiday we have dubbed “Tax Day.”
 
            The Old Testament lectionary reading for today reminds me who is in charge, who I can really trust, and who is my true source of peace.  “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”  Keeping secular time usually stresses me out.  But remembering God by journeying with the life and work of Jesus through the Christian Year does not apply pressure to me; it unburdens me by re-orienting my sense of time, commitment, and responsibility back to where it ought to be: in Christ.
 
            I may not be rich.  Uncle Sam might squeeze more out of me than I like.  But I believe I am wealthy in a right, good, and important way.  I’ve been ordained to know and experience peace solely because of God’s love in Christ.  Tonight my head will rest with peace on my pillow, not because of a full bank account, but because I am united with Jesus in his death and resurrection.
            God of peace, you make level the path of your righteous people.  No matter what the circumstances might be, manifest your presence in me to such a degree that I will walk with Jesus with freedom and enjoyment through the enablement of your Spirit.  Amen.