Category: Psalms

Hyssop

Old Testament: Joshua 13 & 14

Poetry: Psalm 51

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 6

Ahh….Psalm 51. There are few Psalms I can remember off hand what they are about. I usually can recall that Psalm 119 is the really long one kinda smack dab in the middle of the Bible that talks about the word of God. Psalm 100 is my Mom’s favorite that she still has memorized and can recite on turbo speed which is an uplifting one full of gratitude. And then there is Psalm 51. It isn’t super long and it isn’t super cheerful, but it is authentic, transparent, and full of repentance. A psalm of confession at a time in David’s life that is so significant even our Bibles tell us what David had just been caught doing before writing this.

I don’t know about you, but I know I wouldn’t particularly want people thousands of years from now reading about my sins or finding prayers I wrote on my darkest days. But, I am so grateful that God allowed that from the man after God’s own heart, a beautiful poet and gifted communicator whose contrite and sincere words are available for us today to encourage, convict, and restore.

 In Psalm 51 verse 7, hyssop caught my eye because right now I have it growing in my yard again, transitioning back to a vibrant green after the long winter of blah. For my purposes today, I like that it is a perennial with pretty foliage and purple flowers that also have some herbal benefits. But, in the Bible it is referenced as a cleansing and purifying plant, one used for cleansing lepers, ceremonial cleansings, and what the Israelites were instructed to use as a paintbrush of sorts for smearing the sacrificed lamb’s blood on the doorposts in Exodus 12.  How beautiful a psalm and image to read on the first day of Passover. How wonderful to know that since David’s time, through his line, we received a Messiah through whom we can be cleansed and made right to God.  It is encouraging to know that God always knew we needed this Messiah, and that Jesus was part of God’s plan from the beginning. The relationship with God we have through Jesus and the hope of the gospel he preached in the coming kingdom, a time of no more mistakes and tears, provides a source of joy today.

                Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities

Someone else must think Psalm 51 is a noteworthy one we can relate to because like it or not. . . here we come. . . .6 days in a row!

-Jennifer Hall

Questions:

1. What do you like about Psalms and the books of poetry in scripture?

2. How do you relate to the words in Psalm 51?

3. Consider what you need to ask God to cleanse you of today, and rejoice in the mercy and great compassion David reminds us are abounding in Him when we turn to him in repentance.

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Feelings

Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 33-34 

*Poetry Reading:  Psalm 42

New Testament Reading:  Romans 13

You’ve had the opportunity to read Psalm 42 for the last few days and maybe you have some ideas of why God included this in His Word to us. 

One commentary titled this Psalm as “Honest prayer from a discouraged saint” (Enduring Word).  You can see that the Psalmist was discouraged when writing these verses:  “My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (3).  “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (5a).  “As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (10).

Satan taunts us, trying to make us doubt God’s goodness and His omnipresence.  His ploy works far too often.  We look at this world and see the sorrow, stress, and sinfulness that is everywhere and it is easy to become discouraged and to doubt. 

The Psalmist recognizes that he is feeling cast down and in turmoil.  He brings those feelings to God in verse 9a, “I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me?’”.  While he honestly tells God he’s feeling forgotten by Him, he still has confidence in Him and shows that in calling him “God, my rock”.  God can handle our honest outpouring of emotions – even the really big, overwhelming ones! 

The Psalmist responds to these feelings by remembering a time of praising God (4), telling himself he will praise Him again (5, 11), recalling God’s love (8), and telling himself to hope in God (5, 11).  Rather than dwelling on what is wrong, he chooses to believe what he knows to be true and to hope in that.  He knows God is trustworthy and able to save.  Even when he doesn’t feel it. 

Feelings are fickle.  They come and go; swing up and down.  Feelings are not dependable.  But they are real.  The evil in this world is also real.  And we can become discouraged just like the Psalmist did.  God wanted us to have an example of how to handle these feelings.  And to ultimately choose to hope in Him.

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you discouraged?  Why – what is making you feel that way?  Tell God about it.  Then take some time to counter that feeling with a reminder that God is always with you and will always love you.   There is hope!
  2. For all living things, water means life or death.  This Psalm begins with a word picture of a deer panting for water.  It brings to mind a desperation – in this picture, a desperation of being thirsty and needing water to survive.  Then he says that just like that deer, his soul thirsts for God and he asks when he shall appear before God.  Again, reflecting a desperation, this time not for water, but for fellowship with God.  Have you ever been desperate for a closeness with God?  I find that the more time I spend with Him, the more I crave that connection.  If God seems distant to you, try spending some quality time with Him. 
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Down, but Not Out

Psalm 37:24 NLT – Down, but Not Out

Old Testament: Leviticus 10 & 11

Poetry: Psalm 37

New Testament: Acts 9

Today’s reading in Acts is the conversion of the Apostle Paul, once called Saul. This is a huge moment for the church. This man once persecuted Christians. Remember, he was there nodding in agreement when they stoned Stephen to death. After His encounter with Jesus, he became a servant to the Gospel. He wrote many books in the New Testament and was instrumental in spreading Christianity to the Gentiles. He is an important figure. However, I’m not going to focus on him today. I felt a little guilty about skipping over his story, but I’m reasoning most of us know Paul. Paul’s been taught many times to us and will be many times again. Instead, I want to share some insight I gained after doing a word study years ago on a verse in Psalms 37.

Psalms 37:23-24 says, “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall.” (NLT)
In the English language, the words “stumble” and “fall” mean the same thing. A look at the original Hebrew text for this verse reveals something different.

The Hebrew word used for the term “stumble” in verse 24 is the word “Qual” meaning to fall or lie down. The Hebrew word for the term “fall” in verse 24 is the verb “Hofal” which means to pitch, reel, cast down. In fact, the word Hofal is used throughout the Old Testament to describe objects being thrown. A more literal translation for this verse is: “Though they [the godly] fall, they will not be thrown out.” Or in other words, “down but not out!”

Understanding this verse in its original language reveals God’s amazing grace. Even when we struggle, even when we fall, God has not abandoned us.

We will make mistakes. We will sin. Earlier this week we read Leviticus 4 and 5 which gave instructions on the proper sacrificial offerings for unintentional sins. Sometimes our sin is not always deliberate. Sin can be the result of a broken heart.

Several years ago, I went through a very difficult breakup. I was mad at God. Mad at myself. Mad at the boy. In my anger, I threw a tantrum.

I witness tantrums on a daily basis. Let me tell you, there is a difference when a young child throws a tantrum and when a young child is deliberately disobedient.

When a young child throws a tantrum it is in anger because something did not go his or her way. In the early years of development, children are still learning how to handle big emotions. Instead of quietly moping or dealing with it, children whine, scream, throw themselves on the floor, talk back, run, hit friends, hit you, throw things. Literally ANYTHING to make it clear they are unhappy with you and the situation, while at the same time trying desperately to get your attention because they still need your affection. As mad as they are at you, they don’t want to be left alone.

During that period of my life, I fell, and I fell hard. Though I never walked completely away from God, I definitely ran around on fire screaming at God but refusing to jump into the refreshing pool of living water that could heal me. I took the long road towards healing. While it may have made me a more understanding teacher, I definitely would not recommend.

Once I was ready to properly deal with my disappointment and work through things with God, it took me twice as long to recover. I had to deal with the breakup and deal with the damage I caused while being angry with God. Thankfully, amazingly, God does not leave us. He does not cast us out. Though we may sin, struggle, fall along His righteous path, He does not throw us away. Our freedom to continue along His righteous path is bought with the precious blood of His son. In the words of Dr. Joe Martin “Hallelujah! Praise God! Amen!” *slam a table or wall*

-Emilee Ross

Reflection Questions

  1. This Psalm was written by David. What did he know about the godly stumbling? What could a full fall (or throwing out) have looked like for David? How was God holding his hand?
  2. When have you stumbled? Did you throw a tantrum? What could have a full fall (or throwing out) looked like in your situation? How was God holding your hand?
  3. What characteristics of God make Him really good at holding the hands of the godly, even when they stumble. What role does Jesus play? Be thankful!
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Little Money but Lots of Good

Old Testament: Leviticus 1

Poetry: Psalm 37 (all week)

New Testament: Acts 4

Psalms 37 is one of my favorite psalms. It holds a special place in my heart. When I saw there was a whole week dedicated to this passage, I knew for which week I wanted to write. This week we also will look at some exciting and pivotal moments of the early church. Finally, we start Leviticus. As someone who enjoys culture and history, I appreciated these passages in Leviticus as they gave insight to what life was like for the early Israelites. Without further ado, let’s dive in!


I am poor. I do not say this to gain pity, but rather as a matter of fact. I make
$17.50 an hour working full time at a daycare. I live by myself, with no roommates to split rent. I’ve got a senior dog who is on a special diet and needs joint supplements. I’ve got car payments, insurance, internet bills, and an expensive prescription medication I need every month. I am the woman in the grocery store with her phone–not texting but using the calculator feature to ensure I stay under budget. I have a second job teaching dance to give myself a small savings cushion. I tithe and trust God. I do this living from paycheck to paycheck life for one simple reason: I love my job!


I have been teaching preschool for the past five years. I am in my second year of
having my own classroom of five year olds to prepare for Kindergarten. I have a
college degree and could make more money elsewhere, but I truly enjoy what I do. I also feel I am using my God given gifts to serve my community. So, while I am poor, I chose to be. This makes my situation easier as I am not stuck like so many in real poverty are. There was a time, though, when I did not have as much financial peace as I do now.


There are videos going around on social media of women who make adult content bragging about how much money they have and showing off their amazing homes. When I discovered these videos, I was infuriated. Here I was struggling to get by, while these women who were deliberately going against God lived worry free. What’s more is they had a surplus of money to give away! There are even videos of them passing out cash to random strangers or handing out mystery electronic gifts. How I would love to be able to surprise bless people like that. My anger turned to jealousy. It was not as if I was jealous of some amazing singer, actress, or athlete whose hard work and talent was deserving of the monetary recognition. The internet has made it easier than ever to create adult content. Many of these women were the same age as me. We both had access to the internet. It was not a matter of opportunity but of morality that separated us. My jealousy soon turned to bitterness. I felt like I was suffering for doing the right thing.


Through my studies in scripture I came to realize this was not a new concept; that those who live lives of sin may also live lives of luxury. The first few verses of Psalms 37 address this:


Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass.
they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the
LORD and do good, then you will live safely in the land and prosper. (verses
1-3 NLT)


The writer addresses the financial differences between those who follow God and those who do not: “It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will shatter but the LORD takes care of the godly.” (verses 16 & 17 NLT). Throughout this passage the writer refers to a future reward. It is described as “an inheritance that lasts forever” (verse 18 NLT). We know this to be the Kingdom of God. This writer urges God’s people to refrain from anger but trust in a future land of prosperity and peace. It took me a while, but eventually, I began to let go of my frustrations and take the advice in Psalms 37 to not fret and worry about the success of the wicked. Soon, the bitterness, jealousy and anger I felt faded away and was replaced by a quiet peace in God.


Psalms 37 tells of a great future for those who trust in God. Jesus brings news of
this future in the Gospels. It is the promise of this same future that gave the early church members boldness when they first began facing persecution as we see in Acts 4. My prayer for you is on days when the world seems full of evil and
unfairness, you too will hold fast to the promise of eternal inheritance and future glory in the Kingdom of God.

-Emilee Ross

Reflection Questions

  1. What are your feelings when you see evil people prosper? What can you gain from Psalm 37?
  2. Do you have the promise and hope of an inheritance that lasts forever? If so, what difference does it make in your life now? If not, do you want it?
  3. What is the problem with putting your trust in money? What is better than money?
  4. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your own trust in God? Would you like to see it grow? What do you already know about God’s character? How can you learn about His character? How have you seen God provide?
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All His Wonders

Old Testament: Genesis 23 & 24

Poetry: Psalm 9

New Testament: Matthew 9

Psalm 9 is packed with so many insights into God’s character! Take a moment and read this Psalm if you haven’t yet. Keep an eye out for where David talks about God and His character. 

In this Psalm, David is comparing those who know God and those who are wicked. He mentions God’s holiness, justness, and provision – contrasting God’s response to both groups of people. David also mentions multiple times that he will “tell of your deeds” as he reminisces on the wonders that God has done in his life. David has confidence and faith in God because he knows that the LORD is faithful. 

Ok just a second though… in David’s time, Jesus hadn’t died and risen yet, let alone even been born. But look at how firm David is in his praise! He knows that God has done wonders and will do even more. He knows that God cares about His people.

How much more thankful can we be because we know of Jesus? We can have a beautiful perspective when we read the Old Testament because we know what happens in the New. The hope of God’s throne, of His provision, and judgment have an exponentially greater meaning to us with the hope of the Kingdom. 

Like David in verse 11, we can tell those around us the wonderful things God has done (and will do). We can even see this topic in the New Testament. If we flip to the other side of our Bibles, we see in Hebrews 10:23-25 that we have a steadfast hope because of the faithfulness of God through the sacrifice of Jesus. With this foundation, we can encourage each other as brothers and sisters. This encouragement will lead to love and good deeds – loving God and loving others!

Let’s take some time today to praise God for His faithfulness. That He has done wonderful deeds (Psalm 9:1), that He is a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9), that He hears the cry of the afflicted (9:12), and that He does not forget the needy (9:18). I find it so amazing that Matthew 9 reveals the heart of God even more. Jesus’ mission was to do his Father’s will, which means that we can see God’s character through the actions of Jesus. 

In Matthew 9:12-13, Jesus says that he isn’t calling the righteous, but the sinners – the ones who are sick and need healing. WOW! Friends, that’s all of us. Even those of us who have been believers for a while. We must remember that we too were and are sinners and have been saved! Thank you God for seeing the needy, the poor, the hurt, and the sinners. Now THAT is something to praise God with our WHOLE HEART (Psalm 9:1) for. Let us be glad in that. 

Today, I want to encourage you to think about the wonderful deeds that God has done in your life. See if you could ask that same question to another believer in your life. Sharing God’s faithfulness encourages and edifies both ourselves and those around us.

-Katelyn Salyers

Reflection Questions

  1. What wonderful deeds has God done in your life?
  2. Today who will you ask to tell you what wonderful deeds God has done in their life?
  3. Why is it important to tell yourself and others what God has done? What happens when we forget?
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Day and Night

Old Testament: Genesis 1

*Poetry: Psalm 1

New Testament: Matthew 1


I am proud to say that I rang in 2024 without a resolution. In fact, I have been resolution-less for the last three years. In a manner of speaking, I have completely given up on goals and I have no innate desire to make my dreams come true. It all sounds a bit melancholy, but follow me for a moment as I explain this change in mindset.  A few years ago, I stumbled across How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams, the author of the Dilbert comic strip.  In this book, Adams makes the case priorities and their processes have a much greater impact on success versus goal-driven behaviors.  I am not anti-goal or resolution, but when we resolve to make a checklist of accomplishment, no matter how big or small, that is a momentary celebration followed by a lingering aftertaste of, “Now what?”  

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take  or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” – Psalm 1:1-3

Psalm 1 presents the idea that Delighting in God and meditating on His words are not quantifiable checklist items that earn badges or streaks.  These are the priorities that help develop processes, such as a daily visit to the Seek Grow Love blog, to help us live a more fulfilled life, whether it is star-studded or filled with very few accolades. Day and night, it becomes the rhythm to which we live our lives, alongside the very beating of our heart.  The only reprieve is a temporary status of death.  Any merit or notoriety we hope to achieve as Christians, such as sitting at the right hand of Jesus (Matt 20), is legalistic hoo-ha, and ironically, resolutions that may keep us away from the pursuit of the Kingdom of God.

So what do processes look like that prioritize God, let His word speak, and lead to Living Water throughout 2024 and beyond? One example we have is the contrast of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. We must choose Jesus over the mundane daily grind. This means that when Jesus is speaking the words of God at your house, you stop what you are doing to sit down and listen. There will always be a nagging chore, entertainment, and distractions, but more than Martha, we have an opportunity to invite Jesus every single day into our home.  Don’t be in the next room working, literally or metaphorically, missing this opportunity. 

Another example might be more related to the execution.  As a parent to a couple of toddlers, I have  wryly pondered the question posed by Peter,  “How many times should I forgive brothers (or in my case, children) when they sin against me?”  The answer supplied by Jesus is 490, a number we have well-passed for the same offenses in my house. I think we all understand that this is not a literal number but a commitment to prioritizing love for others over indulgences of self.  Some of us may be asked to forgive more than others, whether in accumulation of trespasses or a single terrible, unspeakable offense, planting ourselves by the banks of Living Water is the way we have access to the infinite, inexhaustible grace of God and still find delight in the hardest of pills to swallow.

Trust the process of prioritizing and meditating on God’s word.  Find less resolution and rid yourself of the rote. Worry less about what you need to accomplish and look for opportunities, day and night, to spend time delighting in the Lord, who is watching over our way. This year, begin to leave the accolades to Him.

“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1:6

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What benefits do you see in living more of a priorities and processes life than a goals and resolutions life? 
  2. What are your priorities? What processes do you already do to keep your top priorities top? What tweaks or refinements could be helpful in keeping first things first? 
  3. What does it look like to Delight in the Lord? How does one meditate on His law day and night? What does the life look like that does these things? What does the life look like that doesn’t do these things? Where are you? Where do you want to be? How can you get there?
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Who Cares?

Old Testament: Zechariah 1 & 2

Poetry: Psalm 142

New Testament: Matthew 28

In my opinion, David had an amazing life.  They chose him to be king!  That’s something pretty impressive we can’t say (unless there are any kings reading this).  He was a hero as a young child when he took down Goliath.  That was such an impressive feat that someone made a song about him that we sang in Sunday School all the time.  Has anyone made a song about you?  Probably not (unless you are one of these people:  Delilah, Billie Jean, Roxanne, Jude, Mickey, Jack and Diane, Mrs. Robinson, and some others).  David had his ups and downs in life, but he seemed to have it together pretty well.  It was a bit surprising to hear what he had to say in Psalms 142.

Apparently, he was hiding out in a cave when he wrote this, so he probably wasn’t having one of his better days.  He starts out by crying out to God for mercy and telling him his trouble.  He says his spirit is growing faint and that no one is concerned about him.  In verse 4, he says that no one cares for his life.  He tells God to listen to his cry because he was in desperate need.  Clearly, David was down and out and feeling very alone.  If that state of mind can happen to someone like David, it could happen to anyone.  We all know that millions of people every day feel like this; probably some of you reading this.  There are a lot of hurting people in our world.

It hit me to write about this topic because it is two days before Christmas, and I think a lot of these lonely feelings are magnified on the holidays for many, especially at Christmastime.  We know the true meaning of Christmas has to do with the birth of Christ and you can celebrate that on your own, but the holiday has also become an important time for family for many.  There are many family traditions celebrated and family gatherings taking place.  This is how I knew I had cousins.  But not everyone has a great family situation, and some have little to no family at all.  Or maybe they don’t live anywhere near their family.  Unfortunately, holidays can make people feel a lot like what David was feeling.

In verse 7, David compared his situation to being in prison and asked God to set him free so that he could go back to praising him.  However, it was the end of verse 7 that caught my attention.  David ends by saying that the righteous will gather around him because of God’s goodness to him.  There may be someone crying out to God at this moment because they feel lonely and think nobody cares about them.  That person needs some righteous people to gather around them, so they know God is still good.  You and I need to be on the lookout for these people and be willing to sacrifice some time to surround them with some love.  I also have a suggestion for anyone who is feeling lonely themselves; be on the lookout for others who are hurting and be willing to sacrifice some time to surround them with some love.

Obviously, there are countless ways you can make a difference in someone’s life.  It is not difficult to figure that part out; the difficult part can be following through and doing it.  I challenge you to find someone that could use some lifting up.  I doubt it will take long to think of someone, but then move beyond the thinking to the doing.

Reflection Questions:

Have you ever stopped to think about those around you or are you too busy with your own Christmas celebration?  Can you think of someone who may be having a tough Christmas because they are feeling lonely?

What are some practical things you could do to let someone hurting know they are loved?

-Rick McClain

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Home Alone

Old Testament: Habakkuk 1-3

*Poetry: Psalm 139

New Testament: Matthew 25

Christmas is approaching, and today’s reading of Psalms 139 reminded me of the movie Home Alone.  I suspect most of you are familiar with the family who went on vacation and didn’t realize until they arrived at their vacation destination that they had left their very young son home alone.  This seems like a bit of a stretch; did they not consider why they had a leftover plane ticket?  Anyways, it was a fun movie and I know that probably all parents have forgotten about their kids when they were supposed to be responsible for them many times.  This is how crayon drawings happen on walls, unexpected haircuts happen, etc.  However, today we read that we are never alone, not for a second, literally.

God is always with us, whether you like it or not, ALL the time.  From your very beginning in your mother’s womb to this very minute, He has been with you the whole way.  He doesn’t ever sleep, and He isn’t just in the next room over in case you need some help; He is staring at you all day and night long.  I doubt He even blinks.  That is intense!  But that shows how invested He is in your life.  Moreover, He knows more about you than you know about yourself.  Give that a minute to sink in.  I know myself really well because I can hear all the thoughts in my mind, but He knows me more.  He knows my thoughts before I think them.  Whoa!

He is totally inside my head, but He still gives me the freedom to live the life I want, even when it is something He dislikes.  He allows me to go the wrong direction, but you’ve probably heard Him like I have, saying “don’t do that, that’s a bad idea.”  Can you imagine how He feels when we ignore Him and do what makes us feel good instead?  On the other hand, can you imagine how He feels when we listen to Him in those moments and do the right thing?

Let’s put ourselves in God’s shoes for a minute.  I know, basically impossible, but let’s try anyways.  Let’s imagine that you were as brilliant as God, and you used your talents to create a new girl or boy.  You also loved your new creation more than can be comprehended and you wanted to spend all your time with your new person every minute of every day for their whole life.  Does it seem creepy to love someone so much that you never want to leave them alone?  Maybe, but it also shows the incredible degree of love you have for them.

Now let’s look at some potential scenarios and see how you feel about them.  You love this person immensely and spend all day with them, but in the first scenario, they don’t ever even acknowledge you are there.  I would be devastated and extremely hurt.  How rude!  In the next scenario, they know you are there, but they rarely pay attention to you.  They could go hours or even days not saying a word to you.  Why are they ignoring me?  Do they not like me that much?  In the last scenario, they understand what you did for them and that you are there for them.  They stay in contact with you all throughout every day.  They appreciate what you do for them, and they love you as best as their human hearts allow.  That sounds like a great relationship that both people would feel great about.

God cares about you so much that He is always with you.  He nudges you along the way to keep you on the right path, but He lets you make the decisions in your life.  He invests so much in you because He loves you immensely and wants to have a personal relationship with you.  It is an understatement to say we are fortunate to have someone so knowledgeable, powerful, and loving on our side and so involved in our lives.

Reflection Questions:

Do you realize how important you are to God?  Have you thanked Him for that lately?

There is a lot to be upset and anxious about in today’s world.  Does it make it easier when you stop to consider that God is with you to the end through all the difficult times?

How long do you typically ignore that there is someone (God) with you each day?  Do you acknowledge Him throughout the day, or do you get to the end of the day, and say, “Oh, Hi God, I forgot you were there.  Sorry I didn’t have time to talk today”?

-Rick McClain

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The Search for Knowledge?

Old Testament: Amos 7-9

Poetry: Psalm 131

New Testament: Matthew 17

Our Psalm reading starts today with this verse:

1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.

When reading through this, I had two thoughts on this first verse from different perspectives.

  1. Do we sometimes try to understand things that we just really can’t understand?  There are some people who want to know the answer to everything.  And searching for knowledge isn’t inherently bad.  But does it become so much of a priority that it is leading you toward pride?
  2. On the other hand, do we let this become an excuse to just say “well, I guess we can’t know” and give up on the pursuit of truth and knowledge?

I think there probably has to be a balance between these two things.  When I don’t know the answer to something (that I believe to be unanswerable – not like a math problem that has a clear answer), it just doesn’t bug me.  I know other people who just have to know and they spend so much time searching and studying and still not finding answers which frustrates them.  But I do let that be an excuse at times to not search for an answer and give up on something that I could know more about.

The passage goes on to say, “But I have stilled and quieted my soul […] O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.”

That’s the key.  Our hope shouldn’t be found in knowledge.  Our hope should be in the LORD.  We should be at peace with the things that are above our understanding.  But I also think we should try to know the LORD as best as we can with our human minds.  In John 17:3, it says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  Eternal life is to know God and His Son Jesus.  And we can’t know Him if we don’t spend time pursuing Him even if we can’t have all the answers.

So we should be doing what we can to know and understand God, but also let go of our desire to have the answer to everything, humble ourselves, and live in peace knowing that God’s ways are greater than our own.

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Is there some information you are content not knowing? Like what?
  2. Have you ever found yourself struggling with pride because of what you do know? How can you practice humility instead?
  3. What do you think God wants us to know about Him and His Son?
  4. Do you ever misplace your hope and put it in yourself and all you know and can do – instead of in God? What is the remedy?
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It Changes Everything

Old Testament: Amos 5 & 6

Poetry: Psalm 130

New Testament: Matthew 16

In our reading today, we see these verses:

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you. – Psalm 130

This was written back in the pre-Jesus times.  Yet even then, the writer speaks of forgiveness of our sins.  How much more is that available to us with the blood of Jesus to wash those sins away?  We can be so thankful that the LORD does not keep a record of our sins.  If He did, we could not stand.

Has someone ever done something to you that you hold onto and struggle letting go of?  Now I do think there can be wisdom in remembering things that are dangerous – say, you play a game of pool with your then-boyfriend, and he hits you with a cue stick in the face on accident.  Then maybe, when you play pool with your now-husband, you are a little extra careful to make sure you don’t get too close when he is lining up a shot. 

That’s a joking example, but there are times when serious hurt may be done, and we can learn from those instances so they don’t get repeated.  But learning from things and keeping a record of sins to hold against people is very different.  As you are reading Psalms 130 today, ask yourself, is there someone that you need to forgive or something you need to let go of?

Our New Testament chapter for today is Matthew 16 which is where Peter makes the big confession – identifies the truth – that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  If we too confess this, we can take part in the forgiveness of sins.

The Psalm continues on –

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

I don’t feel that I do a great job of waiting for the LORD with my whole being.  It isn’t in the forefront of my mind.  It is easy to live life with the focus not being on God with so many different things available to distract us.  How would my life look different if that was my main focus? 

We talked in a youth group class this year about how the good news should radically alter our lives.  It should infuse every aspect of it.  That thought came up again in a book I was reading related to parenting.  The gospel changes everything.  If God is my main focus, and I let the salvation that Jesus has made possible alter every part of my life, that includes how I interact with my children.  Parenting is what stood out to me in that, but that might not be where it hits you – maybe for you, you are struck that the gospel should change how you go to school, interact with your friends, work at your job, etc. 

If you want a song reminder of this Psalm, visit https://open.spotify.com/track/6A6GlReEZA0eG48K9yKK0J to hear a song written by Aaron Winner called “Wait For the Morning.”

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Is there someone that you need to forgive or something you need to let go of?
  2. How would my life look different if waiting on the Lord was my main focus? 
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