Well, it’s been over two weeks since my last post. I don’t know if I’ve been caught up in the worldly rat race or have been trying to avoid these next set of words in verse one. I have been contemplating them for quite some time and they really bring up a well of thoughts.
At first when you just read these last five words of ‘do I put my trust’ one would initially think that David is asking himself a question of: do I really put my trust in thee O LORD? While this isn’t what David is saying it does make for a great place to start. I know that many times I fail to put my trust in the Lord or question if the things I am doing convey a trust that is genuine and real. Honestly, the first thing that comes to mind, especially during these economic downturns, one might easily convince themselves to not tithe or get emotionally wrapped up in themselves wondering what will happen when the monies run out. Looking to ourselves, or others, for emotional substance is at its core the pit of evils. While we know that ourselves and others are unable to satisfy we still look to them for reassurance—slapping God in the face and saying that our trust is not in thee!
For me, these last two weeks have been very trying. I’ve started a few new blogging gigs and convinced myself that this blog can wait—totally contradictory to what God has told me to do this year! Did I not trust God to put things in place? Obviously I trusted myself more with the management of my time.
It’s amazing. When I was in college, trying desperately to finish, my wife decided to put off college until I finished. I had over two solid years left yet we committed ourselves to the plan of completing in a year (plus a summer). I had to convince the college to let me take so many classes. Now comes the best part. Regardless of the amount of school work I had I continued my Bible studies—putting in hours what some would say was ridiculous considering my course load. Trusting in God, He got me, and my wife, though it with higher grades than I ever had before. It was as if God had said, take care of our relationship and I’ll take care of your school. It’s a lesson I often forget.
Back to David we see that David isn’t questioning God, he is affirming the fact he does trust God, he is In God, and knows Him by name. Oh! How beautiful! What peace! Lord? Let me trust in thee every minute of the day because deep down I know that You sustain me.
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January 13th, 2009 · 1 Comment
Psalm 31:1 In thee, O LORD, do I
The first few words of Psalm 31 speak very loudly to a personal relationship with God that was enjoyed by David. He calls the Lord ‘LORD’, references himself as ‘I’, and puts action behind the relationship. David is going to do something here and needs to talk to God on a very personal basis.
Psalm 31 just wouldn’t have the same impact if it started with something like ‘God, your servant has something to say’ or ‘God, will I’. The fact that David is saying ‘LORD, do I’ tells us that David in fact has done something and has accountability for his action with his personal God.
I wonder how many times we have talked on the phone, received an email, or heard second hand that someone has done something for us or will do something for us. How trusted is that communication. Don’t we often want to see the person face to face, catch their expressions, and prove to ourselves that they are telling the truth? Plus, when someone tells us something face to face isn’t there just a bit more accountability behind what they say?
Being personal with God lets Him see us openly, vulnerable, and ready. When David called upon the Lord by name, he alone, his whole person, is ready and waiting to talk to God. David is getting serious with God in a personal way.
When something happens in my life there is nothing better in this world than knowing that I can call upon the Lord, sit down, and tell Him what’s really going on. Are you at your wits end? Just do what David has done. Call upon the Lord, get personal with Him, open up, and talk to Him.
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Psalm 31:1 In thee, O LORD, do
Where do you fall in the following list:
- I can do something
- I can do nothing
- I can do something for God
- God can do something
- God can do nothing
- God can do something for me
Depending on the amount of time you have, contemplating this list of how we do things just might produce some valuable insight into our lives.
When you play out the individual scenarios, you will soon find that the only value of doing something is when we do something for God. Every other statement leaves us out of touch with God. I can do something or I can do nothing (leaving God out of the picture) leaves us disconnected with God and often beating our heads against a rock—wondering what purpose we have in the world. This can equally be seen when God does something but we are unable to see what that might be or how it impacts our life. Oh, and God doing nothing is completely absurd.
Does God do things for me? Assuredly yes, quite often, and more times than I can count! But doing anything and expecting God to do something in return is a bit selfish and self-centered. Please don’t confuse this with the promises God ensures of us. God is just not a bank where you deposit money and expect a return, we would be playing god then. Plus, above the death on the cross, what higher return would you want? And isn’t the death of Jesus a free gift? NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED!
Now, here is the rub. With anything (read again, anything) you do, there is nothing within your power to control. I’VE TRIED! I thought I was controlling things for many years: my job, my money, my family, and even my spiritual life. I thought that if I would just do ‘X’ or just do ‘Y’ I would finally succeed and everything would be ok. While this worked for quite some time, I soon realized there were just too many things for me to do and I had no control over them at all. I asked God to intervene however He felt was necessary. Miraculously God squashed me like an insignificant bug and imparted some perspective.
If you find yourself in the ‘I can do’ syndrome but think there is no way out, remember that God, regardless of how far you think he is from you is faithful to hear you. While I’m getting ahead in Psalm 31, take heart, as David did, that God will hear you regardless of your perceived relationship with Him.
Psalm 31:22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
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