Pastor’s Blog
The Fight: Psalms 57 & 142
When David was on the run, hiding to save his life, he wrote two psalms about living in caves. During that period, sometimes he felt hopeful and encouraged (Psalm 57), and at other times he felt hopeless and discouraged (Psalm 142). In both, he is up and down, fighting for faith.
Escape: Psalm 59:9, 17
Have you ever had a dream where you were being chased? There’s that sense of dire straits, of peril and intensity because "they" are out to get you, and they are coming fast! Thank God, that's just a dream. Imagine being on the run for your life!
Honesty: Psalms 57 & 142
In order to escape King Saul's jealous, murderous rage, David, though innocent, had to run for his life. He soon found himself a wanderer, a nomad, looking for any safe place that might provide protection for a little while. During that time, he found a cave to live in, and he wrote two psalms while living there. Psalm 57 is very hopeful. Psalm 142 is discouraged, fighting for hope.
Higher Thoughts: Isaiah 55:8-9
At a funeral, I experienced a profound moment of clarity to start my year. A husband and wife had died within a month of each other, on the cusp of retirement, and both of them were being remembered at the calling and service I was attending that afternoon.
In the calling line, I greeted the mother of the deceased, who was 90 years old. She was small, frail, usually seated, with eyes as bright as they were when she was 9. She took my hand, patted it, and said, “We don’t teach Him. He doesn’t need my help. This is just how it should be.”