I’ve asked Tony DeKoter, principle at Quisqueya Christian School in Port Au Prince, Haiti, to share his reflections on the readings for this week. Tony and Mary have been serving in Haiti for three years, you can read more at their blog, Hope For Haiti.
The Lord is my Rock, my sure Foundation, the Cornerstone of my life. My Surety. He is the Foundation of my life. And when the rains come, I will not be moved but stand firm upon His promises. I lift my hands toward You O Lord my God in praise. I call upon Your name, Lord. Answer me Lord. I need to be persistent in my talks with God. Listen to me Lord. As I need to have ears to hear and eyes that see Your presence so that I do not fall into the way of sinners who do what is right in their own eyes, who walk in their own light, who are their own gods. Open my heart Lord that I may follow Your shepherding, walking in the green pastures, but also realizing that when I pass through dark valleys in my life, Your presence is always there.
Therefore each day is a day in joy for the joy of the Lord God is my strength. And the psalmist also tells us that he gives thanks to God in song. God put songs upon many people’s hearts in order to drive the sadness, despair away such as the songs of David. Today, all too often we walk to our own music rather than the songs of thanksgiving that He has given me life and life eternal.
The psalmist comes full circle. God is his Rock and Fortress. He gives His people strength for today and the hope of tomorrow because He will carry His people forever.
What a Saviour!
Speak Lord for Your servant is listening.
God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He’s swift to repay
All those who bear the burden of the day
God gives His people strength.God gives His people hope
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard
He warmly welcomes anyone who’s erred.
God gives His people hope.God gives His people love
If we but open wide our hearts, He’s sure to do His part
He’s always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.
Thanks for being honest about your questions, they are real and they are hard. Like you, my limited, human vision keeps me from having the confidence and boldness of David. But David keeps me hopeful that if he can do it – and he was very human too, ask Uriah – with God’s help, then I can too!
David’s faith is worthy of admiration. First, he is sure the Lord is there even if He chooses not to respond (v.2). He is certain the Lord sustains, helps and protects him (v.5-7). Lord, help me build my faith like David’s. I know that when it is dark, it is hard for me to focus on the light, it is difficult for me to see You through the circumstances. I ask the question many times “why?”, “why did that have to happen to such good people?”, “are you not seeing all this, God?”, “why don’t you, who is all-powerful, do something?”
Forgive me Lord, and help me to say like David, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him and he helps me” (v.7) I am just a human with limited vision, but I can be confident in this: “The Lord is powerful; he gives victory to his chosen one.” (v.8)
heart-leaping joy
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 28
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. [Psalm 28:7] David is under attack, and his only hope is the Lord. He pleads for God’s mercy and help, otherwise he is doomed. But he does not look to the Lord in despair, he looks with hope. In fact, he is confident that the Lord is his strength and shield; he can even say that his heart is leaping with joy and rejoicing with song, because he is so confident in the Lord.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. [Luke 6:22-23] Jesus describes a similar situation as in Psalm 28 – someone who is hated, excluded, insulted, rejected because of their commitment to Him. They too can have their hearts leaping with joy and rejoicing with song, because they can be confident in Him.
Does this seem realistic? Many people, including many christians, cannot imagine this. But not only is it possible, it is necessary. This kind of joy does not just happen to us, but it is the result of a lifetime of seeking the Lord, serving Him with sincerity, and keeping in step with His Spirit. This kind of joy is the fruit of the Spirit, and is produced in those who seek to live in the Spirit, with the Lord.
Such joy is not something we can seek, or we can produce on our own. We are to set our hearts on knowing and loving and following the Lord; as we open ourselves to Him and His Spirit, investing in our personal relationship with Him, His Spirit produces this amazing joy. Again, we cannot attain this joy on our own; it is a by-product of a growing personal relationship with the Lord, by His Spirit in us.
Too many of us want the fruit (joy) without the root (a personal relationship). Too many fail to nurture their walk with God, and find themselves alone and desperate down the way. We cannot experience love, joy, peace, patience, etc. apart from this walk with the Lord. But as you do grow in your walk with Him, you too will be able to say (with is help): The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. [Psalm 28:7]
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the relationship we have. May we walk and talk together today, and may I experience this heart-leaping joy!