No One in Your Corner

Psalm 3:1-8

      Have you ever felt like the world was ganging up against you, like you were the only one standing on your side of the line? This is a common feeling among us mere mortals. We might start a project and feel like we have many people behind us, supporting us, encouraging us. And then when the project hits a few snags, or the time ticks longer than we had anticipated, we find ourselves with few standing in our corner. Those who had been there cheering in support seem strangely absent.

      We all need a team to help us, to support us, to help walk with us through the inevitable ups and downs of life. We need someone with whom to share the scary moments like the cancer diagnosis, the unexplained lump, the sudden loss of life, the prolonged illness, the bad investment, or the serious injury. We all have limitations, and when we reach the end of our resources, we need other people to be there for us.

      King David, like most national leaders, felt alone at times. It can be very difficult to be at the top of the pyramid. You can become an easy target when things don’t go well. This is true even when things are going well. Some people don’t like leaders no matter who they are or what they do. David brought stability for his nation. But it came at a price. Taxes became part of everyday life. They supported the structure that kept David in power.

      But David was at war with his neighbors. Or should I say, his neighbors were at war with him. They had lost their positions of power in that part of the world when Israel had moved in and defeated so many foes. And at this particular moment, as David penned this Psalm, David felt alone.

      And not only this, David had those who were starting the rumor mill against him. They were saying that even God had abandoned David, if there were a fight, God wouldn’t show up and help him. When you are the king put in power by God and promised with an everlasting kingdom, and then to hear people saying that the God who put you in power doesn’t even care, that could drive anyone to despair.

      But what does David do when despair could take over? David draws in close to the LORD. He declares the character and might of God. It is a personal connection that David cites. The LORD is my glory, shield, head lifter, protector, and sustainer. The very things that are missing when you feel alone and attacked are the things David proclaims are the LORD’s characteristics at that moment. The LORD fills in the gaps David feels. Although others have abandoned him, the LORD remains the same, faithful to the end.

      It can be important to remind ourselves of the character of the LORD during times of trial. When we feel alone we must remember that we are not alone. Feelings lie! Feelings get it wrong. Following feelings can bring disaster. And David doesn’t want disaster.

      The final thing that David does after reminding himself of the character of the LORD is to speak directly to his fear. He gives words to those deep fears in words of attack. He needs the LORD to help him. He knows he doesn’t have the resources to win the battle. This is a really good place to be. When we recognize and acknowledge that we are sinners, broke and incapable of rescuing ourselves, then the door is open for the LORD’s intervention. He often waits for us to give Him space to move. If we keep saying ‘no’ to His intervention by saying ‘yes’ to our own resources, He says, “Fine, have it your way.”

      David wishes he could deliver the final blow to the mouth of his detractors, silencing them once and for all. So he calls on the LORD to do it for him. Voicing what we want to the LORD is not a bad thing, even when that things might not fit in with our soft and gentle image of Jesus. There is not forcing the LORD to do what He doesn’t want to do. But being honest about what we are feeling and wanting, and then allowing the LORD to act in His way and timing, this is a good thing.

      David point to his Source in this moment of need. He points himself in that direction and he points the people in that same direction. He takes himself out of the driver’s seat. The people have been looking at him as their deliverer. David empties the chair and puts the LORD in his place. Not a bad move.

Authority’s Confidence

Mark 4:38

      Have you ever been in a really tough spot in life and wondered if anyone knew how close you were to drowning? Even those who are closest to you don’t seem to notice. You feel alone and forgotten even by family, by the world. You reach out but all you can grasp is air.

      Jesus is in the boat asleep in the back on a cushion. That is confidence. He is on a mission to get to the other side. He is exhausted from ministering to others. They have helped Him get on the boat and He has fallen asleep in the back, away from hustle and bustle of the crossing.

      Jesus had enough confidence in His disciples that He is able to sleep peacefully as they did their job. He is confident that He will be safe!

      What is almost funny is that the expert fishermen are afraid. Haven’t they learned yet that they are always safe if they are with Jesus! And they continue to express fear, despite Jesus multiple commands to not be afraid. When are they ever going to learn the lesson! They are afraid, again.

      What is really strange is that they think Jesus doesn’t care. This can be the reaction when you are in trouble and everyone else isn’t running to the rescue. We can interpret their inaction as uncaring. This is exactly how the disciples react. They think Jesus doesn’t care about them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus had confidence in them, more confidence than they had in themselves. And yet, they are afraid.

      Why are they afraid? They put their eyes on the circumstances rather than on Jesus. Jesus told them they were going to the other side. He didn’t say they were going to the bottom of the sea, or going to drown in the middle. He had expressed their destination and they were doubting His word in the middle of the storm.

      It can be easy to doubt in the middle of your storm. It can be easy to get your eyes of Jesus and onto the wind and waves. After all, Jesus’ disciples did, and they had Jesus right in their boat! Jesus was with them. He wasn’t on a suicide mission. He was asleep. How bad could it be?

      The hardest task in life is being able to rest in the middle of our storms, to express confidence in the presence of God when it seems as though our prayers aren’t being answered and we feel so alone and abandoned. That is faith in action. Jesus knew He was right where He was supposed to be, that He had something to do on the other side. He knew where He was going, so He didn’t get upset with a few bumps along the way.

Spill the Beans

Proverbs 12:22-23

There have been several stories lately about people telling things they were supposed to keep secret. They betrayed a promise they made when they started the jobs. Right or wrong, they broke faith with their employers.

One of the great skills is life is knowing when to shut up! We all need to learn this important skill. We all know people who just fill empty, silent air with their voices. This fill-the-space-itis takes many different forms, but each one has a cure.

Some always have a personal story about every topic under discussion. Sometimes these stories fit, and sometimes they don’t. And the person telling the story often doesn’t realize that the people around them many times go into ‘pause’ mode when the story starts. You can see it on their faces. When the story is done, they pick up right where they left off, without skipping a beat. Take the story out of the conversation and you would never know it was missing.

Some people fill the space with odd facts, or humorous moments. Some just talk about themselves. Some are just uncomfortable with the silence. We all need to learn when it is appropriate to talk, and when silence is needed.

This is never truer than when what we know could hurt someone else. As our proverb says, a fool blurts it out. Someone who is trustworthy keeps this knowledge to themselves. We know how to hold a confidence. We protect those who have trusted us.

Have you ever noticed that gossip stretches over time, getting larger with each retelling! Fools don’t know how to just leave something alone. They feel compelled to tell it. So they end up adding little bits of information, perhaps unknowingly, when they get a hold of information. These added bits are lies. The LORD doesn’t like liars.

A good test of information might be something like this. If this were told about me, would this be a positive reflection of the Jesus whom I serve? If the answer is “No”, maybe it would be better to keep the information to ourselves. There should be no reason to discredit another person, especially another believer. But doing this to an unbeliever discredits Christ.

Even if true, we don’t need to share. We should share if it means life or death, health or safety. Otherwise, we should hold this information. If someone is being abused, we tell appropriate authorities. Some states mandate that everyone reports.

The fool has no ability to hold back, they just spill their beans, even if someone else is hurt in the process. Know when to hold the beans.

Bottom of the Pile

Proverbs 3:31-35

Have you ever felt on the bottom of the pile? I know I have! Growing up I was always the skinniest kid around, at least that is the way I felt. Maybe my three older brothers were stealing all my food! But I felt like I was the weakest, most uncoordinated kid in my class. This was confirmed in my mind when I would consistently be picked last for those team games in PE class. I would be standing there by myself in the pool of prospective team members, everyone else having been picked already. Reluctantly, the last name called would be me.

We as human beings want to be connected, part of something bigger. And that quest to be connected, accepted sometimes leads us to make bad choices in friends. Sometimes we want what someone else has even when they used evil means to obtain it. We need to not envy those gains (v31). Violent people often use their power to get what they want.

Notice the contrasts in verses 32-35. It shows the actions of the LORD toward the wicked and the righteous. Confidence, blessing, favor and honor will come to those who are upright, righteous, humble and wise. By contrast the LORD detests, curses, mocks and gives shame to those who are perverse, wicked, proud and foolish.

We get to choose which group we want to be in. We get to choose our team. I wish I had been able to do that in elementary school. Looking back, it was probably my inability to stay focused on any task that prevented me from being any good at sports. And my classmates probably didn’t want a distracted player. They wanted to win! I just wanted to have fun and fun often included rapid shifts in focus away from the group activity.

I don’t engage in team activities to this day. I am still not coordinated in sports, having given up on them for other pursuits where I had a chance to excel. I choose to pay attention to those things that the LORD pays attention to. I have noticed some of these rewards in my life. I do have more confidence, blessing, favor and honor. I think I will continue to choose His ways.

The Twenty-Plus-Seven’s

Psalm 27, 57, 87, 117, 147

We could all use a bit more confidence! Psalm 27 tells of an unexpected source of confidence. The writer, facing an advancing army, draws in close to the LORD and recognizes that from that position, he has nothing to fear. Imagine that, an army coming toward you and you are not afraid! He recognizes that in the LORD is safety (v5). That does not mean that we will live forever without any pain or suffering here on earth. We live in a world marred by sin, and we get the effects of that brokenness in our lives, even when we are Jesus-followers. Even the writer has to focus his attentions of trusting the LORD (v8), and on patience (v14).

 A steadfast heart is what we need when we feel overwhelmed (Ps 57:7). It is easy to get distracted and look at all the troubles coming our direction (vv4 & 6). Twice in this psalm (vv 5 & 11) the writer say “Be exalted, O God.” Of course we know that He already is exalted, but the writer doesn’t see it. He wants that exalted position to be made evident in his life and his world. Do you need Him to be exalted in that way in your life? I hope so!

In the life of Israel Jerusalem held a special spot (Ps 87). When someone was born there it held special significance. Even Israel’s enemies at times acknowledged the special place of Jerusalem (v4). I have several places that hold special significance in my spiritual life. Maastricht Holland, Oberusel Germany, Allison United Methodist Church, Baghdad International Airport. Each hosted an event at the LORD’s invitation where I encountered Christ in a new way. Each brought death for me and life in Christ. Each involved more surrender and more filling. I am open to more encounters.

Sometimes I wish the Psalmists had written down the music they sang with the psalms that they wrote. I want to hear their rendition Psalm 117. This two verse psalm keeps me focused. Everyone praise Him because of his faithful love toward us. It is a simple message. Let’s do it.

Do enjoy praising God? We should (Ps 147:1)! The writer lists some things that he sees that give him reason to praise the LORD (vv2-6 & 8-9). He delights in us when we put our hope in Him (v11). We shouldn’t trust in our own resources to live our lives. No earthly entity, including the government, is our source of security, though they do play a role. We are to trust in the LORD. He brings strength and peace (vv13-14).