Psalm 142 - A Psalm of encouragement

A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

I cry aloud to the LORD; 
I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him; 
before him I tell my trouble.


When my spirit grows faint within me, 
it is you who know my way. 
In the path where I walk 
men have hidden a snare for me.


Look to my right and see; 
no one is concerned for me. 
I have no refuge; 
no one cares for my life.


I cry to you, O LORD; 
I say, "You are my refuge, 
my portion in the land of the living."


Listen to my cry, 
for I am in desperate need; 
rescue me from those who pursue me, 
for they are too strong for me.

Taste like Honey

On Sun after service, I expressed to a sister that I long for an adventure. And by this I don't mean another triathlon, a race or a vacation. Triathlon doesn't seem to have much of an appeal no more. Been reflecting on what an uncle at church described how God made me to be adventurous. Last Sept, I backpacked around Australia by myself. To me, it didn't felt out of place. In fact, I never felt so free. He told me that God wired him differently and he would never imagine of backpacking....hmm....so slowly I am praying for God to discernment.

Is He shaping me for an adventure of a lifetime? (I sure hope so!!). At the same time, I am praying that He changed my heart to have a passion for Him...(regardless of the cost).

===

Tonight I stayed home. A rarity. I didn't go to Open Doors. Nor did I train. Nor did I hang out with friends.

I finished Tim Keller's Prodigal God. Great read. In the end, he wrapped it up the difference between knowing God's Glory and Mercy and truly in awe by His Glory and Mercy.

He compared it like one who know honey is sweet by logical deduction and someone who taste the dripping and flowing honey and know it is sweet.

Hmmm....as I reflected on my own life...it is the latter..when my mouth was so fill with His Sweetness that I cannot help but be in awe by who He is. And this is not just simply information or knowledge. But to know, to sense, to experience a truly Living God. So sweet, so satisfying. I will never want to let Him go....

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure

and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Better is One Day...

Matt Redman's Better is One Day is referring to Psalm 84...

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may have her young—

a place near your altar,

O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

they are ever praising you.

Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca,

they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;

listen to me, O God of Jacob.

Selah

Look upon our shield, O God;

look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

O LORD Almighty,

blessed is the man who trusts in you.

....

Some thoughts.

I use to think that the Lord's court is referring to a physical place where I feel the Lord's presence. For me, it is most often riding my bike on the road or running along the trail. There are many moments I can recall during these trips where I can felt His presence so close.

Granted, the author of the Psalm is written at a time when they believe that the Lord dwells in the temple. Jesus came and He changed everything....

Jesus is called Immanuel in Matthew 1:23 which translates to God with us. In the Great Commission, Jesus wrapped it up with "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul wrote:

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

...I gotta do more studying and see the context in each of these verses. Granted, it is an indication that God is not just in a physical building like the court or a temple. He is everywhere. Jesus promised that He will be with us. And the the Holy Spirit dwells in us..and we are the living temple!

Does this mean we can worship Him everywhere and anywhere!?!?!? :)

There is one line in the song that sings, 'it is better one day in Your court'.

Does it mean that once a person has the Holy Spirit dwells in him...the person is His court? Is it play on words "better to be one day in Your court..than thousands elsewhere"?

Indeed, to know You..or to be known by You is to be in Your court...and I will not long for anywhere else.

Why are you despair, O my soul?

Taken from Psalm 43. A prayer for deliverance...

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation;
O deliver me from deceitful and unjust man!

For You are the God of my strength; why have you rejected me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?

Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.