Every Wednesday one of the choir/orchestra members gives a short bible study. I was so encouraged by tonight's lesson that I would like to share! I can't take these words and interpretation for my own as they are Jan Kimball's. She read a passage from Psalm 13:
"(1) How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (2) How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? (3) Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, (4) and my enemy will say 'I have overcome him,' (5) But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. (6) I will sing the Lord's praise for he has been good [dealt bountifully] to me."
When reading through the first few books of Psalm I always kind of thought I can related to David. "God why aren't you hearing me? Why do I have sorrow in my life? Why do I experience the things I experience?" Mainly a big woe is me pity party, especially if you consider David's anguish was from the fact that he was on the run and in fear for his life. However, I think most of us can relate to the inner groaning we all feel to understand our life and why things happen the way they do.
My favorite part of Jan's mini bible study this evening was how she pointed out the change in attitude from verses 1-4 compared to verses 5-6. How could David have a change of heart so quickly? He just poured out his heart and candidly asked God how long do I have to endure this? Are you there? Have you forgotten me? Then he changes to rejoicing!! Why? It all stems back to one word: SALVATION!!! David had so much hope that God would rescue him because God had already "dealt bountifully" with him through the gift of Salvation!! Can I get an AMEN!!
Same goes for me. The worldly desires and concerns of my heart pale in comparison to how bountifully God has already blessed me (and I'm not just talking worldly blessings.) I am sinful and dirty and have baggage in my life, yet because God loves me so He wants to give me the greatest blessing of all: Salvation! As I drove home tonight a Mercy Me song came on the radio: Beautiful.
The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much
I'm praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross
Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skys above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to die
You're beautiful
You were meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
Wow! No matter HOW dirty my past is, HOW much baggage I claim, God sees me as beautiful and not only that but treasured, sacred, HIS!!! But only redeemed by His blood. What a great reminder!
