“(A Psalm of David) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh (to destroy me), they stumbled and fell.
Though an host should encamp against me (a great army surround me), my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired (asked) of the LORD, that will I seek after (will pursue): that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion (tabernacle, dwelling place): In the secret place of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy upon me also and answer me.
When thou saidst (you said), Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD will I seek.” Psalms 27:1-8
Good morning! Good evening and all that other jazz! Depending on when you are reading this.
It is raining at my house, it’s kinda chilly but still beautiful on all the tree blooms. Sometimes rain can beautiful but sometimes the rain just reminds us of all our tears, and we see no beauty through them.
That passage was on my heart this morning.
David was such a character, and he truly embodied every emotion that we go through.
He was up, he was down, he was hunted, he was king.
He was ridiculed, he was victorious, so many emotions and circumstances and God established his throne forever.
His brother jealously hated him, when God sent the prophet to anoint a new king, he was so insignificant to his family as far as their thoughts for his future that they did not even bother to call for him and yet he was the chosen.
He fought a lion, a bear, in defense of the sheep he was to protect, which was just the warm-up for the fight against a giant in defense of his people.
Him being the only one courageous enough to accept the challenge of the enemy. That acceptance leading to the further mocking and disdain by those whose own cowardice manifested through their hatred toward him.
The victory over the giant leading to more animosity from even the homicidal king himself, whom he had to hide from until the danger was over past and he would go on to fight army after army.
Being human, good choices mingled with tragic mistakes, but in all situations seeking God and his wisdom.
It was a process, and through every step of that process, he learned, and he sought, and God gave him all that he needed at the perfect moment in his need.
David’s enemies were human, humans influenced by forces of the enemy, and we also fight those enemies and the foes we often face are the foes of emotions, the losses, and grief, sorrow, and hopelessness that it all brings, and it comes to us all at one point or another.
David was learning the secrets to life as he was living life and God through his word has shared all that David learned with all of us.
He learned that nothing on this earth was of a greater benefit than seeking the face of God and resting in those secret spiritual places.
In his losses and in the losses of family, and in the pain and loss of his own son rising up and waging war against him, God saw him through it all.
Jesus is our secret place. He is our pavilion, our healer, our strength and He will be anything we need him to be in our lives.
He destroys our enemies, slays our giants, and still dries every tear.
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” Psalms 27:10
When we have lost through death or simply have been abandoned as described here:
Job 19:14: “My kinsfolk (family) have failed, and my familiar (close) friends have forgotten me.”
There is a greater friend.
John 15:15: “Henceforth (from now on) I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
The dwelling place literally means to live in God and in his protection, his rest, and ask him and then allow him to be everything we need.
It is perfectly fine to ask him to fill all those voids left in our hearts, it is perfectly fine to ask him to just hold us in his spiritual arms and just let us cry, as a good earthly father will hold and comfort his child, allowing us to let go of all the vulnerability and pain, allowing us to feel safe, protected, and loved.
Years ago, I was going through something and was just at the end of my rope feeling so overwhelmed, helpless, and alone, I had family and friends I could call, but this was a different kind of thing. I had just cried and cried and finally I just said “Lord, could you please just hold me?”
And he touched me with all of it.
I wondered after the fact, is it even okay to ask for such a thing?
I went to church and at the time our pastor was a lady, who had been one of the first female pastors in our area and had gone through tremendous persecution for obeying God’s call, she has since gone home.
She testified one night shortly after my experience, her husband had been very sick, and she was sitting there crying and explaining what she had been through and feeling terribly lost and alone, with her husband sick and hospitalized, she said she just sat at her kitchen table and asked Jesus to please hold her, and he comforted her through the terrible ordeal.
“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother.” Mark 3:35
He is our Savior, our deliverer, our healer and he will be family, he will our friend.
Proverbs 18:24 “… and there is a friend that sticketh (stays) closer than a brother.”
Allow him to be whatever you need today. He loves you and will take you every single step of the way.
Sending prayers of Love & Peace your way!
NBJ 2024/ Rev. N Brown Johnson
Sword & Lily 