I was reading Psalm 34 this morning. It was probably the 98th time I have read over these words. God has used this psalm so many times in the past. He seems to so often part the sky with his heavenly highlighter allowing me to see one phrase in a different way. Today was no exception. I realized that this passage delineates His role and my role. I found today that what He does for me, in response to what I do for Him, is so unequal, completely swayed to one side. Let me share with you what I found.
In short, my job is to:
seek Him, loot to Him, call to Him when I am in trouble, take refuge in Him, listen to Him, and fear Him.
All of these speak of relationship. The passage also outlines what it means to fear Him since that is called for three or four times in the passage. To fear the Lord is to keep tongue from evil, to seek peace and pursue it. Those are the only to do's given. Essentially God just wants me to look to Him.
In response, He will:
answer me, deliver me from all trouble and all fear, make me radiant, take away my shame, save me, encamp around me, bless me. He will provide for my every need as I taste and see His goodness. He will make sure I lack for nothing. He will teach me and give me many good days. He will see me, his ear will be attentive to my cry. He will be close to me, redeem me and not condemn me.
I would say there is a great disparity in what He expects of me and what He will do for me. I serve a God who only wants me to be in relationship with Him, and when I make the choice to turn my face toward Him, He will go above and beyond my imagination. He will be my all. Not because I made Him my all (for I often turn away) but because He is sufficient to meet every need I could ever have. "Lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."
No comments:
Post a Comment