Psalm 143 A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Previously I shared that we had gone over two months at my house without any measurable rainfall. That changed while we were out of town for ten days. Upon our return, I found my five-inch rain gauge was filled to the top and had overflowed. I don’t know if it came all at once, or over several days, but the results were evident. Our pool was filled to the rim, and our pond had come up several feet. While the cracks have not completely disappeared they have closed up quite a bit. Grass that was brown and crunchy when we left had once again greened up and needed mowing. This parched land enjoyed the rain, it soaked it up and responded. Even the few squash plants that I had left were now flourishing and bearing fruit! What a blessing!
I and many others had prayed to God and asked Him for relief. And in His perfect timing He provided it. It is good for me to meditate on that, remembering His faithfulness, all that His hands have done for me in my life. The physical and material blessings are innumerable. The family and friends I have been given are astounding. The gifts and abilities God has given me are immense. But there is something even better than all that.
When I say or sing or think, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,” there is always one that outshines them all. God has given me the gift of Himself. His love for me and the rest of the world was so overwhelming that He would not be content for mankind to be separated from Him eternally, even though that was our deserved destiny due to sin. Right after the initial sin, God promised to provide the solution. And He kept that promise by coming to this earth as one of us, living without sin yet taking our sin on Himself, and using His perfect life as the payment for the sin of the entire world. Think about what His hands have done in allowing the nails to be driven through them for your sake.
And then He rose from the dead to share His victory over death with all who put their trust and faith and confidence in Him.
I gratefully put my trust in Him and try to follow the way He has shown me to go.
Oh, and thanks again, Lord, for the rain.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow: “Walk in the Footsteps of Paul.”
Links to the registration and brochure, along with previous devotions, can be found at revmattil.org. If you want more information, email mike@revmattil.org.
