Today's reading is from Psalm 70. It's short, simple and straightforward.
Psalm 70:1-5 (NLT)
1 Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, LORD, and help me.
2 May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
3 Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
4 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O LORD, do not delay.
The psalm of David begins with that simple prayer. "Please God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me." In our flesh we resist the urge to say the words. We are not dependent upon anyone. We are designed by God to be dependent, not alone, not making it on our own. First our dependence is upon him - "love the Lord your God with all of your heart...." - to love him is to be dependent upon him for life day by day. Secondly, our dependence is upon those around us that God has given us. It is those "gifts" of persons that we often overlook. Jesus did not walk out his ministry, those last 3 years alone. God gave him 12 disciples "to be with him", Mark 3 says.
Sixteen hundred years ago, a European Christian named John Cassian published an account of his conversations with monks living in a Middle Eastern desert. One older monk, Isaac, had shared this prayer from Psalm 70 with the young John on his visit to their monastery. John's book - and Isaac's prayer - had such an influence that even today many Christians around the globe begin times of prayer with the Scripture verse Isaac commended to John Cassian.
It is a simple prayer and one worth repeating throughout the day. It's not hard to say, even to memorize, but if we meant it from the depth of our hearts, it would be a way of casting ourselves in dependence upon God every moment of the day... "Lord, please rescue me. Come quickly Lord and help me."
Peace
If you're reading through the Bible in a Year with me, read Joshua 16, 17, 18. The stories here remind me of a time, in Israel, when the people lost sight of God and in making life up for themselves, without his presence, guidance, word, it becomes nothing more than a mess...a very sad one at that.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
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