With the snow moving in this past weekend and ruining our Saturday night gathering at Open House for the second time in a month, I’ve decided to post my thoughts on Psalm 71 here for everyone to share in. You see, I really felt compelled to share these thoughts in the hopes that challenge and some introspection might occur. On the positive side, I got to spend the entire day Saturday snowed-in with my wife, forced to rest and just “be” in light of the snow, and I really enjoyed and needed that. I was, however, a bit bummed-out about the fact that I didn’t get to share my thoughts with everyone. Not in a “I love to hear myself talk” kind of way, but in a “I love to hear other people wrestle with thoughts and ideas” kind of way. Let me explain.
Psalm 71 ( <— scroll over to read), at first glance, is just another psalm from David. It is littered with language of salvation, rescue, hope, trust, rocks and fortresses. The message from David is very clear.
Save and protect me God. Life stinks, I need help, and you are the only help I can rely on.
And, as Bible-believing followers of Jesus, this should be our reaction to trouble, right? Cry out to God and wait for His answer. Wait for His action. Wait for Him to kick butt.
Yeah, I said kick butt.
If we’re all honest, we can all admit that we read and respond to everything around us through the built-in filters we carry. Our lives, circumstances, hang-ups and baggage all contribute to the way we understand and relate to everything, including the Bible. And my particular wiring makes me respond to this passage in this way when trouble comes: ”God, I’m in a mess right now. Life stinks and I can’t figure a way out of this. Please show up with Your great strength and power to destroy my enemies, my struggles, my pain, and my problems. Wipe them out! Get rid of it so I can be safe and happy. After all, You are my protector, right? The scripture is full of language of a God of love and compassion who wants to deliver His people, right? So please, let’s see some action! Let’s see some A-bomb force, here! Do something!!!”
That’s me. Perhaps you are different. Perhaps not. I just know that I expect God to swoop in and set it all right. By His power and might, I expect big things moved and small things to be trampled under-foot. I expect a conqueror. I expect a Savior with a sword in His fist and fire in His eyes, mad as hell that His child has been wronged. I expect vindication.
But I’m beginning to learn that, while God may respond in this way from time to time, this is absolutely not God’s M.O. It’s just not how He works.
In studying this passage this week, my eyes were drawn to the many references to fortresses and rocks. To language of help, protection and salvation. And as I thought about those words, I found buried slightly beneath them a very different perspective on our multifaceted God.
Imagine for a moment a huge rock or fortress. What do you use either of these for? Do you throw the giant edifice at your enemy? Do you hurl a fortress at them? No, of course you don’t. Last I checked, you use these things to hide in. To hunker-down behind. To be protected by. We’re not speaking offense, here. We’re speaking defense. Guarding. Protection.
And I think this is worth noting. Maybe, instead of seeing God’s provision in times of trouble coming from some sort of attacking, offensive-minded God, we should figure out where God is working in the midst of our pain and trouble to guard and protect our hearts. Maybe we should be praying for Him to shield us from the bitterness, rage, self-loathing, anger and hate that threaten to tear us apart when tribulation comes.
What if we, as I’ve harped on so many times before, could see the work God is doing in us right in the middle of the suffering and pain? What if we could really see this stuff as opportunity for God to grow us up a little bit? What if we could celebrate, as David did, a God who is faithful and who is right there in the midst of the strife? It’s not to say life isn’t incredibly difficult sometimes; it’s just a new way to perceive it. It’s not minimizing God’s ability to step in and intercede in our lives; it’s a greater vision for us to see God shaping us for His mission. It’s Kingdom thinking.
The difficulties will always exist. The hard times will always come. But, in Christ, there is a real hope. By His Spirit, we can overcome all things and become stronger, wiser, and better equipped for His mission. Shaped by our circumstances to become more and more like Him.
What do you think? Do you deal with this? I’d love to hear from you…
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Robby-
This reminds me of an old song by Twila Paris, Warrior is a Child:
They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
‘Cause deep inside this armour
The warrior is a child
Unafraid because his armour is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
Nice. Never heard the song, but I think it speaks perfectly to this scripture. Jesus is master of all, but I find it so comforting that He is master of guarding and protecting my heart when trouble comes knocking. I can put my head down, grin and bear it, but only He can heal my heart and stop bitterness and anger from taking over in me!
“…we should figure out where God is working in the midst of our pain and trouble to guard and protect our hearts.” – this is so true! Difficult at times, because we want so badly to see our view of justice come to pass, but true.
“What if we could really see this stuff as opportunity for God to grow us up a little bit?” — I DO remember a difficult time that I went through several years back and, right in the midst of, I knew and was thankful for God teaching me and shaping my heart (more than giving me the justice I thought was deserved). In the midst of being so hurt and broken, I could see God’s hand forming me. At the time, the issue wasn’t getting resolved, and He wasn’t exactly stepping in to fight my physical enemies (so to speak), which was hard… but He was preparing my heart, maturing me. It was one of the closest seasons I’ve ever had with the Lord.
Tara – Isn’t it interesting when we look back and see what God was really up to during our tough times? I never cease to be amazed when I do so…
Growing up in Him is one of the most challenging endeavors we can be involved in, I think. But I guess that’s what faith is truly about: growing, maturing, and believing that, behind it all, God truly is good!
Thanks for your thoughts!