Under God`s protection

Under God´s Protection

Under God´s protection („When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.“)

I will praise the Lord at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth. I will glory in the Lord, so the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant from joyand their faces will not be covered with shame. One poor person called in hardship and the Lord saved him out of all his troubles.Taste and see how friendly the Lord is, blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people,for those who fear him lack nothing. The rich may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, you children, listen to me! I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever desires a good life and many nice days?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cries, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth. When the righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them and he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and helps those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may be suffering a lot,
but the Lord delivers him from them all. He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Disaster will slay the godless; who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue the life of his servants and all who take refuge in him will be free of guilt.

Since days I am stuck with this wonderful Psalm. Again and again I get occupied with the written lines und I can see many related aspects. David`s praise (verse 1 – 4), testimonials (5 – 7), exhortation (10 – 17) and encouragements (6,9 – 11, 16 – 23) testify that a relationship with the living god is possible, even necessary to live a good, blessed life. Personally I can testify this with my life und I`m willed to take David`s words to heart. I`m aware, that everything in favour of my relation with god is supposed to work out well. To honour god and to praise him is a major attitude of my spiritedness, but am I also ready to absorbe the exhortation?

Being a mother, I like that David askes the children to listen. I wish my children realize, how well god means with all of us and how important it is, to have him in their own lifes, with all my heart. But watch, those exhortations are not meant for the young only but especially for us. Fear of the Lord is a good item not to sin, but not fear, reverence and respect are supposed to stop us acting wrong. Especially words drop us faster into sin than we think. Like there is this saying: „ Talking is silver, silence is gold.“ In Proverbs it says: „ Who talks a lot, commits a lot a sin“ (Holy Bible, Proverbs 10, 19). So let us watch not to use wrong words while we talk. Gossip is declared as sin in the bible and for good reason the tongue is presented to be as a sharp sword (Proverbs 12, 18).
Especially women have to take care, men don`t gossip, they discuss ;) / … that is how the exhortation to the older of us is written (Titus 2,3). Too much or wrong talk is harmful, but thinking is allowed and I recognized this Psalm is a rich source for my thoughts.

Praise, thanks, regard and respect are a good mixture to honour god and an obidient listening to the word of God will bring blessing to our lifes. This is a promise god made und I know this well and I think you do so too. Amen.

Be blessed, your
Rosemarie Hojus

Rosemarie Hojus