Monday Musings in May

5/2/11 Since tonight winds up my BSF Isaiah study, I assumed that today's meditation would be one of the rich verses from that book. Yet, this morning as I was praying Psalm 33:20-22, for my friend, Ellen, who was having surgery, I decided those verses were worthy meditation for all blog readers’----way to focus on the ONE who is our help, our shield, our trustworthy Lord of mercy. The One in whose holy name we have hope.

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. (Psalm 33:20-22)

Definitely verses worthy of prayerful consideration.

But God…..did not let my meditation stop there. Though I am not a proponent of the “drop and plop” method of meditation selection, my eyes caught the word flood on the preceding page.

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah (Psalm 32: 6-7)

Though one might think I was interpreting these verses as an answer to the “possibility” of rising water in my neighborhood, it really spoke to me of my own heart. This psalm had me reflecting more on the flood of troubles that seemed to be overwhelming me lately. I began praising Him---that’s what meditation produces---for sustaining me when I felt as if I were drowning in heartache and even in my own self-pity.

In the first verses of the psalm, the psalmist, David, is hiding from God, but in these verses he is seeking to hide in Him. God became his refuge. Today He is mine as well.

M = MERCY ME---

12/29/09 ---or NOT.
 Mercy is definitely not one of my strong suits or spiritual gifts. But mercy is a STRONG enduring attribute of God---

---even Shakespeare recognized this when he wrote The Merchant of Venice. Portia’s begging of mercy from Shylock shows that when we extend mercy we are following God’s example.

• But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
• It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
• It is an attribute of God himself;
• And earthly power doth then show like God's
• When mercy seasons justice.

The bard gives the idea of an edict softened by compassion or circumstances tempered by the spirit of God. They represent justice seasoned with mercy. It’s like the five year-old who said, “I deserved a “whoopin’” but I got a hug.”

God is full of mercy. I’m so grateful that His mercy is unending…………my favorite hymn lyrics affirm this.

“Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.”

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

MERCY ME---maybe I need to work on that in 2010!