Saturday 25 May, 2013

1 Lord, I will give you honor. You brought me out of deep trouble. You didn’t give my enemies the joy of seeing me die. 2 Lord my God, I called out to you for help. And you healed me. 3 Lord, you brought me up from the edge of the grave. You kept me from going down into the pit. 4 Sing to the Lord, you who are faithful to him. Praise him, because his name is holy. 5 His anger lasts for only a moment. But his favor lasts for a person’s whole life. Sobbing can remain through the night. But joy comes in the morning. 6 When I felt safe, I said, “I will always be secure.” 7 Lord, when you showed me your favor, you made my mountain stand firm. But when you turned your face away from me, I was terrified. 8 Lord, I called out to you. I cried to you for your favor. 9 I said, “What good will come if I die? What good will come if I go down into the grave? Can the dust of my dead body praise you? Can it tell how faithful you are? 10 Lord, hear me. Show me your favor. Lord, help me.” 11 You turned my loud crying into dancing. You removed my black clothes and dressed me with joy. 12 So my heart will sing to you. I can’t keep silent. Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever.

1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.

You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

David is remembering what God has done for him – speaking it out – declaring who God is and how God has expressed His love and faithfulness to him. God has rescued him, God has refused to let his enemies triumph over him; God has turned his mourning into dancing  and God has taken away his mourning clothes and redressed David with joy. David has joined himself to the love and the power and the protection of God. In the midst of difficulties, David continues to declare God’s goodness.

How often do I let my external circumstances dress me? Dictate my actions? As I walk through some difficult circumstances right now – I am challenged by David to declare what my God can and will do if I will join myself to Him. Will I allow Him to rescue me, to refuse my enemies success – to turn my mourning into dancing – to dress me in joy? He is waiting – ready and willing to be all that He says He is – to do all that He says He can do – to make me all that He has planned for me to be.

Oh God – how incredibly patient you are with me. How difficult I can be when I take my eyes off you – trusting in myself to save me – instead of trusting in You. You are unfailing in love and compassion and mercy and power and kindness. I choose to join myself to you today again – clothe me with joy!

Written by Ps. Linda Quinn