1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not handed me over to the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and my body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I am a dread to my friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side;
they conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and lie silent in the grave.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed his wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
22 In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.
From verses 7 to 13, the psalmist began to pour out his troubles and worries to the Lord. It really sounded quite depressive.
However, as we read on, the psalmist took a abrupt change at verse 14. He chose to trust God, despite all his negative circumstances. Verse 16a spoke to me the most.
"Let your face shine on your servant;"What exactly did the psalmist mean by letting God's face shine upon him?
Personally, here's what I felt that the Lord is speaking to me. Letting God's face shine upon me means something like the goodness, blessings and favour of God overflows in my life tremendously. And people around me will have no choice, but to acknowledge that God is real.
I'm not there yet, but I believe I'm walking towards it. Today, one of my colleagues commented that I seemed to be able to handle students like a seasoned teacher (when I am actually just a beginning teacher). I know that it's God who's working in me and through me. I pray that I will continue to have more favour with God.
Things to ponder
1. Use one word to describe your present relationship with God.
2. Do people around you see Jesus in you? Give a rating of 1 to 10 (10 means the best!).
3. What is one thing that prevents you from having favour with God?
4. Pray and commit to the Lord right away.
Click here for Pastor YC's reflection on Psalm 31
1 comment:
1. Use one word to describe your present relationship with God.
I feel that at times I turn away from God when I am in trouble for fear of being punished by his Divine Wrath. At times after thinking it's best just to turn to him and be honest. Confessing and praying are the key pointers to lead a life that God truly wants everybody to live.
2. Do people around you see Jesus in you? Give a rating of 1 to 10 (10 means the best!).
7. At times, they do see Jesus in me. It's due to my kind heart and compassion towards others. On the other end, what I say or do has an adverse effect on others. I tend to swear or hurl abuse when I lose my temper. I know this is wrong so I must learn to control and be calm. I will say a prayer each time I feel offended because I know it is a temptation from the Devil.
3. What is one thing that prevents you from having favor with God?
My inability to comment whole heartedly to God and his rules. You are a beast if you do not have rules ruling your life. It is a fact that rules are a basic foothold for discipline and perseverance. If God says "No". Submit and be obedient. I will be more willing to open up and grow closer to God from now on.
4. Pray and commit to the Lord right away.
Dear Lord Father, I am sorry for sinning at times and doing things behind other's back. Change me into a better youth so that I may bless others who are in my position or may get trapped in my position in the future. I commit my direction for the future into your hands and that you and you alone can carve the right path for me. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN!
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