He has a Purpose

Psalm 138 English Standard Version (ESV)

Of David.

138 

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;

2 

I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.[a]

3 

On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.[b]

4 

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,

5 

and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.

8 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+138&version=ESV)

I wonder how long it will be before some of these words come to fruition?   It seems that our world is so far from recognizing God, that it almost seems impossible for them to turn around.  However, we know that God will make Himself known to all the world in such a way that they will all bow to Him.  So, we wait and we trust that He knows what He is doing.

Just a note to anyone who may think they are better than someone else; God, who is above all, acknowledges the lowly (regards them) yet those who think of themselves as “all it”, He keeps at a distance.  Note, however, He does not disregard them, but holds them at a distance.  Why do you think that is?  My thoughts are that the lowly depend on Him, call on Him, know that He is their strength whereas the haughty think they can do it all on their own and don’t put their trust and dependence in Him.  Someday, when Christ returns, those who remain haughty will come to the realization that they are now the lowly.  We need to pray for those who need the Lord yet refuse to acknowledge that they do.

Lastly today, we see that the Lord has a purpose for each and every one of us and He will fulfill it.  As we go through life we tend to think we have dreams that we need to fulfill but in actuality it is God who has given us our purpose, to proclaim Him, and we need to know and understand that He is going to fulfill those plans in us.  Just watch and trust Him as you seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

A Strange Land

Psalm 137 English Standard Version (ESV)

137 

By the waters of Babylon,
    there we sat down and wept,
    when we remembered Zion.

2 

On the willows[a] there
    we hung up our lyres.

3 

For there our captors
    required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 

How shall we sing the Lord's song
    in a foreign land?

5 

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget its skill!

6 

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
    if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
    above my highest joy!

7 

Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites  the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
    down to its foundations!”

8 

O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
    blessed shall he be who repays you
    with what you have done to us!

9 

Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
    and dashes them against the rock!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+137&version=ESV

Have you ever found yourself somewhere that you didn’t want to be?  In this case they had been captured and taken from their homeland.  Not many of us have found ourselves in that situation yet I am sure there are times that we have felt like strangers in a foreign land.  In fact, we are to be aliens to this world, this should not be considered our home, yet we are to live here and speak God’s truths.  These men were asked to sing the Lord’s songs, they should have been glad to do so, yet theses were their enemies, why would they want them to hear of God’s goodness. 

As we journey in this life we need to remember that our future is not here.  We need to feel a little uncomfortable in the strange land but we need to always sing God’s praises to strangers and to our enemies.  As we remember yesterday, God’s steadfast love endures forever.  Now that is something to sing about!

As you seek Him may you find Him as He watches over you and takes care of you in this strange land.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Is the Love Mutual?

Psalm 136 English Standard Version (ESV)

136 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

2 

Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

3 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 

to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

5 

to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

6 

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

7 

to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

8 

the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

9 

the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

10 

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

11 

and brought Israel out from among them,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

12 

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

13 

to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

14 

and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

15 

but overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

16 

to him who led his people through the wilderness,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

17 

to him who struck down great kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

18 

and killed mighty kings,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

19 

Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

20 

and Og, king of Bashan,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

21 

and gave their land as a heritage,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

22 

a heritage to Israel his servant,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

24 

and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

25 

he who gives food to all flesh,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 

Give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+136&version=ESV)

As you read this Psalm you see the overlying theme in each verse, “for His steadfast love endures forever”.  The sad thing is that the people did not appear to share that love. Often times I think that is how it is today as well.  God can do mighty things to show His love to His people and they don’t even take the time to thank Him. 

Let’s just look at one example of that in this passage.  In verse 16, He led the people through the wilderness, they should have been thankful but they grumbled and complained instead.  They grumbled and complained so much that they didn’t even get to see the promised land, but their children did.  Why is it that we find ourselves in the same situation?  God is gracious to us because He loves us but instead we grumble and complain.  I know that I do more than my share of that! 

Today as we seek Him, let’s remember that He loves us and that love needs to be mutual.  Let’s thank Him for His mighty wonders rather than complain about them.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila