SO MUCH TO WRITE, SO LITTLE TIME--PART II

David talks about the Lord delivering him from all his fears.  I can relate.

I’m not exactly formidable in size and consequently do not prompt waves of fear to crash down over those I come in contact with, but those that seek contact with me are capable of producing such waves—PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can exacerbate them.

Still working for that coffee service, I was on coffee pot washing duty one day—it was about as glorious as it sounds.  An Asian fellow whom I knew to be a Black Belt came up to me and simultaneously grabbed and twisted all of my left pectoral.  I expressed my displeasure—he seemed unmoved.  As he began poking the rest of my chest with a long, bony finger, a crowd gathered.
    
“I could kick your _ _ _, “ he bragged.  “Yes, you could,” I exclaimed, “But what are you going to do with Jesus?” 

Both of us were stunned.  He left, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief, thanking God for His deliverance.  What was needful for me came up in the bucket from my well, I just hadn’t purposed to draw out any of its “water” at the time.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 34
King James Version 
________________________________________
1A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

DIMENSIONS OF SMALL

In my youth, the smaller I was in comparison to another, the greater my fear of that person was.  Conversely, the older I get, the smaller I see myself against the backdrop of nature and its creator, and the greater my confidence in God, which brings peace unimaginable.

How can you worry that a sovereign God that wrote the world’s Owner’s Manual would be incapable of taking care of you? 

We learn in Matthew, Chapter 6 that the birds of the air are utterly dependent on God’s provision, yet we are of greater value to Him than they!  Birds.  There are tons of them—more numerous at times, it seems, than the stars of the sky, though we find in Matthew 10:29 that when just one of them falls, it’s not without His knowledge—and (again), we are of greater value than them!

Our value to God is not just seen in the animal kingdom, but the human realm as well.  While He shines in our darkness, He floods that darkness with His marvelous light.  Through Him the simple become wise.  Provision for one’s needs often helps to launch peace and security.

And as valuable as these things are, gold is where the values are supposed to be these days, and yet, the secret to the most content among us lies within their treasuring the things of God that He shares with us, and not some periodic elements found at the Table of the same.  He helps to keep us from being dominated by besetting sins, yet shows us how we can have victory over them.

In reflection, I can see the enormity of God dwarf our fears.  I see the wisdom of God instructing us in spite of our ignorance, and I see the deliverance of God for us, His children.  It brings me peace—it brought David peace too.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 19  (KJV)

Psalm 19

King James Version (KJV)

Psalm 19

 ¹The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
 ²Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
 ³There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
 ⁴Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
 ⁵Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
 ⁶His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
 ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
 ⁸The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
 ⁹The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
 ¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
 ¹¹Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
 ¹²Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
 ¹³Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
 ¹⁴Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

We always have a choice.  We can either run from something—or to it.  We run from something because we think that it will grant us greater peace, while the thought of running to it brings thoughts of dread.  Facing your fears can be a good thing—we’re occasionally shown that in Hollywood, and see it in psychology as well.

By Hollywood, I mean without question one of the greatest television programs of all time, The Andy Griffith Show.  One episode in particular has young Opie unsuccessfully trying to avoid bully Sheldon, who winds up taking his milk money away on a daily basis—that is, of course, until the red-headed lad of fame decides to confront his abuser.  Yes, he takes a punch or two, and winds up looking like Mother Nature’s raccoon, but then he also lights into him, "like a windmill in a hurricane”, and gets his victory.  And what gave him confidence to face that abuser—the wisdom of his father.

Another TAGS episode has this same “father” helping in a somewhat different way.  Once he learned that cousin Barney was terrified of a scofflaw that threatened his life, Andy went over to the dojo where he knew his partner was taking Judo training.  When he realized that Barney wouldn’t stand a chance in a confrontation with his foe, the Sheriff came up with a plan, and arranged things so that the Judo instructor--dressed like Barney--would walk into a “trap” set by the thug—who wound up taking a serious thrashing.  Barney finally screws up the courage to talk to his tormentor, and much to his surprise and delight, the scumbag runs away, resulting in a newfound sense of confidence for “fearless Fife”.

And by psychology, I mean systematic desensitization therapy.  In a nutshell, this involves the terrified patient eventually overcoming whatever phobias he/she may have by first learning how to relax, and then applying that relaxation in the midst of anguish that goes from barely perceptible to knock down, drag out terror.

A friend of mine with a Master’s Degree in Psychology once told me what he perceived to be the difference between psychology and God: “Psychology helps you to cope.  God gives you the victory.”

Thanks, Chuck.

So, why this discussion?  Psalm 11 starts out with others attempting to intimidate its author, yet in light of his own experiences—in light of what he knows about God—David sees the absurdity of their efforts, educating the enemy (while reminding God) of what the universe’s Creator has in store for them.  With God’s help, the psalmist turns the “fearful” into the “fearing”, and with God's help, so can you.

b(Les)sings

Psalm 11

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ In the LORD I put my trust;
         How can you say to my soul,
         “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
 ² For look! The wicked bend their bow,
         They make ready their arrow on the string,
         That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
 ³ If the foundations are destroyed,
         What can the righteous do?
      
 ⁴ The LORD is in His holy temple,
         The LORD’s throne is in heaven;
         His eyes behold,
         His eyelids test the sons of men.
 ⁵ The LORD tests the righteous,
         But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
 ⁶ Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
         Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
         Shall be the portion of their cup.
      
 ⁷ For the LORD is righteous,
         He loves righteousness;
         His countenance beholds the upright.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 11:7 Or The upright beholds His countenance