Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear people.

Rain is upon us this morning. At least it’s not intense and constant. Intermittent. At this late hour, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to pull off a jog. With the little boys here it’s almost impossible for Becki to break away.

I’m feeling the pressure of this outdoor furniture project—with only two days to finish up. If I can get the four benches assembled today, tomorrow could be dedicated to applying the stain/sealer. I just encouraged myself.

Be encouraged. Encouragement is something we can all use and be benefitted by…no matter what you’re up to.

Love, Dad/Ray.

If you can pray this prayer at heart level (a HEART AFTER GOD), while resonating and agreeing with all the preceding 13 verses, I’m convinced that you will be laying hold of a very effective and reliable GPS system for successfully navigating life—one that will prevent your going very far off course. Without premeditation on this idea, I quite like the metaphor that a GPS system presents. This is simply incredible technology. I even have GPS functions as an “app” in my cell phone. I may not have a clue as to how to get to a particular address. But if I will give it to my GPS as a destination request, the satellite in the sky, who sees the big picture as compared with my puny view, can provide me with all the directions I need to make it through the daunting maze of roads and traffic right to that specific destination. Just amazing! Rain or shine, light or dark, storm or calm—it doesn’t matter—the GPS system sees through it all. So a HEART AFTER GOD that draws from the Word of God, both in connection with the Transcendent Spirit of God (the Sovereign Satellite) forms the essential components of spiritual trigonometry that drives this GPS system.

This prayer, however, is not to be treated as a magical chant—as though saying the prayer automatically fulfills the prayer. It does not mean that all my words and thoughts will suddenly become mystically right just because I say (or sing) this prayer. As I think more about this, I also like the trigonometry idea—illustrating that this principle of successful living is based in a triangular equation.

In the same way, the expression of blessing David makes in Psalm 20:4 is not to be treated like a blank check—a formula for getting what you want by “claiming” it as a promise—“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” The critical key for this to work as intended is to do everything we can to make sure our heart’s desires are in conformity with His desires. That’s how radio communication works too (including GPS technology)—an alignment of frequency between both transmitter and receiver. On that basis our general plans will succeed because they are in alignment with what pleases Him.

David had a lot to sing about. The intro to Psalm 18 says, “Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” There is no doubt that the LORD did in fact deliver him. Notice that he sang after his deliverance. Paul and Silas demonstrated a faith to sing before they were delivered (Acts 16:25). Whether you are rejoicing over post-deliverance, or struggling with pre-deliverance, SING. You have a lot to sing about too.