Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear people.
Rain is heavy on the kitchen skylight. Nevertheless, Becki and I intend to go out to do a walk/jog under umbrellas. It’s been several days since we’ve done this exercise routine. Our recent head colds have interfered. So we’re feeling the need to get back on track.
I guess I’ll be delivering some lumber in the rain this morning. Then maybe some sign work. Not yet sure how things will play out.
Have a great Wednesday. But now I’m reminded that a few friends located on the other side of the dateline will be receiving this message. They have already done their Wednesday—now into processing their Thursday.
Blessings. Love, Dad/Ray.
David is taxed. We can only imagine that stuff is going on around him that is extremely difficult and exhausting with no end in sight. But please pay attention and agree—here is where David shines as a worthy role model—one that we desperately need in these trying times. He did not just isolate himself within the confines of his own discouragement. That’s the path to depression. He did not attempt to dull his sorrows in booze or drugs. That’s unproductive irresponsibility. He did not run around crying on the shoulders of his friends. That can equate to the blind leading the blind. Besides, there may not have been any good friends within reach at the time. Instead, he ran to the LORD who had proven himself trustworthy so many times in his past. In so doing, he doesn’t condemn God, even though He does not seem to be coming through for him the way he would like. But in honest pain and frustration he cries in the most appropriate and most therapeutic direction possible—to the LORD. “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (v. 1). Do you think God was offended by David’s questioning? I think not. I find no Biblical evidence that God is ever offended by the honest cry of a human heart—as long as it is that—honesty with humility directed toward Sovereign Deity.
Consider also 1 Samuel 30:6—“…but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God”—KJV. There’s a lot of implicit advice here. David had developed some self-encouragement skills in his vertical relationship with God that helped him stay on course when there was no network of horizontal encouragement surrounding him. I judge that the value of David’s example here is huge.
Please note that David followed a discipline of journaling—recording with pen on paper (or the equivalent)—and singing, as mediums of heart-level expression and worship—proven principles of self-encouragement. If that is so, do you journal? Do you sing?—even when no one is looking or listening? Have you learned songs that are worth repeating? Do you keep a songbook nearby? Try it. You may like it. You too may find these to be positive mechanisms of self-encouragement.
Here’s the little song we try to sing often as a family, especially when the little grandkids are present. Let’s sing it together:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases.
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning—new every morning.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O LORD—
Great is Thy faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:23)