Verse of the Day 3/8
5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.6 The Lord is on my side;I will not fear.What can man do to me?
When a ship is in distress on the sea they send up a flare and put out an SOS distress signal over the radio. As Christians, we know that we will face times of some kind of distress, how do we respond? Most often we try to deal with it ourselves, then seek the help of others and as a last ditch effort we put out a distress call to God. That should not be the order, but all too often it is the way it is.
The psalmist here is looking back at a point of distress in his life and how he called out to God and God answered and delivered him, reminding him that God is always at his side, ready to help. What I'd like to consider today is the next phrase, "and set me in a broad place". I love the mountaiins and the perspective that it gives. Reading this psalm I get a picture of standing on a mountain that I've just climbed, perhaps through the forest to get there. But once you get to the top, you can see for miles. The troubles are far away and you can look and stand amazed at God's creation.
I'm also reminded of one of my favorite quotes from the great theologian Jonathan Edwards who wrote,
"As grace increases the field opens more and more to a distant view, until the soul is swallowed up with the vastness of the object, and the person is astonished to think how much it becomes him to love his God and this glorious Redeemer that has so loved man."The next time that you call out in distress and God answers and delivers you, take some time to step back, take that distant view and prasise God for His grace and the opportunity to see firsthand the glory of God and realize how much He loves you.
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Blessings,
Mike
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Praise to God for His Everlasting Mercy
118 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
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