Psalms 116-120
FIVE SIMPLE PLEASURES:
Pigeon Pose at yoga – I love that one in a weird kind of way!- Interviewing a friend who thinks she’s ordinary – but she’s not. Everyone has a story to tell.
- Appreciating serving customers knowing it would be my last opportunity to do so
- All the kind words and hugs and wishes and gifts on my last day at work
- My final tannoy at work – ‘This is a customer announcement: the time is now eight o’clock and your Asda Living store is now closed. AND I AM OUT OF HERE!’
PSALM 116: OWING GOD
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you. v7
The psalmist knows God has been good to him. He’s working out how best to respond to that. He’s been listened to – and we all need to be listened to – and allow others the opportunity to be listened to. His soul can rest – free from anxiety and fear and stress.
PSALM 117: SHORTEST PSALM EVER!
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Praise the Lord. v1-2
That’s it! That’s the whole psalm! But-far reaching in terms of time and space in its content…..
PSALM 118: FOREVER
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans. v8
Indeed. Because sometimes humans let us down. That’s part of being human. But God is God. God will never let us down. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures for ever. Forever.
PSALM 119: THE LONGEST PSALM EVER!
Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight. v35
Teach me to obey. What a great chapter! All about rules and commands and precepts and laws. But not petty rules. God’s rules. God’s best way. The one best way. You may find rules hard. I do. But not God’s rules. Do I look like someone who lives under a set of stifling rules! I don’t think so. There’s a freedom, a joy, a life-giving energy that comes from living as we were meant to live. As we were created to live. It’s exciting and dynamic. You get a sense of it from this whole chapter.
PSALM 120: PEACE AND WAR
I am for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war. v7
Ever found yourself in that place? Where you are striving for peace but others around you are intent on destroying it? All you can ever control is your own reaction.
