A friend of mine, Deb Heefner, gave a great devotional during Xtrack (the CCC Cross-cultural Training at which I have been coaching people headed overseas).As a means of revisiting, processing, and sharing, here are my notes and I'm sure some added thoughts:
Psalm 73 (ESV):
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Salmo 73
Ciertamente Dios es bueno para con Israel, para con los puros de corazón. En cuanto a mí, mis pies estuvieron a punto de tropezar, casi resbalaron mis pasos. Porque tuve envidia de los arrogantes, al ver la prosperidad de los impíos. Porque no hay dolores en su muerte, y su cuerpo es robusto. No sufren penalidades como los mortales, ni son azotados como los demás hombres. Por tanto, el orgullo es su collar; el manto de la violencia los cubre. Los ojos se les saltan de gordura; se desborda su corazón con sus antojos. Se mofan, y con maldad hablan de opresión; hablan desde su encumbrada posición. Contra el cielo han puesto su boca, y su lengua se pasea por la tierra.
Por eso el pueblo de Dios vuelve a este lugar, y beben las aguas de la abundancia.
Y dicen: ¿Cómo lo sabe Dios? ¿Y hay conocimiento en el Altísimo?He aquí, estos son los impíos, y, siempre desahogados, han aumentado sus riquezas.
Ciertamente en vano he guardado puro mi corazón y lavado mis manos en inocencia; pues he sido azotado todo el día y castigado cada mañana. Si yo hubiera dicho: Así hablaré, he aquí, habría traicionado a la generación de tus hijos.
Cuando pensaba, tratando de entender esto, fue difícil para mí, hasta que entré en el santuario de Dios; entonces comprendí el fin de ellos. Ciertamente tú los pones en lugares resbaladizos; los arrojas a la destrucción.¡Cómo son destruidos en un momento! Son totalmente consumidos por terrores repentinos. Como un sueño del que despierta, oh Señor, cuando te levantes, despreciarás su apariencia. Cuando mi corazón se llenó de amargura, y en mi interior sentía punzadas, entonces era yo torpe y sin entendimiento; era como una bestia delante de ti. Sin embargo, yo siempre estoy contigo; tú me has tomado de la mano derecha. Con tu consejo me guiarás, y después me recibirás en gloria. ¿A quién tengo yo en los cielos, sino a ti? Y fuera de ti, nada deseo en la tierra. Mi carne y mi corazón pueden desfallecer, pero Dios es la fortaleza de mi corazón y mi porción para siempre. Porque he aquí, los que están lejos de ti perecerán; tú has destruido a todos los que te son infieles. Mas para mí, estar cerca de Dios es mi bien; en DIOS el Señor he puesto mi refugio, para contar todas tus obras.
"as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped...
(v. 3-12) ... they... they... they (focus on "they" - "they"- -- symptoms of something deeper)
(v. 13-15) ... I... I... I (focus on "I" -- also symptom of something deeper)
v. 16, 17 "... but when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, UNTIL I went into the sanctuary of God..."
v. 23, 24 "... nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory."
v. 25-26 "... Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth, that I desire beside you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
He was overwhelmed until he entered God's presence. Then he gained perspective.
1. He saw God's Perpetual Presence
"... I am continually with you ... I uphold you with my righteous right hand."
"I'm okay, daddy, as long as I am holding your hand." He will not let go. The crowds may come, but he remains faithful. (The picture of a dad in a large crowd with his little daughter. She is calm and secure as long as she knows her dad is there holding her hand (and thus protecting her).)
v. 27-28 "... For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."
2. He gained Perspective (instead of "they" or "me" being the focus, HE needs to be our focus)
... YOU will guide me with your counsel
... with His counsel, He will guide me, giving us perspective and lifting our eyes up to him
... there will never be a point where I do not have his counsel, even if it seems cloudy or confusing or unknown
3. He saw the God was/is his Profound Provision
... HE is Our Power and Our Portion
... the promised inheritance
... He's my Rock, He's my FORTRESS, He's my DELIVERER; in Him will I trust. Praise the name of Jesus!
... He is my portion and my life forever... He is enough, more than enough...
4. He saw that God is Just and Fulfills his Promises
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
5. He sees the goodness of God's Presence and Protection (v. 28)
... the nearness of God is good
"... Taste and see that the Lord is good... and He is my portion forever."
Where is your refuge? Where do you run to?
Refection Questions:
- What are times or areas of your life when you have been more apt to focus on the "they" (either blaming, judging, being critical of them, worrying, wondering what they might think, etc.,) or on the "me" (protecting your rights, being self-critical, self-protecting, self-centered, prideful, etc.,)?
- What have you found to help you in these times?
- What are some warning signs for you that you are focusing on "them" or "me" too much?
Note: By the way, isn't the little lizard ADORABLE!!!
