Forty Days in the Psalmsනියැදිය

In the Spring as the weather warms and daylight lengthens here in the Midwest, male birds will start the mating process, including driving off other males from their territory. They see their reflection in my windows and see a potential threat. Flapping and darting into the window repeatedly, they try to drive the perceived competition away. It’s painful to watch because it’s so foolish. He’s blind to reality. His reflection is no threat at all.

This is the way we are without God’s Help. We see threats everywhere. We are blind to God’s Activity. Our inner light isn’t enough to see what we need to see. As N.T. Wright says, “Arguments about God are like pointing a flashlight toward the sky to see if the sun is shining.” Our light is no comparison to God’s Light.

In Psalm 36, David describes how we see life without God:

“There is no fear of God before his eyes,” (v1)

“He flatters himself in his own eyes,” (v2)

In other words, we cannot see how bad we really are. We’re like the bird flying into his reflection. I am my own worst enemy and don’t know it.

Still, the Uncommon Grace of God reaches to all Humanity. His Unfailing Love is as wide as the sky. The Psalm says His Justice is as deep as the ocean and both “man and beast” He saves (v6). Even with all of this, many are still blind to God’s Kindness. They can only argue with a Creator they are not sure even exists.

This is why Jesus came, the One who John said was, “the light of men.” And Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Light of the World.” David says, “God is the fountain of life” but we don’t know that unless the Light comes on. “In your light do we see light”, (v9).

Do you get frustrated at people who argue about God? Is there a guy at work who curses God’s Name and his language disgusts you? Do you get fired up about the agenda of anti-God organizations? Remember they can’t see what they can’t see in the same way that you don’t see things clearly. It’s only the Mercy of God in the Light of Jesus Christ that we see ourselves rightly. It’s the Light of Grace that makes us able to see God’s Goodness.

RESPOND IN PRAYER:

Pray for those you get most frustrated with today. Pray for the enemies of God: “Turn on the Light, Jesus. In Your Light, they will see Light.” Pray for yourself, “Jesus, make me aware of Your Goodness as I drink from Your Fountain of Life.”