Wednesday, February 23, 2011

psalm 73.

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7 These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
8 They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
11 “What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.

15 If I had really spoken this way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.

27 Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
-new living translation


so i was just reading this passage and totally STRUCK by so many things in this.
for example, the world makes sinful things appeal to us so much and we know that they aren't actually any good, even though our hearts chase after those things. we see people of the world (non-believers) who live lives full of sin and it just SEEMS like they are SO MUCH better off than us, their lives appear glamorous and we start to believe that they have everything that we should want.

it's funny bc i had started to feel this way, and then chased after things
of the world, ended up empty, miserable and very very lonely, pushing people
away, oh how much i can relate to "22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you." because that is exactly what happens and exactly how i feel once God shows me that the things i chased after and believed in, really are only an illusion of contentment and happiness. and His forgiveness is so evident like verse 23 says, "Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand"

yup God is amazing :)

i just thought i'd share this and maybe someone else could get revelation out of it too!

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