Today’s scripture: Psalm 62 (NRSV) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
Everybody on planet Earth knows what a rock is. What a brilliant way to describe God.
Huh? How can something so simple — and at a glance, mundane — possibly describe the creator of the universe?
God is compared to a mighty and strong impenetrable boulder that serves as the foundation of our faith, and also for the safe haven in which we may perpetually be hidden.
“Yeah, okay, that’s all well and good for preachin’ from the keyboard, Ben, but what about the toils of everyday life that slap me around? What am I suppose to do when all you-know-what breaks loose?” I admit I’ve shouted that same painful cry into my own mirror at times.
But verse 5 sheds some encouraging light: For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. Even when all else may seem to be in the worst possible condition, my soul is still being cared for by God. And that’s really the most important component of my entire being, because my soul is what remains after the rest of me is kaput.
Most of the time, however, we aren’t in the deepest of deep despair. It’s comforting to remember that God wants us to pour out our hearts at anytime to this fortress which shall never be shaken.
God is always a refuge for us that is infinitely more reliable than any human. The psalmist states that if you could put God and any human on balances (a scales), the worth of the human would be so insignificant in comparison that their side would “go up”. Yet, later on in the Bible, we find out about God’s plan of salvation that involves Jesus and the horrific price they both paid purely for humanity’s sake; kind of blows one’s mind, doesn’t it?
Life is filled with some shaky episodes. Thank God — literally — for God being a solid rock upon which we can always rely for a strong footing.
Thought for the day: “Rock climbing” with God is a great experience. No expensive equipment necessary; just an open heart.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.