A Word from Psalm 18

Most of us know, I think, that we're likely to hit some hard times now and then. And when we do, I  think we also know that we can always turn to the Lord. But I wonder if what we really want in those moments is for God to get us out of the problem we're facing without "poking around" in the rest of our lives. And in today's word from Psalm 18, I think we find a better way to think about we really need.

In this psalm, David was in trouble. "The cords of death entangled me," he said; "the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me." (v. 4) And God did help! "He reached down from on high and took hold of me," David said. "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (vs. 16, 19)

But then, David makes a statement that's always come across to me as a little bit arrogant. "The LORD  dealt with me according to my righteousness," he says; "according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me." (v. 20) But The Message version of this passage, offers a slightly different perspective. 

GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him...

Now I’m alert to GOD’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. 

Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. 

I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. 

GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. 

(vs. 20-24; emphasis added)

You see, maybe we don't "achieve" righteousness by being good enough to earn favor. Maybe righteousness is more about opening every part of our lives to God, so that He can "rewrite the text" of our hearts.

So today, may that kind of righteousness make our lives complete! And may we discover that God is helping us, not as a reward for our spiritual accomplishments, but as a demonstration of the delight He takes in us. Amen.