Psalm 16

I chose to reflect on this Psalm because the imagery of God being a shelter always jumps out and grabs me. To have one of the most essential parts of life promised by God is overwhelming, also implying that within him I will be safe. I long for that, outside of Ozark I do not always feel like I have a place to go that is safe, that I can take refuge in. I also love the imagery of God giving me stability. This Psalm raises the question of being prosperous. Is that not a direct contradiction to Christianity and denying our selves and giving our possessions? I do not interpret this as a health and wealth gospel, but instead as the hope of heaven because of the talk of the future. I know because of my hope in Jesus my future is secure. Speaking of that Jesus may have been thinking that as well. He longed to be back with the father, to be back in his perfect love, but also Jesus probably realized he was the fulfillment of this for everyone. Personally I need to take more time to reflect and learn, I spend to much time trying to hustle through life, to accomplish tasks, when instead I need to take my time and learn with the Lord. From that I will not only learn, but find joy and life. In that being joy, not just temporal happiness, but an everlasting joy that cannot be shaken.

Psalm 11

I chose this Psalm because the imagery stuck out to me. First the Psalm says take refuge in the Lord and uses the imagery of a bird fleeing to his mountain. What struck me the hardest was how the enemy is waiting in the shadows, with arrows drawn ready to strike at me. The Psalm asks what can the righteous do? Well that very question is answered in the Psalm. The answer strikingly is the Lord. God will sort through the wicked and the righteous, the Lord is in control of all. Much like Jesus we need not to fear the world for God has overcome the world, and as long as he is on the throne the righteous will be revered by God. A secular person would view this Psalm and think that God is judgmental because it is mentioned that the wicked will have coals and sulfur rained down upon them. But as always God is just and fair. This Psalm moves from despair into hope, which is also helps show the redemption that we see in Jesus. Without him we have no place to take refuge, but because of his sacrifice we can be sure even when this world is unstable that we will see the face of God. This Psalm requires me to not take justice into my own hands but instead leave it up to the ultimate judge and ruler of all. This Psalm helps me see that there are things that will try to bring me down, but when trials come before me I nee not to fear, but instead realize who God is and know what that means for me.