RETREAT - TAKE REFUGE - WRITE A SONG OF PRAISE - WHAT???
Psalms 57 (NASB)
“For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth”.
Retreat- Take Refuge - Write a song of Praise - What???
Did you ever sing in the midst of disaster when you felt like everything, and everyone was against you. Perhaps you remember doing that when you got scared as a kid. That was David’s battle plan. Saul is breathing down his neck to kill him and he’s hiding in a cave writing praise song. Sounds like a good battle plan, doesn’t it? If I’m honest (we’re honest) that’s not our normal reaction, is it? We like to focus on the disaster we’re living under. David lets us in on his heart and plan of praise. He has some great words he turns into a song and focuses his attention and ours on how “God’s got this”. He knows where I am and what my fears are, and he turns fear into song. I also used to write songs to my favorite verses, but somehow, I have just forgotten how praise and worship can turn into the strength of my life. I used to love to chart Bible passages just to get a clear picture of the what the writer was revealing to me. Below is a chart I was working on as I looked at this Psalm, and it makes me want to look out from my cave and lift my eyes to the one who can help when life and the enemy seems to be crowding in around me. As you look it over notice how David turns his disaster into an opportunity to “take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed, Good advice for all of us, don’t you think? I think I’d better tune my guitar and my focus and get back to a heart of praise.
“For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth”.
Retreat- Take Refuge - Write a song of Praise - What???
Did you ever sing in the midst of disaster when you felt like everything, and everyone was against you. Perhaps you remember doing that when you got scared as a kid. That was David’s battle plan. Saul is breathing down his neck to kill him and he’s hiding in a cave writing praise song. Sounds like a good battle plan, doesn’t it? If I’m honest (we’re honest) that’s not our normal reaction, is it? We like to focus on the disaster we’re living under. David lets us in on his heart and plan of praise. He has some great words he turns into a song and focuses his attention and ours on how “God’s got this”. He knows where I am and what my fears are, and he turns fear into song. I also used to write songs to my favorite verses, but somehow, I have just forgotten how praise and worship can turn into the strength of my life. I used to love to chart Bible passages just to get a clear picture of the what the writer was revealing to me. Below is a chart I was working on as I looked at this Psalm, and it makes me want to look out from my cave and lift my eyes to the one who can help when life and the enemy seems to be crowding in around me. As you look it over notice how David turns his disaster into an opportunity to “take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed, Good advice for all of us, don’t you think? I think I’d better tune my guitar and my focus and get back to a heart of praise.
by Pastor Jerry Hull, Children's Ministry
Posted in Read Through the Bible
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