Thursday, August 28, 2008

The ever present sense of doom

I thought it was funny that someone would make a brass plaque with this wording on it. There is no promise of a solution here, but only the reality that the world is against me. I know we have all felt this way at times, and that's the very reason why David wrote Psalm 37. What is the purpose of this plaque? Where is it posted? How does it help me? It's just very odd to me to think about someone crafting, making and displaying the problem without a solution, but that is the reality of the world without God's answer to our problems.
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In Psalm 37 David speaks of this very fear of dread...the dread of what might be...and then he gives wonderful instructions to God followers in how to respond to this sense of doom. Here's David's instructions-
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Psa 37:1 A David psalm. Don't bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
Psa 37:2 In no time they'll shrivel like grass clippings and wilt like cut flowers in the sun.
Psa 37:3 Get insurance with GOD and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.
Psa 37:4 Keep company with GOD, get in on the best.
Psa 37:5 Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done:
Psa 37:6 He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.
Psa 37:7 Quiet down before GOD, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.
Psa 37:8 Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes--it only makes things worse.
Psa 37:9 Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; GOD-investors will soon own the store.

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I love this passage. It gives wonderfully clear directions in what to do when that sense of doom comes over you. When everything around you tells you that the world is crumbling and all hope is lost....trust in God. He's fully in charge and doing quite fine, thank you.

2 comments:

Schweers' Mom said...

Isn't this the Psalm that in another translation says, "FRET NOT"? I remember you explaining "fret" before like someone rubbing fabric between their fingers until it wears out. That's been a visual that's been permanently ETCHED in my memory banks everytime I think of that Psalm.

Now if I could just stop fretting...

=-)

Mike Messerli said...

Lori,

yes, it's the same passage in NIV or NASB that used the word fret. I agree, that idea really helps me too.