Psalm 120

Summary: The psalmist gets an answer from God. At present, he has been living among foreigners, those who love lying and war.

Response: So compassion fatigue is a thing; I've experienced it myself, where there's little empathy left for those who fail me time and again. But that's not how God operates. If mercy is new for the writer, it's new even for those who have turned away. Which is good, because sometimes I'm one of those people.

Psalm 140

(oops, I went too far. I'll jump back next time)

Summary: David needs God's protection from people who would destroy him with words or actions. He feels like that kind of person has it in for him. He asks God for protection against such attacks. David finishes as usual, that the wicked suffer and die.

Response: Working past that last section, I hear David asking for protection from bad things, but I don't hear him asking God to make the bad things stop. I often overthink things, but I don't think this is one of those times. I wonder what I have been trying to avoid in my life instead of going with God's protection.

Something Different: I Am In My Right Place

[From The Art of Musicianship, hornist and educator Philip Farkas:]

For many years now, just before going out to perform, I have read a little page taken from a booklet [...] that I have found to be inspiring and confidence building. [....] It will reaffirm why you are here, what your abilities are, and why yours is an exalted work.

 I Am In My Right Place

"The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me..."

                                                           - Psalm 138:8.

         I am now the person God intended me to be. I am now

fulfilling my divine destiny in perfect ways under grace. I am

here where the One has placed me, doing what He has given

me to do, in the way He has shown me to do it. When it

needs to be done in new ways, He will prompt me to do it

His way. All results are in His hand, therefore, I will rejoice

in what I do and bless the way it is done.                               

        God, who loves and appreciates me as His own expres-

sion, is everywhere evenly present, approving the work He is

doing by means of me, for He has placed Himself at the

center of every man's being. He is over all His works and

whatsoever He doeth is perfect. Nothing can be added to it

and nothing can be taken from it, for God doeth it. He will

instruct me and teach me in the way I shall go; He will guide

me with His eye.                                                              

                                                                          Anita Scofield

[So it's not perfect, but that's okay. I have openly admitted recently that I operate from a place of doubt. And it's true in some ways; I'm not often confident in my work, and I'm much more likely to be mad at myself for failures than someone else for theirs. But I'm trying to believe God when He says I'm worth it, and I think I'm getting better at that day by day.]

Psalm 119 (tav)

THE LAST ONE

Summary: Psalmist loves and follows commands, needs God to help him out.

Response: I wonder if there's a purposeful disconnect here: that doing what God says is the right thing to do, but it doesn't save us; that that job goes to God Himself.

Psalm 119 (shin)

Summary: The psalmist works hard at having a healthy respect for the Law. He sees how following it is a life of great reward.

Response: I want to have this love of God's Word, that all else is, without it, lacking in meaning or context.

Psalm 119 (resh)

Summary: Because the psalmist follows God's commands, he wants God to rescue him. He notes and despises those who do not follow commands.

Response: I hear, again, a lot of hate. It almost drowns out any mention of God's power and love for me. I wonder how this is supposed to gel with verses like in 1Cor 13, "Love keeps no record of wrongs." Lord, help me to let things go and love with Your love wholeheartedly.

Psalm 119 (resh)

Summary: The psalmist wants God to rescue him because he follows His Law. He wants nothing to do with those who do not.

Response: Lord, help me to push hard against sin in the world. Lord, help me also to push hard against the hate in the world. May I be used for truth and love.