When I am challenged

As a third year seminary student it would be easy to assume I agree with everything in the Bible. It would be easy to think nothing throws me any more. You could think that, but you would be wrong. This morning I read through Psalm 17. The first thirteen verses are pretty straight forward. David is oppressed by his enemies and asks for God to subdue those who mean David harm. David reminds God, that God has already tested David’s heart and found David worthy. David acknowledges when he calls to God; God answers. It is with confidence David asks God to continue to look upon David with favor and to hid David in the shadow of God’s wings as protection. David then compares himself with those who have already received their prize in this world. I struggled with this part because David specifically points to those who fill their lives with treasure and who are satisfied with children. I am a new father, and those words from verse fourteen leave me with a cold feeling. My first thought is to justify by asking what kind of father was David? David’s eldest son tried to take the kingdom, and while Solomon may have started out asking for wisdom, by the end his example of having many wives and altars to foreign gods set Israel on the course to destruction. Solomon’s son Rehoboam was responsible for splitting the kingdom. What kind of fathers were these? Then I recall David had many many children. Who is David to denounce those who take pride in their children? As I wrestle with this text I at last come to verse fifteen.

¹⁵As for me, I shall^(X) behold your face in righteousness;
   when I^(Y) awake, I shall be^(Z) satisfied with your likeness

My question then becomes in what do I place the most value. Is my son more important than my God, and if so in what way…? This is not an easy question for me, but here is the short answer. Having a son is not enough of a treasure for me to be happy. Leaving my son financial wealth will not bring me joy. The wealth I hope to leave to my son is a love for my God who can shelter my son on the cold snowy mornings of life.

The Good Life

This morning I was reading from Psalm 16. According to the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible the title of this Psalm is "You Will Not Abandon My Soul." This Psalm is like many Psalms in that it focuses on trusting in the Lord and taking refuge in God's grace. Today this Psalm speaks to me as I try to rest in January while I am not taking a class. However, even without classes it is not easy to rest in January. There are scholarships to apply for, books to read before the spring semester and before Evan starts teething, or perhaps crawling. Plus it is time to start looking for a job. I promised Karen we would only be in Wilmore two years when we got married, and our time in Wilmore, Kentucky, is drawing to a close. I still have a year of school left, but I can take those courses on line, and should still be able to finish in time. There are a lot of things to figure out. As I delve into that process Psalm 16 helps me to remember from whence my strength comes. It is entirely too easy for me to run off and try to handle things on my own. Where is the faith in trying to do things without God? I am too familiar with those particular sins which specifically call me after other gods. I know that misery and sorrow. I do not want to follow the old gods. I will put my trust in the Lord. YHWH is not safe, and the paths He asks us to walk are not easy, but God is Good. I will follow His will for my life and my family as best as I am able. This is a good life. Wouldn't you like to live the good life?