Solace in Psalms

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

These destitute words of longing sits well with my current circumstances. I read these words with solace. As I open my Bible for the first time in quite a while, I stare down at these words and think, 'Now that's how I feel!" As I keep reading, my eyes scan over Psalm 64:1-2, which reads,

Hear me, O god, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

Of course I can use the language so poetically, but the meaning is what I have been trying to express. I continue on with Psalm 64:

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them?

They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down."

He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads with scorn.

Now I have to wonder if I am one of these very same people God will strike down. When a person is passionate about what leads them, it becomes easy to intertwine personal agendas with the original righteous agenda.

As I search the Psalms for answers, my eyes catch a simple word on the adjacent page. That word is, 'rest'. I read the passage and am shown the way through the word. I have been embracing animosity for too long and I needed something to assist in showing me the light. Then while reading scripture about the demise of my enemies, I see something that gives me hope and brings life into perspective. What scripture is it, you ask? It is Psalm 62 and it reads:

My should finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hears they curse.

Find rest, O my should, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, I will not be shaken.

This tells me what I have known all along. People may plot and scheme, but they should have no influence over my faith, because it has nothing to do with them. There is only God who can save me.

Let the bickering continue. For now I will fight for what is right. My faith will heal more with each good passing deed.

May you have a blessed day,

-Brian