Today’s Reading : Psalms 60
As with many of my posts, I attempt to see the biblical text in a way that it is relatable and can give insight into God’s plan in my life. Today’s text is Psalms 60.
“O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!
God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”
Psalm 60:1-10, 12 ESV
With this particular text, I see God, as our father and us in our infancy. As a dad, I have many memories of my children from infancy up until their current ages. One of the most vivid images that I can see in my mind that can relate to this story is : Feeding time for the infant.
Most of the time when you have an infant, you know their schedules and you’re able to anticipate their needs easily. Feeding. Napping. Changing. Activities.
One of the most intense and emotional provoking is when the infant is suddenly hungry and you have to prepare their food. You have an infant that is screaming and crying for food. You have to put them down in a safe place. Then you have to get the bottle ready and warmed. Then you return to give the infant their food and sustenance. This is what I call, “Hold tight, BRB (Be Right Back).” You momentarily, leave the infant in a safe place and then get the things that they are needing and then you return.
As the adult, you understand what you’re doing. The infant feels abandoned. They understand that the person who is taking care of them, left them and they are in a vulnerable spot. They’re hopeless and they’re helpless. They cannot fully comprehend the situation. They are scared and just want to be held and comforted.
This is what I believe David is trying to convey in this psalm. He is scared and feels the presence of God removed from him. He feels isolated and vulnerable. But in the latter portion of the psalm, God reassures David that he will be taken care of, he has brought sustenance and comfort to him.
As a father, I have seen that as the children grow older the true nature of the father continues to grow as well. When the children are in infancy, the main things that you have to think about are : protection, nourishment, engagement, comfort, and growth. As the children grow, these core values of parenting do not vanish or diminish. They morph and evolve into other elements. I’m 43 and my mom and dad still asked me the same questions when I talked to them: How are you doing? Are you eating well? Are you sleeping well? Are you taking care of yourself? No matter how old you get your parents are still making sure that they are taking care of the core values.
In the same way as we continue to grow and mature in God, God will always continue to have those same core values for us as well. Sometimes we may not feel his presence immediately, but he is always taking care of us. Sometimes it is a case of “Hold tight, BRB“
This week and in the following weeks, as we continue to listen to God’s wisdom and feel his presence, sometimes we may feel that we are in the midst of the valley of despair, but we have to understand that he is working and will be there to strengthen us and comfort us in the time of need.
Be blessed
You must be logged in to post a comment.