June 30, 2010 (I Chronicles 7-10, Psalm 102-104)

The last verse of I Chronicles 10 is pretty powerful:

¹³ So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium ¹⁴ instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Haunting and makes me consider my walk with God and the devotion He requires.

I have to say, I'm still in a 'funk' - and I know it's because of a lack of faith. God doesn't change. He is always the same - always faithful. But it takes us recognizing that and acknowledging that. Psalm 103 and 104 both start out with "Praise the Lord, I tell myself". I think sometimes we just have to put mind over matter and tell ourselves, "No matter how I feel, I will praise God." That's where I am today.

Then in Psalm 103 I read of the "conditions" of blessing:

¹¹ For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

¹⁷ But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
¹⁸ of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!

It's all about perspective. We have to constantly remember we are not alone here on earth. We are not living for ourselves, nor are we 'random'. Everyone and everything needs God, whether we recognize that or not. And the only way to recognize and remember that is to be in His word and be reminded of what He says. Psalm 104 ends this way:

²⁴ O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.

²⁷ They all depend on you
to give them food as they need it.
²⁸ When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied.
²⁹ But if you turn away from them, they panic.
When you take away their breath,
they die and turn again to dust.
³⁰ When you give them your breath, life is created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

³¹ May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
³² The earth trembles at his glance;
the mountains smoke at his touch.

³³ I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
³⁴ May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
³⁵ Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth;
let the wicked disappear forever.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!