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My wife recalls a time in her childhood when she imagined herself as a character in a storybook being read by someone—someone greater than herself. This was her first sense of God's existence and presence.
The concept of God being all-knowing—omniscient—can be assuring and scary. My wife's childlike sense of God's omnipresence opened up her realization of His omniscience and omnipotence.
Sadness is a strong emotion. It can crush a heart and overwhelm the mind. Anger is also a powerful emotion. Left unchecked it breeds rage and becomes destructive.
Both these emotions are present in Psalm 137. This psalm is characterized as an imprecatory or curse psalm and expresses the psalmist's thoughts with strong emotive words.
Each Christmas season people are preoccupied with gift giving and the quest for the gift that's just right. A standard advertising question is—"What do you get for the man or woman who has everything?"
The same thing could be asked about God since He does have everything. Literally! He's the Creator and Sustainer of all things and all life. What could anyone give to God?
As a worship leader and musician, I know the difference between harmony and disharmony. When someone sings off key and when instruments are not in tune with each other, I notice and cringe.
Try as I may, it's hard for me to ignore disharmony. It distracts me and makes it hard for me to concentrate and focus on worshipping the Lord.
But when instruments and voices blend together in a harmonious way, the music carries me along in an uplifting flow of worship.
People have sought peace of mind and contentment of soul since the beginning of humanity. Various religions, philosophies, and psychologies claim to offer ways of finding contentment and peace, yet the pursuit continues.
This pursuit intensifies during times of personal crises and in the midst of external conflicts and tension. But there's no prescription anyone can offer that measures up to what God offers.
How can fear bring blessing? When it's the right type of fear. This psalm speaks of the fear of God and declares the blessing it brings. The fear of God is often misunderstood by believers and non-believers alike.
It's a matter of priorities. When a person honors the Lord—realizing who He is and how powerful yet merciful He is—blessing will follow.
The popular phrase, "It's all good," is used way too much. It's an expression that covers a multitude of situations. It's meaningless without context and often depends on a person's point of view on life in general.
King Solomon used a phrase throughout the book of Ecclesiastes that conveys the opposite—"It's useless...!" (Eccl 1:1 NCV). A more current way to say it is, "It's a waste of time!"
Many words are connected to the idea of restoration but joy is what stands out to me. It isn't an emotion but a state of being.
Joy is far more than happiness. It's deeper than any pleasant emotion. It fills the mind and heart of a person who may even sense it in a physical way. The joy of restoration is almost indescribable except by song.
