The Thing that Thrills Me
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.Psalm 103:15-19
And that (as Mr Gump says), is all I have to say about that.
Is Psalm 103 a favourite of yours then? It’s one of my favourite psalms.
in friendship, Blair
I think it’s a fantastic Psalm about the sovereignty of God above all that we acclaim in human beings.
Favourite psalms! Yes please! Mine are Psalm 42 and also Psalm 139 ( I must get out more…)
Psalm 139 in its entirety?
“Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!”
*amused*
Well, I personally prefer sections such as,
” Lord you have searched me and know me..”
0r
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there:
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle eon the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.”
Pure lyrical poetry.
However, I don’t mind the ending. As humans we do feel anger at atrocity and injustice, some of us do wish God would “take people out” – especially when we hear of children murdered, of despotic regimes etc. It is after all human wishes that are expressed in this psalm. “IF ONLY you would slay the wicked , O God… ” That “if” does kind of acknowledge that God’s wisdom and ways are higher than our understanding. The end of the psalm doesn’t address issues like why God largely allows evil and doesn’t intervene – but it does acknowledge the psalmists security in God’s love and purpose for his creation and his higher knowledge – a bit like God’s answer to Job.
Hope that helps.
I don’t own any Elvis albums but that’s no reason not to admit that he was a giant in his field and brought join to many millions. So too with Michael Jackson. He certainly warrants more media coverage than, say, Jade Goody although I’m not sure that his life is as conducive to (the media’s) cheap sermonisng.