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How wonderful to walk in a soft breeze on a beautiful sunny day. How we
appreciate the gentle wind laden with
the aroma of an assortment of blossoms.
A part of that appreciation is the experience of snow, ice and bone
chilling cold winds. We may like ice and snow
or summer breezes but experiencing both extremes surely
increases our pleasure with either.
I would venture to guess that if we have been very hungry, at times; our
appreciation of a full stomach would far
outreach that of the man who has always had food on demand.
Perhaps this is also true in our relationship with YHWH. When we call to
Him in our distress and He obviously
answers, our faith is strengthened. On the other hand when we
find our selves so ‘down in the dumps’ until we feel
we cannot survive and we ‘see’ no answers from YHWH, we may
find ourselves feeling alone and deserted.
Neither extreme is accurate I believe. ‘Up’ is great but ‘down’
is sometimes necessary. YHWH is there in both
of these and when we can convince ourselves of that, we will
find a much easier walk with fewer stumbles. Mankind
at best is a creature of extremes.
We are either blessed or cursed, not
just in a time of sunshine or ice. If you think that statement
is accurate then
you will spend most of your time either manic or depressed. How
do I know? I have been there and I am seeking
balance.
Tehillim (Ps) 51:1-19
1
Have mercy on me, O Mighty One, according to Your
kindness, goodness and faithfulness: according to the
abundance of Your compassion obliterate my rebellious
transgressions.
2
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from
my sin.
3
For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is obvious
and forever before my face.
4
Before You, I have veered from the righteous path and I
have done evil in Your sight. Thus You maybe
justified when You speak and be clear when You judge.
5
Behold, I was shaped in a state of iniquity and in a
state of guilt, my mother conceived me.
6
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost parts of a
human being and in the hidden part, You shall make me
to know wisdom.
7
Purify me with hyssop and I shall be pure: wash me and I
shall be whiter than snow.
8
Make me again to hear joy and gladness; that the bones
which You have crushed may exult.
9
From Your face conceal my sins and obliterate all my
perversities.
10
Create a clean heart within me, O Mighty One and renew a
stable mind within me.
11
Do not throw me away from Your presence nor take Your
set-apart, qodesh being away from me.
12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me
with Your noble and generous spirit.
13
Then I will teach rebels of Your ways and those exposed
to condemnation shall be turned back to You.
14
Deliver me from the guilt of shedding innocent blood, O
Mighty One, Mighty One of my deliverance and
then my tongue shall shout aloud of Your justice and
righteousness.
15
O Master, open my lips and my mouth shall joyfully shout
forth Your praise.
16
For You do not desire sacrifice, for if You did I would
give it. You do not delight in burnt offering.
17
The sacrifices to the Mighty One are a broken spirit. A
broken and a contrite heart, O Mighty One, You will
not despise.
18
As it pleases You, do good to Tsiyown: build the walls of
Yerushalayim.
19
Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of
righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:
then shall they offer bulls upon Your altar.
If it feels cold and dark where we are, then we need to look and make
sure we have not walked away from the
‘Giver of light and life’. Daviyd waked away and sought his
own path when he took BatShevah as his own. He even
went so far as too cause the death of Uriah, BatSheva’s
bethrothed/husband. These were what we would call major
crimes but YHWH did forgive him. Penalties were accessed and
they were sure and had to be paid. However, after
payment, Daviyd was restored to favor with YHWH.
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