Psalm
28 reminds me that from a distance, big things can look very small.
This psalm of David seems to have been written in a time of stress.
David successfully overcame life-threatening situations on multiple
occasions by keeping this perspective. He begins, “To
You I call, O Lord my Rock; Do
not turn a deaf ear to me“.
What comes to mind when you think of a rock? Some think pebble,
some think diamond, but I believe David thought of a giant, stable
unmovable mountain. David’s mountain was not off in the distance,
but something he could stand on. I am convinced the key to
maintaining our perspective is to regularly read God’s Word.
Notice David’s focus is not on sheer size, but that God answers his
call. David prays, “Hear
my cry for mercy as I call to You for help“.
What would keep God from hearing our prayers? Generally that comes
down to two things; our own sin, and our unforgiveness toward others.
David specifically mentions those “who
speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their
hearts“.
He adds, “Repay
them… for their evil work“.
Interestingly, David trusts God to judge according to His
righteousness. Is God is so distant from you that He appears small?
Follow David’s example. Ask for mercy and allow God to judge
others. Mathew 5:24 offers this advice to those holding onto
bitterness, “Leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
your brother; then come and offer your gift“.
Pray for that person that is the source of your frustration, it will
change your perspective.
The
psalm closes with the result of drawing close to the greatness of
God. David says, “Praise
be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my
strength and my shield“.
Does this describe your view of God? I pebble gives no protection,
and a shield is useless unless it is close at hand. He continues,
“My
heart leaps for joy
and
I will give thanks to Him in song“.
If
you do not know this joy, David offers a prayer for you, “Save
Your people and bless Your inheritance;
be
their shepherd and carry them forever“.
Psalm
29 is one of the many times David can’t hold back in his praise for
God. Periodically David just has to tell everyone how wonderful God
is. David’s praise always comes with invitations to join in. He
begins, “Ascribe
to the Lord glory and strength“.
This word ‘ascribe’ is interesting. It means authorship or
source, that is, it is something God created uniquely as an attribute
for Himself. I am convinced that most of us cannot comprehend the
glory and strength of God, so David often give his comparisons. He
adds, “Worship
the Lord in the splendor of His holiness“.
Heaven is not sterile white, but vivid and lush with every color of
God’s pallet. He sits in perfection, separated from His creation,
yet His voice is unmistakable. “The
God of glory thunders… The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice
of the Lord is majestic…
breaks
the cedars… strikes with flashes of lightning… shakes the desert…
twists the oaks.”
Perhaps he is describing the power of storms, tornadoes and
hurricanes. But David contrasts the safety of being in His temple,
“And
in His temple all cry, “Glory!” “.
God sits above the storms of life, “The
Lord sits enthroned over the flood“.
We are not immune to the storms, but we can endure them with the
certainty that they will end. David concludes, “The
Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with
peace“.
Are you in a storm? The God of David will hear your call.
According to Philippians 4:7, you can have peace even in the midst of
the storm. “Present
your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus“.
He desires to be your Rock too.