F O O T H O L D
READING
28 HILLS AND VALLEYS
PRAY O Lord, my light and my
salvation, meet with me through your word
today.
READ Psalm 27:114.
THINK What does it really
mean, in the practical aspects of daily life,
to experience God as
'light'? (1).
FOCUS This psalm is in two
parts. Before you read on look again at the
psalm and see if you can
find a change of tone.
The first 6 verses are
strong. They reflect a heart that is firm
in God. He has such a vision
of God that his heart knows no fear
and he is confident that all
his enemies will be brought to
nought. Whenever trouble
comes God will protect him (5). Moreover,
he expresses a worthy
spiritual desire to be constantly in the
presence of God to behold
his beauty. He really was on a spiritual
high.
How different is the second
part. We pass from bright sunshine to
lowering skies. He is in all
kinds of trouble. A lot of the joy
and confidence has gone.
Where now is the singing and making
melody to the Lord we find
in verse 6?
But isn't life like that? We
are full of confidence one moment,
but quickly lose our vision
of God when trouble hits us. Both
experiences are real and we
must be thankful for both because God
teaches us through the
sunshine and the storm. he is the God of
the hills and valleys.
But hope still shines
through in the second part. Pick out the
really positive notes. As
the psalm ends we are reminded of the
unfailing love of God and
are encouraged to trust him.
PRAY 'Teach me, Lord, what
you want me to do'. (11).
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