After the Exodus

This is another Psalm that is full of hope and healing. It's also one that if I marked my favorite verses. I would mark all of them. It was sung on the way to Jerusalem. I long to see Israel rejoice like this again!

Errr like the Psalm, not exactly like this... but sorta : )
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

This Psalm describes the happiness on the other side of the Exodus out of Egypt. Sometimes life is confusing and seems impossible. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, wondering if there was an end. Each step seemed unending, unnecessary and impossible. That's how faith is.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

NKJV

And, here is the result of their great faith:

Psalms 126

1 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,

when God returned Zion's exiles.

2 We laughed, we sang,

we couldn't believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations —

"God was wonderful to them!"

3 God was wonderful to us;

we are one happy people.

4 And now, God, do it again —

bring rains to our drought-stricken lives

Verse 5 in the New King James Version is one of my favorite verses. God has some special things in store for those of us who believe and overcome.

5 Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

NKJV

5 So those who planted their crops in despair

will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

6 So those who went off with heavy hearts

will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

THE MESSAGE

Here's the story of Moses from the New Testament "Great Hall of Faith," Hebrews, Chapter 11. I doubt Moses realized the full impact of what he was doing at the time.

Hebrews 11:23-29

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

NKJV

None of us know how our little acts and work for the Lord affect the larger picture of God's plan. Ministry can be very difficult at times, making us weary. As much as we want to help others, we run out of strength. And Jesus said,

Matt 11:28-30

28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

NKJV

God has been teaching me how to not carry the world's burdens, it's too heavy. But to take up His yoke and His burden instead. You can imagine my delight when my Pastor spoke about this yesterday. Jesus is the Savior, I'm just a servant.

My strength

I love this Psalm.  It's so inspiring and beautiful.  Where does my strength come from?  Does it come from the mountains?  No, it comes from the God who created the heavens and the earth.  If I were to highlight my favorite verses, it would be all of them : )  In the Psalms, there is such variety- from the lowest depths of despair to the highest heights of praise.

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Psalms 121

Our strength comes from our Creator, the God who sees and understands, not the creation.
1 I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
2 No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

Sometimes it seems like I'm alone in all of this.  But, that's not the case at all.  God won't fall asleep- even when I do.  He won't let me stumble although my knees feel bruised from praying.  He hears.
3 He won't let you stumble,
your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
4 Not on your life! Israel's
Guardian will never doze or sleep.

He's right at my side to protect me, keeping me from being overwhelmed.  Reading His Word revives my soul and I know I can keep going.
5 God's your Guardian,
right at your side to protect you — 
6 Shielding you from sunstroke,
sheltering you from moonstroke.

He guards us from evil, if we allow Him to.  He guards us leaving, returning, now and always.   He is awesome!
7 God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
8 He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.
THE MESSAGE

No special vitamins required

Psalms 62

1 God, the one and only —
I'll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
2 He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.

7 My help and glory are in God
— granite-strength and safe-harbor-God —  
8 So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.

9 Man as such is smoke,
woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they're nothing;
two times nothing is nothing.

10 And a windfall, if it comes —
don't make too much of it.

11 God said this once and for all;
how many times
Have I heard it repeated?
"Strength comes
Straight from God."
THE MESSAGE

I love this Psalm.  There are so many descriptions of God:  solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle, granite-strength, a safe harbor.  Waiting upon God is tough.  My watch says now is a good time.  But God weighs the scales.  One man's blessing can be another man's curse.  His wisdom is infinite.  His timing is perfect.  It's so easy to get excited about winning the lottery and getting a million dollars.  After taxes it's about $600,000, plus insurance, the new car, it really wouldn't last long in our economy.  David warns us about windfalls telling us, "... not to make too much of it."  Money comes and goes with emergencies and those exciting offers on TV.  I can honestly say He has supplied all my needs.  I was taught early on as a Christian to really think about the difference between what you need and what you want.  It sure helps.  When you look at the larger picture men and women don't last all that long.  We will all pass away.  But God remains always, and gives us strength straight from Him.  No special vitamins required.

Waiting...

Ps 29:1-2
29 Bravo, God, bravo!
Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!"
2 In awe before the glory,
in awe before God's visible power.
Stand at attention!
Dress your best to honor him!
Ps 29:10
10 Above the floodwaters is God's throne
from which his power flows,
from which he rules the world.
Ps 29:11
11 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
THE MESSAGE

I love the imagery in these verses.  I can imagine the angels celebrating God's power.  His throne is above the floodwaters.  He is high and lifted up.  Yet He takes time to make us strong and give us peace.  Besides my new career, my family is going through some hard times.  My Mother is 76 and has recently been taken from an Assisted Living facility to the hospital for blood clots.  We have also recently learned my brother has cancer in his liver.  We are waiting news of whether he can have a transplant.  These things weigh on our hearts.  These verses remind me that God is still in control.  We will celebrate with Him one day, with the angels.  The troubles we know now will be gone forever- for now, we wait, pray and hope.  We are like children not understanding.

Ps 27:13-14
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
NKJV

You make me strong!

Ps 18:1-3
1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
NKJV

In Washington state, I went with my college group years ago to a fortress that was built on a cliff overlooking Puget Sound.  It was built to protect the USA in World War II.  It was solid cement with small holes built in to take down enemies with canons. It was high on a rocky cliff with shear drops to the ocean.  I remember thinking how this is how God protects us.
 

When everything seems confusing, the possibilities endless, and the direction unclear the Lord is my rock. If I focus on all the things that might work and all the things that can go wrong I get stuck.  These are my enemies.  But when I focus on one thing at a time, like the holes carved into the fortress for the canons- I get unstuck. Imagine trying to run from canon to canon inside a fortress?  Yikes!  One foot in front of the other, one thing at a time.