He is the Promised Land.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
Psalm 34:5
Psalm 34 was my refuge today. Well, actually the Lord was my refuge but the words of the Psalm came to life and opened the line of communication between me and our ever-present Lord. I saw so clearly the simplicity of His love for us and the barrage of ‘stuff’ we allow to block that very pure and uncomplicated channel.
I don’t want to describe the situations that brought this verse to life for me, because my description will never do justice to His divine presence – and the joy I felt wasn’t a ‘bubbly’ joy but a deep contentment in knowing He was so close walking me through each moment… and I had no shame because I was walking with Him and I was listening. I was holding my tongue when it was hard and waiting and telling Him when it was hard… and He knew… and my lack of shame came from a lack of saying and doing stupid things – but not in a means to be perfect. I was simply consumed with being His… there was no importance or reason to be thinking about myself. He saw. He knew. And I was His. He truly is the Promised Land.
I did read the chapter in Spanish today – it helps me slow down and absorb each word – but here is Psalm 34 in English. I pray the words soak into your soul.
I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
not one of them is broken!
Calamity will surely destroy the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34