Scripture Nugget 5.24.2017
Scripture Read Psalms 60-62
Nugget Psalm 60:11-12, Psalm 61:2b-4, Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8
“O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless. With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. . . . Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings. . . . For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken. . . . For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
Devotional Thought: God is The Stone of Help, my/our Ebenezer (1 Sam 7:12) who protects and defends me/us from approaching enemies and defeats them in my/our sight, in close proximity. Why wait until I am/we are about to be overcome, why allow enemies to get close? How else will I/we ever show the love of Christ to them if I/we keep them outside of arms-length? This is an issue of faith. Those who mean to do harm may never change (Saul’s heart remained hardened against David, even after David spared his life numerous times. But David had drawn close enough to physically touch Saul, yet spared his life to demonstrate his love and respect for the king). Jesus touched a leper and immediately the leper was cleansed. Jesus must have gotten real close, hugged the man in something like a headlock or the man would not have known he had been touched – sometimes we’ve got to get real close to share Christ’s love with others. Be assured, God protects and defends and will keep enemies away.