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[God] is up to something so big, so unimaginably good that your mind cannot contain it. ... What we see God doing is never as good as what we don't see.
"I WILL BLESS" (1 ‑10). David had every reason to praise the Lord, for THE LORD HAD RESCUED HIM FROM CERTAIN DEATH. WHEN YOU CALL ON THE LORD IN FAITH, HE SAVES (VV. 4‑6), HE KEEPS (V. 7), AND HE SATISFIES (VV. 8‑10). Why run to the enemy when you can run to the Lord and be safe?
"I WILL TEACH" (11‑22). David wanted the next generation to know the Lord and trust Him. He gave some wise counsel about how to have "good days" (vv. 12‑14; 1 Pet. 3:8‑12), and he urged them to call on the Lord in the time of trouble. GOD'S EYES SEE YOUR NEEDS, GOD'S EARS HEAR YOUR PRAYERS, AND GOD IS NEAR YOU WHEN YOUR HEART IS BROKEN.
WHEN GOD DOES SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU, TELL SOMEBODY ELSE. THE NEXT GENERATION NEEDS TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ALIVE.
GOD'S PRESENCE IN THE MINEFIELD
I think about a man I met in Croatia named Bosada. He was a man whose Serbian neighbor gave him the keys of the house one day and said, "Would you look after my house for me and my pigs and my cattle and sheep?"
Bosada said, "Surely, you're my neighbor. You're my friend. Our families have lived together here for 500 years." What he didn't know was that every Serb in that Croatian village was doing the same thing. They had been told by the army to get out; the army was coming to blast them to kingdom come the next day.
What happened? The tanks came in and blasted all the houses, leaving just shells. Only two houses out of 39 were left standing: half of his house and a house across the street (which was then used as a prison to torture people).
Then a peace accord was signed--an uneasy peace. When the United Nations came, this little enclave with Serb houses sitting up on the hillside began to be repopulated by Croatians headed by Bosada. Bosada is a Christian and was acting pastor of the local church. He said,
"We must show the way. We must go back and rebuild the church." And so, he did. He took his 17-year-old daughter with him.
Even though the UN was there, the soldiers came out of the forest and took him and his daughter up among the trees. They took his 17-year-old daughter away and raped and tortured her. They took a bayonet and thrust it through him seven times, but he just wouldn't die.
"Well, old man," they said. 'We're fed up beating you. I think what we'll do is let your own people kill you." So they brought the daughter back and said, "Now off you go home through the mine field. If you make it, your own militia people will kill you at the other end because it's after curfew."
Bosada told us how he took his daughter's hand and they set off through the mine field.
While he was being tortured, he had said to his torturers, "You can kill our bodies, but you cannot kill our souls. This is the wrong thing you're doing. I will go to heaven, but where will you go? I know that my Redeemer lives. Why don't you turn to my Redeemer?"
God delivered him that night; the angel of his presence saved them. As the prophet Isaiah says, "In all their distress, he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them" (Isaiah 63:9). For Bosada, God saved them out of it in this life. God could have saved them out of it into the next life, where he will take us in his arms, and all tears will be wiped away, and all hurts healed. *
-- Jill Briscoe, "In the Father's Arms," Preaching Today, Tape No. 141.
Ps 34:7
(Psalms 34 TLB)
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. {2} I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. {3} Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name. {4} For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears. {5} Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! {6} This poor man cried to the Lord--and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles.
{7} FOR THE ANGEL OF THE LORD GUARDS AND RESCUES ALL WHO REVERENCE HIM. *
{8} Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. {9} If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. {10} Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing. {11} Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord. {12} Do you want a long, good life? {13} Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from lying. {14} Turn from all known sin and spend your time in doing good. Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it. {15} For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and he gives attention when they cry to him. {16} But the Lord has made up his mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth. {17} Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to him for help and saves him out of all his troubles. {18} The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. {19} The good man does not escape all troubles--he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. {20} Not one of his bones is broken. {21} Calamity will surely overtake the wicked; heavy penalties are meted out to those who hate the good. {22} BUT AS FOR THOSE WHO SERVE THE LORD, HE WILL REDEEM THEM; EVERYONE WHO TAKES REFUGE IN HIM WILL BE FREELY PARDONED.
