Personally, for me, this Psalm of David serves as a checkpoint. A passage to sit and think about. A place to pause for a moment and examine my heart, my thoughts, my motives. Let’s start by looking at verse 1:
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Two words really jump out for me – EVERYTHING and ALL. Some would read this and focus on the word BELONG and see God as a possessive ruler who controls those who follow him. But I see the Lord of the universe who loves what he created and longs for his creation to have a relationship with him. Let’s look at verses 3-5:
Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.
I can’t think of anything greater than receiving the LORD’s blessing and having a right relationship with Him! The key here is that it is our choice. God doesn’t force us into a relationship with him. He doesn’t manipulate or strong arm us into submission. He longingly lovingly patiently waits for us to seek him. Verses 7 & 8 poetically describes this opportunity we have to welcome the King:
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.
If you are reading this at the time it was writted, you are aware of the global pandemic that we are currently experiencing. If you are reading this years later, 2020 was the year of Coronavirus COVID-19. We are seeing things that we have never experienced in our lifetime. People dying by the hundreds and thousands. An economy that is turned upside down. Medical experts scrambling to find a cure or at least something to slow the spread. We are living in a cesspool of fear and uncertainty. But even in the midst of all this, there is a light in the darkness. There are people that are sharing their resources, giving their time and reaching out to their friends and neighbors. There are families that are spending time together and building relationships. There are front-line workers that are risking exposure every day.
Perhaps you are reading this today and you are saying – I don’t see it. I am afraid. I am scared. I am terrified. May I suggest the following: lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and he with me. ~ Revelation 3:20
As I am sitting here writing this post, I have been struggling with coughing and asthma symptoms for the last couple of days. Am I infected? I don’t know. I don’t have a fever, so I am hopeful that it is simply an asthma flair up. Could I worry? Could I fret? Yes, and quite frankly that would be an easy trap in which to fall. But I know that the LORD is by my side and I am trusting him.
Whatever you are struggling with today, reach out to the Lord. Pray. Ask for guidance. Ask for forgiveness. Seek him.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ~ Matthew 7:7-8