Coffee With The Lord

Sometimes the beauty of something is best seen in comparison or contrast… That was the way it seemed this morning during my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” (and apparently it was the way King David experienced it when he was inspired to write Psalm 36)! … The ugliness of humanity’s wickedness just accentuated the splendor of God’s perfection and beauty! (You should read the whole Psalm for yourself!)

I admit it… The literary beauty of parts of this Psalm blew me away!  Oh how great and good God is!!!  Read, reflect and let your imagination revel in this description of our God…

“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds!

“Your righteousness is like the mountains of God!

“Your judgments are like the great deep!

“Man and beast you save, O Lord.

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

“The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

“They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

“Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!”

 (From Psalm 36:5–10 ESV)

Incredible eh?  Just makes you want to worship!!!  (I’ll let you read the contrasting description of humanity’s evil on your own 😉 )

Ever been falsely accused or targeted and abused for something you something you simply did not do?  In fact, you may have done what is right and were persecuted for it?

Don’t feel alone… that was the experience of Jesus!  Not only that, it has been the experience of godly people down through the centuries… even today!

Now it is certainly no credit to a professing Christian if they are persecuted for inconsistent or evil behavior… In fact 1 Peter 2:19-21 puts it this way… “It is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

So in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I read David’s response to unjust suffering –  there’s much to commend it…

He prayed for vindication and help in his suffering:  He cried, “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! … Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation!’” (From Psalm 35:1–3)  Hey, there’s nothing wrong with crying out to the Lord in your time of need!  He trusted the Lord to help him and vindicate him!

But he also determined to praise the Lord for helping him!  “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His salvation… Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and need from him who plunders him? … I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people! … My tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long!” (From the remainder of Psalm 35)

So, if you’re suffering unjustly, talk to God about it – as for His help and support, even deliverance!  But follow the advice and example of Jesus who urged you bless those who persecute you (see Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36).  Entrust yourself to the Lord… He will be your ultimate vindication – vengeance is ultimately His to mete out (and that frees you up to be redemptive in your suffering (check out Romans 12:14-21)… That’s the Lord’s way!!

My Annual Birthday Prayer Run is just around the corner! This year I’m celebrating 75 years! So beginning next weekend, I will be running 75 miles the week of my birthday (April 8)… It amounts to about a half-marathon each day. As always I’m inviting people to send me prayer requests they’d like someone to pray with them concerning… I pray about your needs as I run. You may email me your requests at leroybartel@gmail.com or via LeRoy R. Bartel on FB Messenger regarding your requests (as always they are treated confidentially).