Coffee With The Lord

“To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul! O my God, in You I trust! Let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame!

“Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait patiently all the day long!

“Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love! … Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions! According to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD!

“Good and upright are You LORD; therefore You instruct sinners in the way. You lead the humble in what is right, and You teaches the humble Your way. All Your paths, LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep Your covenant and testimonies!

“For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great! Who is the person who fears You? You instruct that person in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit all that You have promised! The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear [or reverence] Him. You make known to those people Your covenant. My eyes are ever toward You, O LORD, for You will pluck my feet out of the net!

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am lonely and afflicted! The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins!

“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Redeem us, O God, out of all of our troubles!”

(Adapted as a personal prayer from Psalm 25 ESV)

The children of Israel faced a challenge a little like that. They had fallen into terrible sin while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving God’s law! So, when Moses came down from the mountain, God spoke to Moses: “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ I will send My angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people!”

Moses was alarmed! This was not acceptable! He was determined not to go anywhere without the Lord’s personal presence leading, guiding and protecting them! He told the Lord, ‘See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in Your sight, please show me now Your ways, that I may know You in order to find favor in Your sight. Consider too that this nation is Your people!’ And [the Lord] said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And [Moses] said to Him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here! For how shall it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not in Your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and Your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (From Exodus 33:1-3; 12–16 ESV)

I don’t know about you, but as I go through life and face every challenge that comes my way on this journey, I identify with that little child I used as an illustration – I identify with Moses after the failure of God’s people – I don’t want to go anywhere without the Lord’s presence! In fact, I’m banking on His promise to His children – “I will never leave you or forsake you!” (Joshua 1:5; Psalm 38:21-22; 71:9, 17-18; Hebrews 13:5)

With that in mind, my wife, Sharon, during her devotions this morning, said to me… “Honey, would you like me to read it to you? Listen to it from the New Living Translation!” It was really good! So here it is from that translation for you (along with a few of my summarizing thoughts at the end)…

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (From the New Living Translation)

What kind of person is like a Bedouin shepherd to his sheep? Could we use the word “leader, mentor, care giver?” Would that be a cultural equivalent of “shepherd” for us? Maybe you have another idea that is better…

Here’s what I jotted in the margin of my Bible this morning…

• The Lord provides and supplies every need! (vss. 1-3a)
• He, leads and guides me every day… all the way! (vs. 3b)
• I depend on his continual presence and protection – especially through the darkest hours of my life! (vs. 4)
• He cares for me and meets every need I have! (vs. 5)
• And finally, vs. 6 summarizes my confidence in His leadership and care! “His goodness and unfailing love will PURSUE me all the days of my life, and I will [ultimately] live in His house forever!” (Check out John 14:1-3)

Come on! Savor that Psalm like a delicious morsel of food or a delightful piece of candy! Roll it over and over on your spiritual tongue. Let it delight and nourish your soul! Enjoy! Enjoy!! Enjoy!!!