Coffee With The Lord

Today I’m rejoicing in my Creator-God and the world… the universe… that He created!

I believe Genesis 1.1! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!” I do NOT believe that the universe and the world we live in is the result of some impersonal evolutionary process! Instead, this is what I believe… “that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Hebrews 11.3)

I believe GOD did it… from our perspective “supernaturally” – from His perspective entirely the normal, everyday stuff of “God-activity!” This changes everything for me! I’m not alone in the universe! Humankind (and all God’s creation) have significance and purpose! Macroscopically (the big picture) and microscopically (to the very smallest particle) are both designed and sustained by Him! He knows me (and everything else) “inside – out!”

All of this was brought to mind this morning as I read Psalm 104 during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”… Here’s an excerpt…

“Praise the Lord, O my soul! Lord, my God, You are VERY great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty! … How many are Your works, Lord! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number – living things give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand they are satisfied with good things. When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure forever! May the Lord rejoice in His works! … I will sing to the Lord all my life! I will sing praise to my God as long as I live! May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the Lord! … Praise the Lord , O my soul! Praise the Lord!”

Biblical poetry – the kind found in the Psalms – is characterized by a different kind of “rhyme” than most Western poetry. It’s called “parallelism” and it really is a rhyme of thought between the lines of poetry (not rhyme of sound). Sometimes the lines say something similar (but in a different way – “synonymous parallelism”), sometimes the lines express truth by contrast (like in Proverbs – “antithetical parallelism”), and sometimes something is said figuratively and then explained literally (“emblematic parallelism”), and there are others. Being alert to this feature of Biblical poetry not only enriches those who read the Psalms, it also assists in proper interpretation.

All of that to say, one of my very favorite examples of powerful “emblematic parallelism” is found in verses 11-13 of Psalm 103. This morning it was a part of my Bible reading and I was again deeply moved by what the parallelism of those verses expressed! I’ll do my best to give you a sample of what “emblematic parallelism” in those verses communicates…

Verse 11 – “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear [reverence] Him.” Any astronomer will tell you the distance of the heavens above the earth is almost an infinite distance!” Listen you have no idea – no comprehension – of how much God loves you!

Verse 12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us!” I’m so glad the Biblical writer did not say “North and South” – those distances can be measured. “East and West” is an infinite distance! When God forgives your sin (whatever that may be)… YOU’RE FORGIVEN! Never to be remembered against you again (Isaiah 43:25)!

Verse 13 – “As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear [reverence] Him!” Compassion is a very deep visceral feeling! Every loving parent has felt it – I have, and so have you! It is a deep emotion that wells up within us for the welfare of our children! God feels that sensation for us – His children!

Great truths in Psalm 103 taught and communicated through “emblematic parallelism” – Enjoy it! Relish it! I’m grateful for each of those truths communicating God’s “steadfast love” today!

Going through a tough time today?  Something tougher than anything you’ve experienced before?  Something that has you struggling to trust God and clawing feverishly for survival?

Today, during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I believe I read (and reflected upon) a passage of Scripture that I believe is just for you!  A passage you can turn into your personal prayer!  A Divine prescription for the season you may be facing!  In fact, the introductory comments to this passage in my Bible put it this way… “A prayer of one afflicted, when they are faint and pouring out their complaint before the Lord.”

Here is a portion of it I’ve selected for you… From Psalm 102:

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to You! Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline Your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

“The Lord regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer!

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created my praise the Lord:  “He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth to hear the groans of the prisoners – to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare the name of the Lord and His praise, when people gather together to worship the Lord!

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands!  They will perish but You will remain!  They will all wear out like a garment, you will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same – Your years have no end!”  (Selected from Psalm 102)

I don’t know who this may be especially for today… but I paused and prayed for you!  May Psalm 102 be just what you need today!