LORD, you have searched me
and known me . . .
Search me God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

This Psalm is familiar and moving – and at the same time, intriguing.

It almost seems backwards to declare that the Lord has searched me and knows me – the Psalmist says, knows all about me. He knows me inside and out, even has a plan for all my days.

The Psalm ends where you would or might expect it to begin. An invitation to the Lord: Search me.

The Psalmist rests secure in God almighty. Lord, you know me – but search again.

This is the heart cry of a deeply devoted follower. Every day: Lord, search me again.

I need you to point out my failure that I may repent and follow you.

On the day I called you, you
answered me;
You increased the strength within me.

There’s a footnote with the second half of this verse that indicates the Hebrew is obscure – yet at least four other translations (in English) are very similar, noting that the Lord strengthens me within emboldens me, strengthens my soul.

All very similar ideas.

When I call on the Lord, that very day, He is faithful to provide what I need to face whatever challenge is before me. He strengthens me to face the challenge when I call on Him.

Lord, may I never forget: you are the source of the strength I need to face this day. Strengthen me, embolden me, from within through your Spirit – thank you, Lord!

By the rivers of Babylon . . .
– we wept
– we hung up our lyres
– we remembered Zion
– How can we sing the Lord’s song on foreign soil?

This is the sad lament of the exile. Forced to live far from home, away from the people and places he loves. It is a sad, difficult, depressing place and way to live.

He refuses to play the lyre, or sing the songs. The songs, that could be balm for the heart-sick soul are nothing but painful because they are called for by the tormentors who destroyed your life and force you to live in exile.

It is good to remember this is not the end. The Lord will restore, redeem, and bring back the exile. There will be rejoicing in the House of the Lord again.

Pray for that day. Lord restore!

He will!

Give thanks to the LORD,
for he is good.
His faithful love endures forever.

I’m reminded that repetition in the Word of God is a signal to pay attention to something important.

How important, then, must the truth be: His faithful love endures forever.”

His: God’s character is multifaceted, but at the heart of all that He is, is this: His faithful love.

Faithful love: Hesed – loyalty, lovingkindness, mercy; God is constant in His faithful love for us.

Endures: It’s established and not going anywhere. When all else fails, God’s faithful love endures.

Forever: From eternity to eternity – as long as He is, His faithful love is.

Praise God!

The LORD does whatever he pleases
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all the depths.

This is a great and marvelous truth:

God does whatever He pleases

He acts – and His actions bring glory to himself. His reputation is known throughout the world. While the “gods” of the earth are merely the blind, deaf, dumb, statues of some person’s hand, God almighty sees, hears, and speak.

And He acts.

• In righteousness
• With justice
• Redeeming His people
• Ruling by His steadfast love

He accomplishes His purposes and fulfills His plans.

Lord, bring glory to yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Another attempt I abandoned. Same idea, but I lost it trying to duplicate a sunrise from a photo I took.

Now bless the LORD . . .
Lift up your hands in the holy place
and bless the LORD!

Worship requires everything.

Even the physical expression I bring by the simple act of lifting up my hands toward God in worship.

This blesses Him. Brings Him glory as His creation responds to Him and recognizes Him.

I lift my hands as a child to my parent.

I lift my hands in surrender.

I lift my hands in joy and celebration.

I lift my hands in excitement and in response to His presence.

I lift my hands in worship – Lord, God, you are present in the worship of your people.

I will bless you, raise my hands to you.

Why wouldn’t I? You’re the BEST thing I’ve ever known.

Praise God!

I worship you!

Hands in the air!

This is the image I landed on as final, but even this illustration took several different looks throughout the week.

How delightfully good
when brothers live together
in harmony.

It has taken most of my life to begin to understand this truth.

In our church, I experience it often.

It is rare in this life, even in church where it ought to be the most common experience that believers ever have. Harmony between brothers and sisters in the family of God.

This truth may have meant in the biological family first. And I can see moms and dads on the journey to Jerusalem calling for this, rejoicing in a few moments of peace.

But the truth is fully experienced as we share the family bond created by the Spirit in Christ our brother.

How delightfully good!

Here’s a second or third attempt at the idea to illustrate Psalm 134. More tomorrow and the rest of the week.

LORD, remember David
and all the hardships he endured,
and how he swore an oath to the LORD . . .

A history lesson in the midst of the Psalms of Ascent:

But, makes sense.

Headed to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. Why? Because God has chosen Zion (Jerusalem) as His resting place. And made a covenant with David. “If your offspring remain faithful, this will be a prosperous place, and I will never abandon it.”

Lord, as we enter worship, help us recall the commitments made by others to bring us to a place of worship. May we honor their commitment to you, and more importantly, honor you by giving our all in worship.

Bless our place of worship, Lord.

Our church family.

For an image this week, we’re drawing from Psalm 134 – I started this idea over many times. This was one of the early sketches for where I hoped this illustration would go. More as the week progresses . . .

I have calmed and quieted my soul

There is a wonderful truth in this very short Psalm of ascent.

So many people, me included, get caught up in the whirlwind of the day: politics, science, religion, psychology, education, climbing the corporate ladder, family relationships – and on and on.

There’s no end to what may cause anxiety or produce soul-crushing weights of depression or tension in life. And much of it, we have to admit, is self-inflicted. It may be helped along by others, but at the end of the day, it is our choice to let it control, smother.

Instead: Lord, I will seek the simplicity, the calmness of rest in you, on you, for you alone. I calm myself as I rest in you.

The rest: can take care of itself.

I’m at rest in you, Lord.