Therefore …
by Reid Matthias
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You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11).
Read Psalm 16
There are some days when I think it would be really nice to have a table-sized map to spread out in front of me that would show the trajectory of my life – where I’ve been, where I am and where I’m going. From that distance, I could see the big picture and have a bird’s-eye view of my timeline. Maybe for the first time, I could see how all the dots of pain and pleasure are connected.
Maybe that’s what David wanted from God?
He recognised God’s power and providence in all things, whether David’s fear or fealty; he knew deeply God’s hand in making him king, conquering his enemies and encountering the delights of existence.
David writes, ‘Therefore,’ or in our more common parlance, ‘Because of all these things, my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure’ (verse 9). Wouldn’t that be nice to know, to deeply understand that gladness would touch my soul, not just in a brief moment of laughter, but in weighty joy. I could speak and sing the assurance of my salvation – praise is as close to my lips as the ‘good morning’ to my family. My body could finally rest – stress shed like an old skin, and take on the new one that is soft, comfortable and wrinkle-free.
Therefore … because God has been so good, I don’t have to worry about this present moment but believe in my heart, speak with my mouth and feel in my rested body that I will be filled with joy in God’s presence and experience eternal pleasure once this life is done.
And in this trust, I don’t have to worry about spreading the table-sized map to make sure of my path. And I don’t have to stress about where I’m going because it’s already planned. And I don’t have to worry that death will be a finality (verse 10).
This is the good news, friends. God has not abandoned us but is always present.
Therefore, rest securely.
Jesus, thank you for being my portion, my cup and my delightful inheritance. Help me to experience a glad heart, a praising tongue and a body that rests in you. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine and Greta, have created a Spotify channel (A 13) where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, and maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com
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