For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.
1I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
3My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
4For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
7The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
9The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
11Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
13Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
15The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. c
17The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
18But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
19Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.
- God see how our enemies persecute us
- He has mercy on us
- He lifts us up from the gates of death
- He saves us
Again, as I read this, I smile with joy! David had such an intimate relationship with God that he could cry out to Him with total confidence. Even while facing serious threats and suffering under great persecution, he confidently called upon his Heavenly Father to save him. Can you imagine David being pulled toward the very gates of death, only for God to pluck him away and rescue him?
Of course David would praise God and rejoice in that salvation. Can you imagine how he must have testified? Oh, to have been there to witness such joy!
While there is deep symbolism here that we could analyze intellectually, my main point is to take a simple look at David’s words, his faith, and his absolute confidence that God, his Father, would save him. That just blows my mind.
Often, when great trouble faces us, we pray—but then we can’t sleep because worry enters our minds and hearts. We’ve all had many sleepless nights fretting over our situations. As I write these words, I’ve decided one thing: if I’m going to have sleepless nights, fine. But:
- I will put in my earbuds (so as not to disturb my husband) and listen to the Psalms.
I will fill my body, mind, and spirit with God’s precious Word.
I will battle evil with God at my side.
I may even snuggle up in my comfy chair in the corner to listen and meditate on His Word until sleep comes.
I will praise Him in the good times and the bad.
***** Kate Crane’s What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane is one of those rare books that demands a few days of processing before I could truly share my thoughts. It feels entirely relevant given today’s headlines. The first half is a memoir in which Crane appears completely transparent; my heart broke for the twelve-year-old girl who loved her father so dearly.
One day, he makes his nightly call to say he’s on his way home—and that is the last time his family ever hears from him. This child’s world was shattered, and that fracture remained into her thirties. While difficult to read, it felt necessary. I found myself going between frustration and a deep desire to rescue her.
The second half of the book follows her years-long investigation. The community that supported her proves that it takes a village not only to raise a child, but to bring that child—now in an adult’s body—a measure of peace. I highly recommend this book because it is beautifully written, offers a chance to witness Crane’s resilience, and shines an much needed light on the experience of families of missing persons.
My perspective is undoubtedly influenced by the recent loss of my own father. While losing a parent is horrific under any circumstances, I cannot imagine how Ms. Crane maintained her sanity to produce such an important work. It should be read by all, especially those serving in or studying law enforcement.
Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:
Sundays
Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts
Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz
Stitching Stuff at Kate's Life in Pieces
Mondays
Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach
Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps
What Are You Reading at The Book Date
Tuesdays
To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt
Thursdays
I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color
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