majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Psalm 41:12,
"In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever."
In Psalm 41 David seeks the Lord's mercy, verse 10. His enemies report
that he has a "vile disease" that he won't recover from, verse 8.
David asks the Lord to raise him up, to have mercy on him, that he
might repay his enemies. In the psalm David reflects on the events of
his life that demonstrate the Lord's favor on him. He says, "I know
that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me."
Verse 11.
David recounts the blessings the Lord bestows on those who are
pleasing to him. "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord
delivers him in times of trouble, verse 1. David says the Lord will
protect him and preserve his life, and sustain him on his sickbed,
verses 2 and 3. While many today misunderstand or misread the Lord's
love and acceptance based on the circumstances of their lives (note
the hardships of Paul's life, who was working squarely in the midst of
the Lord's will), for David, on his side of the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ, these were demonstrations of the Lord's active expression of
his favor on a person's life.
Verse 12 catches my eye this morning. David says the Lord will set him
in his presence forever because of his integrity. David is not saying
he is a perfect man. On the contrary, he freely admits he is a sinful
man, "O, Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against
you." Verse 4. My perspective is that David knew something of what
Paul would tell us later in Galatians 5:22-23, that those who belong
to the Lord manifest something of the Lord in their lives.
That David speaks of the Lord setting him in his presence, causes me
to think of what that might be like. To be set in the Lord's presence!
What will that feel like? We are told in Scripture that we will all
be set in the Lord's presence at some time. For those who have found
themselves in the Lord's presence, or near it, they speak of a fear
that seizes them. Isaiah, Moses, Peter, James and John were all
gripped with fear as they found themselves in the blinding brilliance
of the Lord's piercing presence.
While I contemplate the thought of being set in the Lord's presence,
it certainly brings a certain fear to me. But I am assured by Jude's
observation, that the event will be one of joy! "To him who is able to
keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence
without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory,
majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before
all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Joy awaits us there as the blood
of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, that we will appear before
him as without fault! How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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