sacred journeys

Psalm 11:1 I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly to the mountains for safety!

I read Psalm 11 this morning, then I read Eugene Peterson’s thoughts on it…

Escape, for Christians, is faithless. It means that they have succumbed to the ‘nothing-can-be-done’ disease and think the only thing left to do is save their own skin (or soul). The psalmist will not tolerate such counsel. ‘Since God is involved in the world,’ he says, ‘I WILL BE ALSO!’

Escape in my life, I realize, comes in many shapes & forms. It can be turning on the tv to escape, it can be reading the newspaper, it can be reading news on the internet, it can be shopping. Escape can even come from being very busy with ‘good things’ like ministry — all of these things are not bad in and of themselves, when used rightly; just not when used to escape the here & now.

I love David’s reasoning of why he does not escape — because God is involved (Psalm 11:4)
But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everything closely, examining everyone on earth.

It reminds me of Nehemiah’s response to not retreat when his enemies, under the pretense of friendship, hoped to entrap him by advising him to escape for his life.

Nehemiah’s response to people who told him to flee — Nehem 6:11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run away from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!â€?

Prayer: O God, I don’t want to be like the disciples who, in the hour of trial, forsook Jesus and fled. When I feel like escaping, avoiding the difficulties and challenges in life, give me the strngth to stand fast, in the name of Jesu who is my rock and my salvation. Amen.