The 37th Psalm is a glorious Psalm filled with instruction and sweet promises. The first two words of the very first verse give us a little command which I find quite challenging "in times like these." These two little words instruct us to "Fret not"! Then it seems like the Lord encourages us with the very first word in the next few verses, telling us to Trust (v.3) -- Delight (v.4) -- Commit -- (v.5) and Rest (v.7).
To fret is to be in a state of vexation. A physician will tell us that a fretful disposition is not conducive to a healthy body. So maybe we need to remember often this little poem by Elizabeth Cheney --
"Said the Robin to the Sparrow: 'I should really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.' Said the Sparrow to the Robin: 'Friend, I think that it must be that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me." How wonderful it is to realize that the cure for anxiety is to trust in our Father's care! I love these blessed words of comfort and assurance from God's Holy Word ---
"Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? --- Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." So, my friend -- let us "Fret not", and take a little time to Consider the Lilies."
No comments:
Post a Comment