Appreciating God (Psalm 31)

Last Sunday we concluded our message time with this great quote from Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch: Instead of trying to fit God into our lives, missional Christianity asks where our lives (both individually and collectively) fit into God’s mission (“The Faith of Leap” p.178). The question then is, how can we help each other (and others around us) embrace, experience and enjoy this concept as a guide to fulfilling life. I suspect that the starting point is in the area of appreciating God for everything that God is.

This would help us avoid the trap that the third “slave” in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) fell into. This third “slave” completely misinterpreted and misunderstood who his master was and what his master (representing God) was about, and because of this, the third “slave” in the parable made the wrong decision and took the wrong direction. Therefore let’s pursue this notion of appreciating God more, and thereby be more ready to “fit into God’s mission”.

It is often how we see God working in the lives of others, together with how we experience God in the cut and thrust of our own lives, that we come to appreciate God more. We are also encouraged by the biblical witness to God’s beauty and effectiveness. So, in light of this, it would be worth studying Psalm 31. This is both the Word of God to us, as well as a real person’s reflections upon God’s place in his life. The psalmist here (commonly held to be David) also reflects on his place in a complex and difficult world environment. As we read Psalm 31 what do you notice in terms of how we can appreciate God?

We should note that because the psalmist so confidently prays for God’s help, he is absolutely sure that he will receive this, probably on the basis of his past experience, and also because of what he himself has come to know and appreciate about God over time. What he discovers and understands through verses 1 to 23, allows him to conclude the psalm at verse 24 with the public statement, Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. This seems to set the psalmist up well to fully appreciate God and fit himself right within God’s mission in the world!

(1)    God is the one in whom we can seek “refuge” (vs.1,2,3,4,14,15) – refuge can be sought in the One who is perfectly trustworthy and reliable in all ways. God hears our cries, even our very thoughts; God knows all our troubles. Life can have all sorts of challenges and pitfalls – described in the psalm as, the net that is hidden for me (v.4). Such difficult times or tests can come as a (“hidden”) surprise, whilst others have been buried for a while and come back to rear their ugly head. It is in taking refuge in God that we can obtain the leading and guidance we need. Jesus leads and we follow. To take ‘refuge’ is to decide to move from a place of danger and insecurity to another place … where we can feel safe, be accepted, sense we belong, and feel valued. Such is the capacity of God to be our refuge, that Jesus at the height of his pain and torture on the cross, said these very words, Into Your hand I commit my spirit (v.5).

Going down to verse 20, this refuge is seen as a “shelter” – the “shelter of God’s presence”. We could think of the “shelter” gained from living in a home, where we are protected from the worst of the heat or the wet. Shelter is what we need to escape the extremes of what can happen, that the psalmist categorises as “human plots” and “contentious tongues”. God will form a “shelter” for us against the worst of human behaviour … we may see it and hear it, even feel it, but it won’t touch us beyond what we can cope with. Such behaviour will not have the power to destroy us. Also, verse 23 talks about the Lord ‘preserving the faithful’, which would indicate keeping them alive and useful – salty and tasty, if you like! Even when regrettably the worst happens, because of the fallen and often dark place the world has become, we would know that we have followed Jesus to the full and entered into a blessed eternity.

(2)    God is the one who has arranged our “redemption” us (v.5) – when we were taken over by the power of sin, living in guilt and shame … which brought a dark overlay to our lives, God took action to open the opportunity of coming back into relationship with him and experiencing new life. This came at a great cost to God – the life of his Son, but God would argue it was worth it … for God would not easily give up on his creations. And though it was costly, it came to us as a free gift – just needing to be accepted, unwrapped and embraced.

(3)    God sets our feet in “a broad place” (v.8) – this is a place where we can stand firmly, and have as a sure foundation for life. Having our feet set in a “broad place” means that we won’t easily topple over one side or the other of our life’s platform – we won’t fall for “worthless idols”, and we won’t be destroyed by our afflictions, or those who set their mind against us. The picture that I have of the “broad place”, is the platform above the swimming pool, that although the water below has some challenge and danger attached to it (just like life), I can start the adventure with my feet firmly and safely poised. This “broad place” is wide enough to embrace and experience all the freedom, opportunities, learning, growth and potential that God offers. The NIV translates here “a spacious place”. So, I will not be confined, but rather have the space to build relationships and make a difference in the community around me!

(4)    Even more than bringing refuge and redemption, in times of deep distress, God’s grace can bring solace and comfort (v.9). Because life is fragile, we inevitably run into grief and sorrow when we suffer loss. Such grief and sorrow can have a dramatic effect on our lives – we know that many drift right into depression. In fact we might read verses 11-12 as the state of mind of one suffering from depression – ‘I have no friends, no supporters, no one who understands – I might as well be dead – there is no hope’! We should never underestimate the negative power of these emotions, nor ever be trivial enough to expect someone to just get over it. Yet, God is always available to those in such a position … non-judgmentally with unconditional love. We may need to, however, pray and/or gently guide someone toward such an understanding of God’s availability to them. Going down to verse 22, we see that a person may feel a long way from God, but in reality it can be said that God hasn’t gone anywhere, and remains available as the greatest and most attentive listener.

(5)    God is known for his “steadfast love” and “goodness” (v.7,16,19,21) – this has been experienced with rejoicing by the psalmist in God’s provision and salvation, but also in personal consideration and relationship … Let Your face shine upon Your servant (v.16). When God’s face shines upon a person, one would expect that they would then shine or glow themselves – in that knowledge of God’s continuing and abiding love. Good things happen for those who prayerfully and actively seek first the kingdom of God – God works within the situations and circumstances that occur in life, even when we feel like a city under siege (v.21), and brings about blessing and changed outcomes (toward the common good). There comes greater capacities to cope and to bear with adversity, to overcome and sense victory over formerly persistent weaknesses. Our character develops, and thus we can be seen to becoming more like Jesus. Reflecting upon such evident love and goodness brings a great witness to God’s glory – for such happenings occur in the sight of everyone (v.19)! The way we handle what might seem to others as insurmountable odds, strongly reflects the relationship we have with our Divine Creator and Saviour.

(6)    God will ultimately bring vindication for his children … the ones who love and serve him (v.17-18,23), as against those who practice evil, deal in untruths, say hurtful things, and show arrogance. The path of the kingdom of God will be proved to be the right road, because this is the way of love, peace and hope. On the other hand, those who are self-seeking, apathetic, uncaring and downright corrupt will be shown up. Our integrity, in God’s hands, will silence our detractors! This vindication ultimately comes in the form of ‘eternal life’ i.e. fulfilling life with meaning now … leading towards life in uninterrupted relationship with God later. Yet it is promised that the efforts of those, who are willing to ‘stick their necks out’ for Jesus now, will be honoured.