Between the Lines

Have you ever read Scripture and wondered, What on earth did I just read?! Maybe it made absolutely no sense or seemed irrelevant. Or maybe it was so familiar you read the words without anything really sinking in. Well, don't think for a moment, God will hide from those who really want to know Him. And Scripture is the best way to do that! So, it's important we pay attention.  

This morning, I began reading Psalm 59. I read a bit of the Psalms every morning before I pray or study His Word, and over the past few weeks, I'd been reading a lot of these same type of psalms, psalms that talk about enemies pursuing and the psalmist calling out to God for justice. I know there are all sorts of applications there for us: the Adversary seeks to receive God's glory by destroying God's people, some will mock us for our faith, there is evil and those who work for evil in our world... But this morning, I asked God to show me something different --Help me see in these verses who You are that I can worship You. And He did!

"Save me from my enemies, my God,
over those who rise against me make me safe.
Save me from the wrongdoers,
and from men of bloodshed rescue me.
For, look, they lie in wait for my life,
the powerful scheme against me
--not for my wrong nor my offense, O LORD.
For no misdeed they rush, aim their bows.
Rise toward me and see!
And You, LORD, God of armies, God of Israel,
awake to make reckoning with all the nations.
Do not pardon all wrongdoing traitors." ~ Psalm 59:2-6 (Alter)

All this talk about enemies and bloodshed, bows and traitors --this is a song, poetry! So, I thought about the ballads and odes of medieval times and the spirituals sung as slaves labored. They told stories, they cried out for vengeance and justice. The songs and poetry of the day expressed their deepest need. Our God gathers His children around Himself and lays His hand on us in blessing and affection; He will not turn us away, even in our fear and pain.

But it's not only dire circumstances that prompted the psalmist; pay attention all this teaches us about the God to whom he lifts his petition:

• Save me...my God: A personal God who saves, who is mighty to save!
• O LORD: Master, Ruler, King
• Rise toward me and see: A Father King that would leave His throne (!!!), rise from it as a parent jumps us to defend or protect their child. What parent, rising to find their child being harassed by a bully or trapped at the top of a tree would not then take action to save their child?
• God of armies: A strong and mighty Commander; thousands and tens of thousands do His bidding, laying down life and limb just to serve Him!
• God of Israel: A covenant God, keeping hesed (His lovingkindness) for thousands of generations.
• all: He is sovereign over all! There is no enemy, no traitor, no evildoer that will not answer before Him. Satan himself is accountable to our God! 

Wow! What a God we worship! But we are liable to miss the point if we read with our focus on ourselves. We should first, ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our reading and second, bear in mind we worship El Elyon, the Lord Most High. These Spirit-inspired, centuries-old words teach us not just about history and human nature, but most importantly, the God who loves and created each of us for His glory. Our Father reveals Himself to us through His Holy Word, but we must train our hearts to search for Him --sometimes between the lines. May God add His blessing to the reading of His Word.

Photo courtesy Steven Ganski, Jr.