We waffled over making the two hour drive for the church league softball game. It was so hot when we left and there was a good chance that the team would forfeit without enough players at game time. Sitting behind our grandsons as we watched their dad tag a runner out at first base, I leaned over to my daughter to say how glad I was that we had chanced it and come anyway. āThis overcast sky is great!ā I commented. Without missing a beat, Thomas added, āAnd all these runs are great for the llamas!ā Shout out to the El Bethel Llamas who nearly pulled off a victory with eight able bodied players and an injured catcher who didnāt want to see his team forfeit. It was an intense game. I would have made the drive just to see our children and grandchildren but victory or not, this was definitely a win-win.
Word play is such an interesting part of Biblical Hebrew. The Bible is classical literature at its finest and is studied purely for its historical and educational value but coupled with the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in every child of God by faith in Jesus, Scripture becomes the living and active Word of God, relevant in every age. The One who sees your heart and knows your every thought and intention wants to be in relationship with you. He longs to teach you as you sit as His feet, mind and heart opened to His Word and ear attuned to His voice.
David was called a man after Godās own heart by the prophet Samuel and Jewish tradition named him the sweet singer of Israel. His name is synonymous with Psalms and he is credited with composing many of the songs we read, some of which are still being set to music today. They soar from the depths of sorrow and anguish to the heights of praise and adoration, often inside of a few verses, and you will find yourself able to relate across the centuries to their transparent grasp of the human condition. Read one way, you see yourself with the psalmist striving and seeking vindication. At the same time, you see God making a way and sovereignly guarding the honor of His name through His surrendered servant.
God who formed David also gifted him with the very abilities God would use to work out His divine purposes yet we plainly see that David retained his free will. Godās prePentecost Spirit that came on David at his anointing did not override his flesh. The Psalms highlight Davidās struggle with his own humanity in the same way we see Jesus facing temptation and opposition in the gospels.
āSo then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.ā
āāHebrewsā¬ ā4ā¬:ā14ā¬-ā16ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.4.14-16.NLT
āUphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!ā
āāPsalmā¬ ā119ā¬:ā116ā¬ āESVā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.119.116.ESV
āSustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.ā
āāPsalmsā¬ ā119ā¬:ā116ā¬ āNASB1995ā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.119.116.NASB1995
This passage is from Psalm 119 under the heading entitled Samekh for the fifteenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The root of the word Samekh means “to lean upon,” “to uphold,” or “to support. The Psalmist asked to be sustained or upheld according to Godās Word or Godās promise. For John, Jesus was the Word of God incarnate.
āIn the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
From the very beginning the Word was with God.
Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.
The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people.ā
āāJohnā¬ ā1ā¬:ā1ā¬-ā4ā¬ āGNTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/68/jhn.1.4.GNT
āFor everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.
All glory to him forever!
Amen.ā
āāRomansā¬ ā11ā¬:ā36ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.11.36.NLT
Several translators render the final request of Psalm 119:116 more like donāt let my hopes be crushed or donāt let me lose all hope and this is certainly a function of meditating on Godās Word but another reading represented by the ESV and NASB is richer still. Do not let me be ashamed of my hope and do not let me be put to shame in my hope sounds a lot like Peter, Paul and Jesus.
āBut make sure that in your hearts you honor Christ as Lord.
Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have.
Be ready to give the reason for it.
But do it gently and with respect.ā
āā1 Peterā¬ ā3ā¬:ā15ā¬ āNIRVā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/110/1pe.3.15.NIRV
āFor I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.
It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believesāā
āāRomansā¬ ā1ā¬:ā16ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.1.16.NLT
āEveryone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.ā
āāMatthewā¬ ā10ā¬:ā32ā¬-ā33ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.10.32-33.NLT
āLord, strengthen my inner being by the promises of your Word so that I may live faithful and unashamed for you.ā
āāPsalmsā¬ ā119ā¬:ā116ā¬ āTPTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/1849/psa.119.116.TPT
Something similar happens in the translation of Psalm 145. We read on the one hand how God simultaneously supports and upholds the fallen, discouraged and downtrodden and those who humble themselves before Him. Both are true. God is indeed sustaining all who suffer and all who bend the knee to His Lordship. More blessed are those who acknowledge Him as both Savior and Lord.
āThe Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.ā
āāPsalmsā¬ ā145ā¬:ā14ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.145.14.NLT
āThe Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.ā
āāPsalmā¬ ā145ā¬:ā14ā¬ āAMPCā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/8/psa.145.14.AMPC
āIf you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
As the Scriptures tell us, āAnyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.ā
Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.
They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
For āEveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.āā
āāRomansā¬ ā10ā¬:ā9ā¬-ā13ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.10.9-12.NLT
āTherefore, since we have been made right in Godās sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing Godās glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.ā
āāRomansā¬ ā5ā¬:ā1ā¬-ā5ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.5.1-5.NLT
āI am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.ā
āāPsalmsā¬ ā130ā¬:ā5ā¬-ā6ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.130.5-6.NLT
You Raise Me Up https://youtu.be/QwUlUOUq14U?is=rhi5V2sqpY2BygT7
A Fitting Reply 