My church has meeting notes that they hand out with all the scripture references for the service. Its quite handy because if you miss one, you can always go back after and read up…
But this Sunday, the scripture didn’t match the verses printed. The sermon was about Psalm 37:4 but all the references was for Psalm 34:7
Easy mistake to make, but what a blessing it has been!
Isaiah 28:16
“This is what the Lord says…” (in other words, pay attention!)
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.”
Another translation says:
“fully tested and proven to be faithful and secure.”
What a beautiful promise!
That word “panic” is also translated as “haste” or doing something before it is ready or prepared
Now, the happy mistake is in the connecting verses of Psalms. Although the intended verse of Psalm 37:4 is spot on an beautiful, what God showed me combined was calming and peaceful:
In Psalm 34 David tells how he escaped from the king by pretending to be insane. Its a beautiful chapter, but what I seemed to have missed is verse 7 which read:
“The angel of the Lord stooped down to listen as I prayed,
encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape.
He will do this for everyone who fears God …”
David did not fake his insanity because he was so very clever, but because he listened to God! The very next verse he admonishes:
“Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God!” – in other words… really get into the things that pleases God.
Psalm 37:4 “Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life
and he will provide for you what you desire the most.
Give God the right to direct your life,
[literally; roll over your burdens onto the Lord]
and as you trust him along the way
you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!”
