How blessed I was by my last reading of Psalm 116!
It was quite random, actually, my reading that particular Psalm. I had read it just the week before as part of my daily read-through-the-Bible routine, but had paged back trying to find and revisit a particular wisdom, or revelation, or hope that had spoken to me. For the life of me I can't remember what I was even needing anymore. What I learned was much better anyway, I'm sure.
I picked up the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible from the magazine rack by my recliner (I have Bibles stashed everywhere so there's always one within reach) and started reading the middle Psalms. And praying the Psalms. And communing with David and our Lord.
And I got to Psalm 116:7... and I screeched to a halt.
The words stood out from the context of Psalm 116 like an apple on an orange tree.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest,,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
I read on to the end, then re-read the Psalm, then re-read it again. I couldn't make it fit. So I stopped trying, and meditated on the stand-alone verse instead of it's context. Maybe the Holy Spirit was drawing my attention to it for a reason, and when I read this Psalm again, that verse will lie back down into the flow of David's poetry. (It's happened before.)
I read the verse a few times, slowly, and let the words soak in, praying for wisdom and application. A word rushed to the surface of my mind...
Guilt. I know I'm forgiven, but guilt continues to plague me.
Guilt about sins committed long ago and confessed and forgiven many times over; guilt about a harsh word spoken in impatience that morning; guilt about good deeds I didn't do, and good deeds done from impure motives.
Sometimes guilt keeps sleep at bay. Sometimes it jolts me from the edge of sleep with a rush of adrenaline to my heart.
I'm so glad God pointed me to these reassuring words from the poet warrior. Mind you, this is NOT a theological commentary on the doctrinal interpretation of the original Hebrew or anything like that. It's simply how God spoke personally to my heart and my need through his Living Word.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest,
Remember when you knew you were forgiven? You had peace in your soul. Why do you keep worrying about it now? That forgiveness, that peace, was given to you for keeps; it's not temporary. I will never leave you or forsake you. I love you.
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
My child, I've taken care of your sins already. I don't even see them anymore. I've not only dealt with them, I've dealt you a bountiful hand. Have you forgotten My Grace? My Promise? My Gift? I have given you life, and life abundant. I have given you my Son and my Spirit.
My soul can be at peace. I can rest without fear or worry for my God has already dealt with my sins, and has REWARDED me with His Grace, His Mercy, freedom, and Salvation. Life. He in me and me in Him. Thank you, Lord.
***
Afterword
Sure enough, a few days after writing this blog post, I re-read Psalm 116, and verse 7 was once again just another beautiful line in one of David's songs. Amazing, my God is, and OH how I love His Word!
For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates
even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Catrina Bradley
"God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes." Psalm 18:24 (Msg)
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