The list maker in me has her say regarding David's Song

Before I even start today…I have a dear sweet friend who has been a great supporter of me from the earliest days of this blog journey and her precious daughter-in-law is prepping today for a surgical procedure. So would you all just join me and pray for Jessica to have a safe and healthy surgery and recovery? Thank you friends <3

Now to our thoughts for today:

We had a crazy snow fall here in the Midwest yesterday, so I spent my quiet time looking at the surreal image of our beautiful little tulip bush in full bloom, with a backdrop of snow crusted green grass.

If you are just joining me here on the Journey, I have been looking at a portion of 2 Samuel 22. The passages around this Song of David cover his “fourth quarter.” The wording of The Message captured my interest and so we are exploring portions of his personal testimony this week.

We started here https://www.laurareimer.net/monday-musings-2/ if you are just joining us.

As I have been meditating on the passages from the Message and then comparing them to the translation in the NASB, it seemed that Eugene Peterson completely flipped the perspective of the author.

It has been challenging to compare the lines thought for thought. I have not puzzled that one out completely so for this morning I want to focus solely on The Message translation.

One of the ways I like to study passages such as this is to organize the thoughts in a list fashion.

I’m sorry.

My brain tends to run amok and lists are fences for it, so let’s corral verses 21-25 into two categories. One of my frequent breakdowns of Psalms are “My part” and “God’s Part” so we will use those today.

Here is the Scripture again from Eugene Peterson’s wording:

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before Him. When I cleaned up my act, He gave me a fresh start. Indeed I have kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted.” Everyday I review the ways He works. I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.”
2 samuel 22: 21-25 The MSG

My Part:

I place all the pieces of my life before Him
I do the work to clean up my own behavior and attitude to line up with His commands
I keep myself alerted to God’s ways
I don’t take God for granted
I daily review the ways God operates; what His methods are like.
I try to always be watching for Him in my circumstances and in the events of planet earth.
I watch the way I walk each day
I open up my heart to learn from His Word and His sovereignty

God’s Part:

He makes my life complete
He gives me fresh starts and wipes my slate clean continually
He puts me back together the way I should be
He has rewritten the narrative of my life and shows me how my story is part of His big picture

Now this is not a one way only thing.

My breakdown and wording is just my way of processing.

As I review the two lists I see that there is much in my sanctification that must be done by God. I can’t put myself together. I can’t make myself righteous and holy. I can’t erase my mistakes like they didn’t happen.

But I can put myself in position for God to do these things. I can learn from my mistakes and make better and better choices that will lead me in behaviors and attitudes that are Christ like. I can improve and grow.

I am saved by Grace, and Grace sanctifies me…but I must do my part to position myself for that Grace. God has invited me to partner with Him in making me whole and complete.

I hope you will take the time to really read what David has written and reword it your way.

Make the Scripture personal to you and even turn it into a prayer for yourself and those you love.

Meditate on it.

So much more productive than other ways we fill our minds.

Let it become your “song” today, even if you just repeat one or two verses over and over. In this way, you and I open “the book of our hearts” and begin to see things with His eyes.

Blessings on your day as you ponder what He is speaking to each of you <3

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