Corona Devo 189

 I trust in the Lord for protection.  So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

² The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.  They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.
³ The foundations of law and order have collapsed.  What can the righteous do?”

⁴ But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven.  He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
⁵ The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.  He hates those who love violence.
⁶ He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.
⁷ For the righteous Lord loves justice.  The virtuous will see his face.  ~Psalm 11:1-7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I remember a couple great teenage Summers when my best friend and I rode our bikes a few miles each morning to the local elementary school to teach Safety Town to 5-year-olds.  In between their little tears at drop-off and Twinkies & Ding Dongs for snack-time (donated graciously by a Hostess outlet in our town), we taught bike safety and the basic knowledge of stop-light colors.

We also visited the Police and Fire Stations and met the heroic men and women that keep our cities safe during the day and night.  

That was a long time ago.

Twinkies and Ding Dongs are no longer considered appropriate snacks (even if free) and what are we teaching our children about safety-patrol officers?

In some ways, I feel like 30 years ago was "day", and the world and culture surrounding us now is "night".

I watch the news, and want to "Fly like a bird to...safety" (Psalm 11:1), because ^"the wicked...shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right" (Psalm 11:2).  Have you seen the news lately?  It is shocking and heartbreaking to see that these verses are happening throughout our Nation.  

And in a more general sense, I feel that those (people/businesses/organizations) that are seeking to be righteous, or are following God have a larger and larger target on their/our backs, and are being shot at "from the shadows".  It is becoming increasingly difficult to be a Christian living "out-loud" for Christ.

The Bible narrates my anxiety and sorrow in saying, "The foundations of law and order have collapsed.  What can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)  My stomach churns in reading of the violence and anger erupting from people, and the irreversible effects of it.  This isn’t a video game that we can “reset”.  There are moms, dads, wives and children without their loved ones.  

"Peaceful protests" and what is actually occurring are as different as day and night. 

People on both sides are afraid, and I also feel shame at our behavior as a Nation.  I wonder how we can re-group/re-center/re-start?  

Where is God?  Is He still in charge?  Can He see all of this?  And what does He think?  ...What will He do?

⁴ But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven.  He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

⁵ The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.  He hates those who love violence.
⁶ He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.  ~Psalm 11:4-6

I feel like a can let out a long, slow breath that I didn't even know I was holding after reading, ^"But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven."

Good news, Y'All: God is still in charge, and in authority, as He rules from Heaven on high.  We need to be reminded of this some days.  We need the reassurance that God is bigger than all of the yuck exploding in people and cities and inside of us!  

The Lord also reassures and cautions us that all is observed by the Most Holy God.  Three times these verses forewarn: "He watches" (v.4), "examining every person on earth" (v.4), and again, "The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked" (v.5).

The Lord has spelled-out His standards for living well with others in the Bible.  To keep it simple:  "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12).  

God sees our day to day.  He examines our motives and thoughts, and those of others.  There is nothing hidden from the Creator of the universe.  How does it make us feel to know that the Lord "examines" us?  Our answer to that question will reveal a bit about how we are living for Him.  

And one of the things that I love most about God is that He tells us to "leave it to Him".  Leave what?  Everything.  The Lord loves His children, and He loves justice. (v. 7).  God will handle the injustices and indeed He already is.

I have two friends whose sons have recently graduated from police academies.  One young man was sworn in last week and reported for his first day of duty yesterday.   

I know these families, and the hearts of their boys, and they are good.  They are choosing to serve and protect for our good. Perhaps we need to re-educate ourselves and our children about what is good.  God is good, and The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11:7).

Today is a new day.  A fresh day, and a day that we can turn from the "night" and shine God's light as we move through our decisions and interactions.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com