Psalm 108 – Praise, Prayer, Fear and Faith

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. Give victory with your right hand, and answer me, so that those whom you love may be rescued.”

~Psalm 108:5-6 (NRSV)

This Compilation Psalm is a piece of Psalm 57 and a piece of Psalm 60 neatly knitted together—the first five verses are the latter half of a fugitive’s faith and the remaining eight verses speak of David’s Syrian campaign where there was the eventual victory over Edom. (In this Psalm’s tradition, of combining two divisions, I have knitted these two sections together at the fifth and sixth verse, above.)

It is justly a Battle Psalm.

And it fits us well when we, too, are at battle. When, truly, aren’t we? Life is but a series of battles and even when we aren’t battling we may reflect over one or be planning for the next one—or considering other people’s battles!

But a more pertinent concern finds for timely expression: the issue of repetition.

The Force and Benefits of Repetition

The Holy Spirit has no need of repeating himself, but the fact of the matter is much Scripture seems ‘copied and pasted’ throughout the Old Book.

This leads us to wonder the point of repetition—a lack of divine creativity or pure intention to call home important biblical truths?

Has anyone ever enjoyed a truly good sermon and not heard powerful truths resounding like a gong in a repetitive manner? Indeed, we may criticise a sermon that didn’t ‘hit a point’ or latch onto one statement, or theme, that parishioners could take away.

This two-bit Psalm occurs, perhaps, in reverse with praise preceding the solemnity of prayer; a psalmist in dire need but convicted in their faith to know that human help in such crises is worthless (verse 12).

And maybe the repetition works, also, in the liturgical sense—as history is called forth in the mind of the psalmist; those great deeds of God of help and deliverance when all seemed lost and of sanctuary when safety was sought.

The Effects of Faith in Battle

There is a shimmering hope that sparkles through this Psalm. For David to have praised the Lord first, before doubting and, so therefore, wresting back his faith, has spoken for the King’s fear: there was only God, and if no God, no hope.

But in fear was there present the faith to belong to God and no other. Faith does not exist without fear, as courage, also, would be redundant in the absence of trepidation.

The same pressure and issues as David felt nearly 3,000 years ago are felt by us today—even in our relatively small lives. Our battles come and they swallow us or we prevail; but we live to fight another day. That is enough to restore our faith.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Carried By God’s Constant Grace

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

~John 10:11, 16c (NRSV)

An ever-present message that booms silently from the heavens is the faithfulness of God to walk with us, upon every step, through the mire and ecstasy, until this very day, and beyond.

The Lord—this Jesus, infused as the Holy Spirit—never leaves us nor forsakes us, no, not ever.

The blessing of Christianity is in a constant knowledge, whenever we need it, and that is often, even many times daily, which is nothing to be ashamed of: Jesus, the Good Shepherd, put down his life for the sheep in his fold—every created one; made in the image of God.

The Ever-Present Hope

The saving grace of God known once is known ever more.

The key to the once-for-all process of salvation is the transference of the eternal seed which is the thought-concept that enters the psyche and burrows from the mind, drilling into the heart, for the redemption of spiritual freedom: to know we are not alone, never have been, and never will be.

Besides the false bravado in some to negate need of such security, it is thrust into the DNA of all humanity, and only denial denies it; the need of it.

The ever-present Hope, woven into the fabric of eternity, predestined before Jesus, is a thing carrying all humankind, to the last person—the very last sheep of the fold—ever more in, and to, safety.

The Shepherd – Good, Eternally, for the Rescue

The Good Shepherd has about his nature the indwelt concern for every living being, to their most minute need.

And though we don’t discern such a presence, most often, the love of the Good Shepherd is such to not desire to be an intrusion upon us; but for our faith, alone, to know the gentle whisper of heavenly reassurance—God is here.

Once we were rescued, but not only once.

Of the many near-misses where we were kept safe, and the times we lost all hope but still kept on, and so many other times; God was there. We cannot explain why we were saved and others were not, apart from faith—but that, too, is not the final or full answer. Life remains a mystery.

But our Good Shepherd is good for our rescue; eternally so; not simply at one time, but at, and for, all times.

We have been carried by the Good Shepherd from then until now, and so it will be ever more.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Acknowledgement: The Matt Redman song, Never Once.

Tackling the Demon Indecision

In proclaiming he is the gate for the sheep, the good shepherd, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

~John 10:10 (NRSV)

The curse, it swarms, by way of incalculability—terms which can’t, or won’t, be reconciled. Indecision is a sort of madness akin to self-deprivation and we all suffer from it. Indeed, there are whole days or even seasons where we may be plagued with the demon, Indecision.

We can see many issues producing such indecision, including conflicting goals, denial of our sin, complex relational dynamics, or generalised frustration, and numerous others.

It is also possible to see the spiritual implication. Indecision can be seen as a ploy that the thief puts in our way to steal the effectiveness of our relationships and the achievement of our goals, to kill our innovation and dynamism, and to destroy our sense of meaning and congruence for peace.

We struggle to live the so-called abundant life when indecision reigns.

The Nature of Indecision

What are we to do about bouts of indecision? Perhaps this question is best answered in understanding whether the indecision is discretional or not. Mostly it isn’t.

Yet, if we’re able to act ourselves into thinking more decisively, even if for short periods in order to get through prevailing pressures, then we ought to do it.

Sometimes just understanding that indecision is a trick of the devil helps, because we see such indecisiveness as simply a fabrication to frustrate us; maybe just as easily we make a decision, whether right or wrong. We’re still not likely to make a poor decision rashly if we weigh the consequences well.

With the decision made the flow of life recommences; further decisions are always easier when we’re (mentally) on the move. Decision-making, like a vast number of things in life, has a momentum about it. The more decisive we are, the easier it is to make immediate-future decisions.

A Vision of Patience Beyond Indecision

Getting frustrated with ourselves because of confused thinking processes—or with others, whether they are implicated in the issue or not—will do us (and them) little practical good and usually more harm.

Of course, we know this; knowing this only builds the frustration factor.

What we need at indecisive times is a sort of patience that is inspired of reason; the logic to not panic, and to know that indecision is not the end, for many things that could be decided rashly are not dealt with in the spirit of folly.

***

The demon, Indecision, is a technique used by our enemy to deprive us and those around us of blessing.

Tackling the demon is first about understanding it will occur, sometimes for good reason, and second, it is about patience—both with ourselves and others. Indecision can be a thief, whereas good reason to decide in peace is the abundant life—that which is produced from any good decision.

***

Indecision’s final test is truth.

If the indecision prevails because of the truth, deferring a decision is probably wise. If the indecision prevails because of the denial of truth, though, it is better to tackle the truth head-on. Best to do what is right.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The Beauty Beyond Sackcloth and Ashes

“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

~Psalm 30:11 (NRSV)

There are varying levels of depths in life, from the banal to the downright tragic. What a wonderful irony it is that we are afforded the privilege of complaining about the banal when, in fact, the real complaint is justified only in the place of aberrant rejection and loss.

Yet, there is still complaint. And none of us are foreign to it.

The well-reasoned and due-in-season complaint—one of Job-like proportions—is one where we experience such grief worthy of sackcloth and ashes; an entire self-loathing in the Presence of God, despite thought for disobedience, regarding the apparent captivation by misfortune. Life is such a thing that compels us beyond belief for what sorrowful things are endured. Only something so real as life could do this.

But sorrow is not the final word, as the millions who have been saved will attest.

The Hope Beyond the Pain

If truth were to be told I can recall just one noteworthy memory where I experienced such beauty in sackcloth and ashes—totally rejected I felt, but surreally not by God.

We know, in reality, that the experiences of sackcloth and ashes press us in and about and nothing can be conjured besides that faint, though never weak, Presence of the Lord in the languid horror of the moment.

The hope beyond the pain is a strange one; we feel the full force of such pain but we are enabled to endure it where previously it would overcome us. At our lowest ebb, with rejection biting, or a sense of loss so unprecedented and unrequited, we are being carried through. But that isn’t the best of it.

The figurative morning is still yet to come.

Rising from the Ashes

Psalm 30 speaks a lot about the pain of the night which precedes the joy of morning.

And whether this morning is the actual morning or not is of little consequence, because we can know, in faith, that not only will God deliver us, a beautiful reminiscence will be held by us, of this event, forever.

Life takes on such super-significance as we rise from the ashes of our despair; if pain clings just now, God has so much more in this for us than we can foresee just at this time.

Out of the calamity comes peace; from despair, hope. The beauty beyond sackcloth and ashes is the recognition of deliverance—the faithfulness of God to wrest us from death to life.

We are privileged to be found in the state Jesus found familiar; as our Messiah was resurrected, so will we be as we practice the Presence of God at these times.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Why Not Try God?

“The ship of heaven guides itself and will not accept a wooden rudder.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are some that flatly refuse all notions of God, let alone Divine help. But God often sets himself upon these to make the case irrepressibly compelling.

Many have come to salvation through exhaustion to pigheadedness; then they found the Lord not only utterly tolerable, they asked “How did I win such a reprieve?” and “How did I ever live beforehand without this Lord?”

They are back-washed in an oblivion of gratitude for the winning of a definitive peace that defies rational understanding. Suddenly, they know something that made no sense beforehand—faith in God—now means life without it, itself, makes no sense.

They have experienced a dipolar transformation.

Trusting In The One That Purifies Hearts And Transforms Minds

All that this faith caper is about is trust.

But perhaps we need to enlist a fresh understanding of what trust is about so far as faith is concerned. Rather than being a passive thing, where we might simply believe in someone or something, this trust in the One that purifies hearts and transforms minds is action-oriented.

What could be bewildering, though, is such an action-orientation is to be built from inaction rather than action—without confusing matters, the action of surrender; the giving over of our will for God’s will. That is, deciding to consider God in our responses of life; having faith that good direction will come; knowing we don’t have to ‘try hard’ anymore.

That’s all that is involved in trying God out; not that such an action of surrender—trusting God—will feel good or seem to work every time.

But God does strange things through our trust—out of such obedience God will turn circumstances to the direction of heaven’s destiny.

Where we once had our staunch and stubborn wooden rudder, and we sought to shift the bearing of life, we may have been blessed to come to a tired end.

A Time-Backed Guarantee

I once belonged to a kindly fellowship—one of the anonymous variety—where people would frequently say, words to the effect, “Try this program, and an unconditional faith in God, and give it three months solid work—you’ll not go back to the old way.”

And it was true; time and again I saw different souls with different personalities and different backgrounds apply the same tried and tested formula of faithful application. This thing about faith in God worked.

That’s all that anybody could ever ask—that it works.

This is what millions have found: faith in God works—in diminishing problems to manageable levels. Somehow, anyhow, the impossible is made possible, but that cannot be explained; just experienced.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Blessing One’s World

“Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!’” ~1 Chronicles 4:10 (NRSV with emphasis)

It is the predominant worldly desire, and so much more in this social-media day, to have one’s boundaries extended—this is what we, at the level of our flesh, determine as “success.”

We want more: more friends, more fans, more followers, and more funds!

This sense means ‘more is more’—and there’s a certain truth to that. Unfortunately, though, it takes “more” in the wrong direction.

This type of “more” is what most of life is focused on; sales and marketing pitches are well awake to it; they hone in on our inner need to extend one’s boundaries so “more” can be achieved. At least they appeal that way.

But there is a flipside to the extension of one’s boundaries that the world hardly ever thinks about, or our flesh. And it all comes together or becomes unravelled according to our motive.

We must ask ourselves why we wish our boundaries extended.

Going Beyond the World’s Concern

So, if our normal world concern is us, alone, or at most, for the most part, our family members, associates and close friends, what if we were to extend that concern to the world as it relates to the very next person or people in our midst?

Going beyond the world’s typical concern—for personal success—is about sponsoring others in their successes.

Somehow we must deal with the guarded, selfish concern. Such a concern is a critical barrier and, first, we must understand an urgent truth:

We present to our world that which we see from within. If there is darkness, the world cannot be inspired. But if there is light—a modern self-acceptance—the world breathes in our presence and a situational heaven is, therefore, known.

Going beyond the world’s concern is getting beyond our own concern; this can only be done, paradoxically, when we are uniquely comfortable in our own skin and find our psyches pleasantly palatable. This is no small task for the majority of us.

The Real Extension of Boundaries

It’s very hard to find evidence for it, but the faithful know this: God tends to bless the faithful, in generalised ways at least, and the faithful are known by their ability to give in predominance to their taking.

Our boundaries are extended when we are found trustworthy and reliable in smaller things. Jesus demonstrated this in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

Blessing one’s world is the indirect way of finding personal favour, not least with God. The way to it is through the extension of one’s boundaries, and that’s achieved by being faithful in small things, first.

Blessing one’s world is the straightest way to bless one’s own life.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The Treasures of Heaven

Regarding the kingdom parables of Matthew 13, Jesus said: “‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old’.” ~Matthew 13:51-52 (NRSV)

Heaven is engineered by the perception informed, reliably, of God. It is as much procured in one person’s God-anointed mind as it is within the vanguard of hope for all creation.

Are the Treasures of Heaven Here or Far Off?

Heaven, though it may be a place we enter at the end of our earthly lives, if we believe by salvation in the Lord, is just as much the location of fortitude in this life—to make the very most of all mindful attempts at combining new treasure with existing treasure.

Yes, of course, we deal in real treasure, here; a treasure the world does not apparently recognise, though when it does it claims it for its own; God is hence shut out by an arrogant world.

Heaven is a kingdom replete with treasure and the capturing of such treasure is a heavenly task; those engaged in such a task are already in heaven and those who hope to continue in such endeavours will do so, again, in a far-off place that the mind will fully recognise—the parallel universe.

Heaven is known for its similarities—those attributes linking the kingdom of heaven as it is experienced here will see the kingdom of heaven by a location too difficult to grasp right now.

The treasures of heaven are one of those common features of both heavenly realities.

For Whom Are Available These Treasures Of Heaven?

We ought to know, each of us is a scribe, by reckoning of Jesus’ intent.

The treasures of heaven are inordinately important; they are the meaning, the nexus, of life.

If we assert over ourselves the role of scribe—the master of the household, with control over wares—we take on a heavy responsibility, but we’re blessed by a great privilege.

The scribe in each of us is serious enough about life to know that heaven is in the redemption of treasure, real treasure, disposed for the blessing of God. Such scribes enter willingly and enthusiastically into their training, knowing they are being equipped to do heavenly work.

The final test of heaven is retaining the good from the old and adding the valuable of the new to it.

Being no respecter of partiality, the Lord cannot favour one scribe over another. Each scribe is destined for heaven, here and to come, if that so be his or her choice. Differences are made because of that choice and every other choice following.

And, let’s be sure, little things make big differences in the kingdom of heaven.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

A Vision of Heaven

The LORD said: “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.” ~Isaiah 65:19 (NRSV)

During a recent rendition of Mercy Me’s, I Can Only Imagine, I found myself swept up in a torrential vision of anointing—the episode-of-possibility of my own transition into the heavenly realm.

Proof of God is hardly more perceptible than by the anticipation, or the event, of one’s death—that once-for-ever transition to be made cannot be contemplated with any sense of accuracy, yet we cannot help contemplating it.

Whenever we think of destinations so other-worldly we have to imagine the vast difference between time and eternity; as sight is concerned, one we know now, the other we know nothing about.

Foreseeing Elements of the Death or Rapture Experience

One of the truly great blessings of life is the anticipation of life’s end—if, that is, we have a positive hope for eternal life.

For an event, or set of events, that we can think long and hard about—over our lives—this event, or set of events, will overtake us in the actual experience of it.

As bodily and mental consciousness gives way to pure spiritual consciousness, with a foreseeable continuity maintained between the two worlds taking place during transfer, such that we would experience the transition from one life to another, we must simply marvel at that image; a knife-edge vision (so far as time is concerned) where time gives way, for the final time, to the majesty of eternity where time is no more.

This one-way ticket—the ride of our lives—has no action replay; there is no dress rehearsal; it is unidirectional. And God is our destiny.

Biblical Foretastes of Eternity

Another of the great blessings we can enjoy sight of, from this side of life regarding the dim view of our eternal dwelling, is thought of the abode: eternity.

If we are bound for heaven we can know, with biblical assurance, a hope that abounds realms beyond any hope we can grasp, here, in the bodily mind. Still, we can dare to dream; God limits none of this action and, indeed, may bless us all the more as we meditate on the symphony of love that awaits us.

***

What is in front of us, continually drawing us toward itself, the eternal end and meaning of life, is stupendous in its scope.

Heaven may wait as it appears through our eyes-of-time, but it comes nonetheless.

The simple hope we have for eternity is just that: simple. Because it is so simple, that we cannot know it until it is finally upon us, evokes within us all the more marvelling.

Heaven, we can know, is the Grand Reconciliation—life the way it was always meant to be. And that is how we can know heaven, here and now. When we see life the way it was always meant to be.

Enjoy life. Think of death. Appreciate the difference between the two; that neither is superior to the other. Yet, all meaning is to be validated, with a resounding finality, in a realm to come. Let us stretch forward with purpose until that day.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The Formation of Jesus

“When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

~Luke 2:39-40 (NRSV)

About 30 years of the Lord’s life is summarised, for gospel brevity, into these two verses of Luke—scant coverage exists elsewhere, apart from the extended treatment of Luke 2:41-52, where 12-year-old Jesus goes with his parents, four-day’s journey, to the festival for Passover.

Yet, we can read through these few words, teasing out images within our minds, regarding what those formative years of Jesus’ might have been like.

Significant Footprints in the Formation of the Saviour

What is significant about the story of Jesus’ formation as a man, who would become the Saviour of the world, is stated in verses 40 and 52 of Luke chapter 2. He was “filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” and he “increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”

Wisdom, Favour and Humility

If we take those two verses at face value there are two features that characterise the person: he was respected with favour and, therefore, humility must have been his natural way, and he increased in wisdom and was, ultimately, filled with wisdom. We can assume a natural preponderance for humility as a critical precursor to wisdom.

A Normal Upbringing

It is clear that Jesus had a very normal upbringing in comparison with children of his time. What might also be clear, from the absence of formative-Jesus stories, even from the historian Luke, is that Joseph and Mary kept a circumspect lifestyle and spoke little from the mood of exaltation. They may have even exemplified the qualities of the Beatitudes. Such an environment must have been perfect to drive humility deep into the Lord’s heart.

Coming-of-Age

The age of the rites-of-passage for Jewish boys and girls of the time was 12 or 13 years of age—about the time chronicled in Luke 2:41-51. This would have been about the time that he would have commenced his indenture as a carpenter—a trade to be learned for his own support.

We know by the Temple experience (Luke 2:47) that his knowledge of the Old Testament and The Torah was outstanding, principally for someone so young. We can well imagine that he had few resources so far as written materials were concerned, but he made the most of them. He was more than ready for the transition into adulthood.

***

The story of the formation of the historical Jesus is amazingly unremarkable. Jesus grew to wisdom through familial diligence and prudence.

From a humble birth, he grew in humility, in humble surroundings, within a humble family. That humility propounded all the more the wisdom of God shown even at the tender age of 12.

Three words remain when summarising the formation of Jesus: humility, favour, and wisdom. Predating his ministry, Jesus had earned the respect of humanity and the favour of God.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Life With the Holy Spirit

“[T]he Spirit is a breath of renewal. Through death He ever leads to life. That fact is revealed even in the death of the Son of God, for it is written that through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself without blemish unto God. The winter wind that beat upon Him in His dying was but the preface to the summer wind of Pentecost.”

~G. Campbell Morgan

The Holy Spirit is God operant in the world, through generation (creation), regeneration (salvation), revelation, and, if welcomed, sanctification (the journey through the Christian life).

Four Functions in Brief

It can be seen that the Spirit of God created, and continues to create, everything—the function of generation and, it’s foreseeable, the function of regeneration, too.

The selfsame Spirit reveals himself through truth to the mind and heart of the virgin believer, as well as continuing along the revelatory trajectory regarding, as time is concerned, pre-existing believers. At various points this is either regeneration or sanctification: again, through Divine revelation and the believer’s response.

Salvation, regeneration, and sanctification, therefore, are implicit of the mould of Divine action—not unlike the implicitness in God the Trinity—which explains the function of growth in the Holy Spirit through the process of life.

***

The biggest impact of the Spirit of God is felt, arguably, when the Lord feels far away.

When God Feels Far Away

We must ask ourselves, as we feel far from the Spirit, the Presence vacating, what on earth could have happened for such a Spiritual possession to be found as unfound.

Many times it could be simply that we are tested—the Spirit finding cause to grow us and, through same, to generate new life and sanctify it as worthy of passing through the furnace of the living God. Sometimes, however, it’s because we have grieved the Spirit and, like a friend who is continually hurt from our constant disparaging, he slowly departs.

It pays to be honest, for the Spirit does grieve so much not to be part of our lives in these cases. Where one moment of solemn reflective penitence secures rapport with the Spirit, afresh, it beats whole seasons of virulent ignorance to have our own way, yet have no causative relationship with the Spirit.

Simple enquiries at God’s distance prove good toward our regeneration.

The Holy Spirit can only be alive to us if we are alive to him.

Redeeming Power for Life

One Power stands for all eternity in the holy establishment of life. Such a Power divulges power quietly, known as much to the heavens and all creation as it is within the mind of one. Such a quiet Power could, however, never be quantified.

Pathetic is the motive that denies such a Power. It is rather like attempting to smite the inventor of smiting.

We must know that this Power for Life is the engine behind all generation and regeneration, as well as the revelation of all wisdom and sanctification of all worth. It is the power behind all things as much as it is a power that wishes to be for us, not against us.

It is up to us whether or not we wish to be aspirated by the Breath of Renewal. The Holy Spirit will force himself on nobody.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

The LORD at Israel’s Head

The Lord proclaims, for Israel, a ray of salvific hope: “I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob... Their king will pass on before them, the Lord at their head.”

~Micah 2:12a, 13c (NRSV)

When the darkness surrounds, particularly within a communal setting, as was the case that Micah was prophesying about, hope is made—for that moment—trivially irrelevant. What need is there of hope when all thought is consumed for abrogating fear? But such despair is a deception, for hope is the only true thing that can resolve such unparalleled darkness.

Such a hope is found wedded to repentance. Hope may not, otherwise, be true; that which God owns (i.e. hope) will only prevail in the presence of reconciliation, us with the Lord, by the acknowledgement of our sin.

Our Vision Beyond the Immediate Darkness

Visions of hope beyond any reigning darkness are contingent, as above, upon the recognition of wrongdoing, the commitment to turn back to God, and the plea for forgiveness.

Darkness may not always be linked to sin, but we can be assured that penitence on our behalf, in spite of any confusion, is always the appropriate response. That, there, is a biblical truism—judgment, however harsh and inappropriate it seems, can be alleviated by turning back to God. Unswerving is to be that act.

And though darkness may swirl, we must present hope for the dawning of a New Day.

The Dawning of a New Day

“So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

~2 Peter 1:19 (NRSV)

As an eyewitness to the glory of God in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter attests, above, to the glory coming, even present today by foretaste, in the age to come—the Parousia: the second coming of Jesus.

There is a fullness of expectancy in the above verse: our hope is buoyed not in seeing, already, the rising of the morning star, but by faith of knowing this will take place—and, in our hearts.

The dawning of this New Day has a twofold, mirrored reality; we are privileged of a foretaste of the hope resplendent in salvation by the Messiah’s blood. But, we will more fully experience it at some later point to come.

Before us, at that time, will be our King; the Lord will be at our head. And even in our travail, the Lord, today, is there before us.

***

A promise awaits the kin of God, by their repentance. The Lord will go before them; the Almighty at our head.

Despite the recounting of hopelessness, a counteracting sense of hopefulness remits itself at the immediate thought that God is not only with us, but before us, leading us.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.