Devotion 9.14.26

Psalm 27

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation

Of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

  whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;

  of whom shall I be afraid?

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

  be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

  “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9  Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger,

  O you who have been my help.

Cast me not off; forsake me not,

  O God of my salvation!

God is our light and our salvation.

Many a honkytonk in America have seen grown men crying in the corners or poorly lit joints to a song that expresses that pain they feel. Many love songs in my lifetime have a similar theme: Fell in love, and lost that love. Is this true, or are we just using the words to sell a song on the country/blues/rock charts and get it rated high? Of course, Queen had a classic in a song, "I'm in Love with My Car," when the singer, drummer Roger Taylor, sang, "Told my girlfriend, I had to forget her. Had to buy me, a new carburetor." 

The guys in the auto shop class loved that song when I was in high school.

During our breakfast Saturday, we looked at Romans 8 in which Paul asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (v 35) Unlike the faithlessness of our love as sinful humans expressed in our music hits, regardless of genre, God is faithful. Paul answers just how strong this love is in v 38 - 39 covered last week: "38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

David knew this love well, as should we. He's asking God to not leave him and forsake him. He's asking God not to turn away from him.. God will, through the prophets ask Israel to turn back to him, to return to him. Paul will tell us nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. 

Pray with me: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! Help me to turn to you when I feel like I've been abandoned by your love by turning to your Word to know that you are still there with me. Help me to share your love with others and to be a light in this world, O God of my salvation! In Christ's name, Amen.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.