The fountain of life… (Psalm 36) 080309
This Psalm opens with a description of the ungodliness (v1), hatred (v2), wickedness (v3, 4) and evil (v4) of humanity. How true are these? Does any of the descriptions from verses 1 to 4 speaks of my heart condition? I pause and search.
My answer is yes. There are times when I speak ungodly words and have evil thoughts within my heart, but no one knows. There are times when I fear man and do not fear God, but no one knows. There are times when my mouth speaks deceitful words or exaggeration just to put others down, but no one knows. There are times when I do not have any compassion for the poor and needy when I see the wicked ones oppressing them, but no one knows.
Yes, no one knows, but I know and God knows. Though His lovingkindness extends to heavens and faithfulness reaches to the skies (v5), His righteousness is as big as the mountains and judgment is deeper than the sea (v6), He knows and cares for me as an individual. Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation of these two verse is poetic:
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing get lost; Not a man, not a mouse slips through the cracks. (MSG)
Beautiful right? The message is simple to me, I can hide, but I can escape from God. I am fearful of being judged by God. I am fearful that one day, all my sinful and shame secrets of my heart will be made known. I am weary of being fearful.
But the Psalmist had the assurance of God’s unconditioned lovingkindness (v7). I also want to have such assurance. This morning, as I pray and reflect, it just dawns upon me that the lovingkindness of God is so precious, and so beautiful! There is nothing that can exchange for the grace of lovingkindness of God. There is no one can snatch this grace of lovingkindness of God from me. For I can seek refuge in the shadow of His wings (v7).
It is great to dwell in the presence of God in the morning. It is like drinking and feasting in the house of the Lord, in His presence, to be refreshed and recharged for the brand new day! The Lord brings me to a river where joy and delight flows through it (v8). God gives me this refreshing water, so that my soul can be filled with joy and delight for the day.
You is the fountain of life (v9). I have not made any grammatical mistake. The Psalmist also did not make any grammatical mistake. For with You is the fountain of life! It is the presence of God that is equivalence to the fountain of life! The presence of God is where we can find rest and refreshment. The presence of God is where the source of life and new life flows out. The presence of God is where I need to be as often as I can. This is the place where I can find the excitement of joy and the tranquility of peace, no conflict or contradiction. This is how God works: The more I rest in Him, the more I can do through Him in serving others.
I am now at the fountain of life, drinking from it to refresh my soul. I am now with God, in His presence, resting in Him so that my life can be renewed. I am with Him who is the fountain of life. Would you like to join me there, at the fountain of life?
HHS…
Abel…
