Psalm 27:5
For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. NIV
This morning, as I was reading Psalm 34, it occurred to me that I had spent some time looking for the phrase, “lose heart,” as a synonym for worry, but, I had not spent any time looking for “take heart,” which would be its corresponding encouragement. Instead of going to the verb, “take” in my NIV concordance, I started with “heart.”
While I didn’t find any “take hearts,” beyond one that I already had catalogued, I stopped in Psalm 27, where the concordance said, “my heart will not fear.” When I flipped to his verse in my Project Bible, I saw that this was a reminder (Psalm 27:3) that I already had found. But as I read on in the chapter, I found this verse.
As I read it in the NIV, it seemed so comforting to me — he will keep me safe, he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle.
My safety and security are not found in this world, but in my relationship to God.
When I looked at the way The Message translates this verse, I was amazed: “That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.” MSG
For the last several days, my family and I have been consumed by the buzz of traffic. I especially have allowed the buzz of traffic to distract me and upset me.
Our Father hears our prayers. He knows and understands what distresses us, and He wants to relieve those worries … whatever they may be.
When I go to the preceding verse in The Message, it says, “I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: to live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty, I’ll study at his feet.” MSG
That’s my prayer today.
365 Days of Peace 