The Process of Comfort

Psalm 23:4 (BES) (22:4) Yea, even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evils: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, these have comforted me.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

Comfort.  We all need it at some time.  For some it is a perpetual reinforcement of sanity.  For others it is a condiment.  What struck me today reading the LXX was the expression of the verb.  The general consensus is that this is for now.  What the LXX brings out is how it extends into the past.  The Hebrew has the idea of an ongoing event.

I know that there are times when worry tries to get a pry-bar under my foundations and one of the things that keeps me solid is the memory of God’s providing through the years.  Just the memory of past providence is a comfort in the present and an assurance of the future.

So?  Commune with God in the present but don’t overlook the power of memory.  

Reject the Calf

(Psa 95:9 KJV)  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

I don’t have as many down times as when I was younger but they still hit.  Usually I understand that they are a bit cyclical and, as they say, “This too shall pass.”  What helps me is referred to in this verse.  There was a commercial once that talked about “the pause that refreshes”.  I think it was about beer so the thought was wasted but it is still a useful tool.  The pause I go to is a time of thanksgiving.

The Psalmist is rebuking Israel for focusing on a current problem and ignoring how God had seen them through so many other hard times.  It always amazed me that the group that crossed the Red Sea on dry land could turn around and make a golden calf.  We do it in our way.  What we need to do is spend a few moments remembering all the blessings of the past and all the blessings that are still in operation in our lives.

So?  Don’t live in the moment.  Live in the scope of eternity.  Since we can’t comprehend that then settle for the memory of God’s actions in your life.  It works for me.  I trust it will work for you.  

The Assurance of “Unless”

(Psa 94:17 KJV)  Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

This Psalm is an interesting mixture of accurate social commentary and a shout of assurance.  The author is looking at a culture where the evil men are living out their fantasies in mocking, wild abandon.  Does that sound familiar?  It should.

At the same time there is the assurance that God is there for us.  Here the writer is reminding us that our hope is in the Lord.  My first impression was that I would simply keep my mouth shut.  The Septuagint throws in Scheol somehow.  The message though is that God is quite aware of what is going on.

So?  Go ahead and look around.  The world is falling apart but it has been falling apart for a long time.  God will work His divine will even if we are too blind to see it.  

Divine Side-Kick

(Pro 3:26 KJV)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

If you look at this in the NASB “confidence” (3689) has a marginal note that says “or at your side”.  As I look at the different translations I have available I see a number of wordings that have this idea that we have confidence because of the close presence of the Lord.  Although it shows a lot of immaturity, think of the young boy yelling back at the bully when his father is right behind him.  That presence changes your attitude.

We need to develop that awareness or concept.  The previous verse talks about fear.  The idea is not that we become fearless and start doing stupid things but that we have a confidence to face the trials of life without turning to jelly.

So?  Keep reminding yourself that God is with you.  I find that a regular morning time of renewing that focus makes all the difference in the world.  

Hiding in Thee

(Psa 71:3 KJV)  Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

Put aside your yearning to emulate John Wayne.  We are not stand alone giants, defying everything that the world throws at us.  Sure, we stand tall but we also get worn down.  This is a time for heading for our “strong” (6697) “habitation” (4583).  Here the NASB is more literal with “rock of habitation”.  The idea is a fortress where we can get out of the storm.

“Continually” (8548) does a good job of getting across the expectation that we are going to need to make this a lifestyle, not the exception.  What surprised me when I look at the software was that this is a noun.  It is continuity rather than continually.  

So?  Seek Him and rejoice that He shelters us.  He will send us out again but the assurance of a fortress behind us adds strength to our stance.  

He Has Your Back

Psalm 63:7 (KJV) Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Another place talks about sheltering under God’s wings.  This is a bit of a different picture, at least for me today.

When I read this I asked myself when we would be under this shadow and came up with the idea of a young bird out learning the ropes and having the adult flying above.  The purpose would be to shelter me from an attack in that direction.  As a novice I might forget to check that direction.  I would be a sitting duck.  The parent protects the young from the foolishness of immaturity.

In the same way we can count on God to be taking care of the things that would not even occur to us.  What would those things be?  If I knew I might not need the shelter.

So?  Develop awareness but while you are working on it trust that the Lord is hovering in the areas that you are not even sensing.  

Define Enemies

Psalm 25:2 (KJV) O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 

(Proverbs 17 also read)

I hope you have had the experience of singing the chorus based on verse one and two.  That dates me.  A later generation would call it praise music.  There might even be a few young people who call it contemporary but my suspicion is that they would label it old fogies music. 

Call it what you want, it is a great way to praise God.

This morning I found myself wondering who my enemies were.  For David it could have been Saul, pagans around him, intrigue at court or even his own sons.  For you the list might be long.  I don’t know that I would have anyone to put on the list.  There might be enemies but they have been good at covering it up.  That makes this a doubly important prayer. 

It might also be simple things like a busy schedule or a preference for certain music.  It could be addiction to video games or gluttony. 

So?  This is a one size fits all prayer.  It works whether you know the target or not because you are bringing it to the one who knows all.  

Silent Benefit

Proverbs 10:9 (KJV) He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

There is a subtle way in which this principle will play out in your life.  We get skeptical and recognize that there are times when people take advantage of us because we are honest.  The opposite also happens but you might miss it when it blossoms.

There will be times in life when people who have been around you for awhile will give you a benefit that they don’t usually give.  An example that comes to mind in my life was the time the school librarian was busy and told me to just take the book I wanted because she knew I would bring it back.  Have you ever asked someone to borrow a tool and they hand it to you without hesitation?  You may not think much of it because you were not there when they refused the same request from someone else.

So?  Live in such a way that people recognize they can trust you.  They are not actually trusting you as much as the Jesus that lives within you. 

Refusal

Psalm 77:2 (KJV) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

This Psalm seems to have two major themes.  The first theme is complaining or showing frustration at not being able to reach God.  The second theme is praise for God’s loving kindness and trustworthiness.  The central axis, which these join on, is this verse which says the writer refuses to be comforted.

He’s saying a lot of the right things.  He has a very positive view of God.  In the midst of this, he seems to be living in misery.

I wonder how often we limit God’s mobility to reach us and to lift lift us up by the boot straps.  I think God is usually reaching out to us.  He wants us to be positive and productive.  He wants us moving forward in life.  We refuse the hand that He offers.  This may just be a personal accusation.  It may just be something I’ve experienced.  I think I see it in the psalmist though.

So?  Reach out and take the hand that God is offering. That starts with a confidence that He exists, and that He will do as He says.  

Secret Trust

Psalm 56:3 (KJV) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

My first thought here was that it’s kind of a narrow trust that only emerges when we’re afraid.  I think of foxhole believers.  I think of those who only turned to the Lord in times of crisis.  But then I had a second thought

I think for those of us who truly know the Lord, we live in a state of trust that is perpetual, strong and below our radar.  I think what David is saying here is that we remember the fact that we trust in God during those times of fear.  If that’s not what he’s saying, it’s what he should be saying. 

We have many thoughts and emotions that are not always on the surface.  Having just gone through a holiday season and spent time with family I don’t know that we could live at that level of love and joy on a constant basis.  We’d probably burn out.  So I think we tend to push things over in corners.  They’re there.  They are available.  They are real.  We bring them out as necessary.

So?  I think that’s one reason why the early morning worship time for me is so important.  There are things that I touch out there that I might not think about if I didn’t spend time focusing.  By pulling them out, I strengthen them.  I make them more functional.  So many reasons to be filled with praise.  

Unvexed Bones

Psalm 6:2 (KJV) Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

I sat this morning crying out to God.  What is the problem?  That’s a good question.  And the answer is that I seem to have vexed my bones or you might say I have bones that are vexed.  I’m not sure what that meant in the original, but I like the word image.

Many times the real problem is not that He has turned against us or that things are hopeless.  It’s simply a matter of our bones getting vexed. where is often an attitude problem which is seated somewhere in our mind or our soul and keeps us from the joy of the Lord.

That’s me this morning.  That’s happened so often God just kind of slapped me up side the head and said, “Get on with it boy.”

So?  I am going to get on with it.  I’m going to remind myself that God is still on the throne and that my minor inconvenience is exactly that.  A glorious stairway to me if I will just open my eyes, set my pity pot aside and move forward with confidence.  

Leaning

Psalm 131:2 (KJV) Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

I can’t remember this period in my life.  I wonder if David actually remembers or if he is just observant.  I’m not sure that every baby is this way.  My mother tells me I kept giving her hugs until I was about 11 years old.  Shame on me for turning 12, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.

This speaks to me today because I tend to be an introvert who is a loner.  As a general rule, I don’t find my satisfaction in life from deep sharing with other people.  That could be a real problem because we can become so isolated and out of touch that damages who we are and what we do.

I think the point of this verse has been my salvation.  In a very real since the Lord has become the One that I have leaned on.  Some might think that is unhealthy.  I don’t think so. I t might be nice if we have others that we can depend on, but it has to start with our relationship with the living God.

So?  All you extroverts may not know what I’m talking about.  We need to start to learn to trust by trusting in God.  To be honest, everyone else will probably let us down at some point, but we can count on Him.  

Our Source

Psalm 124:8 (KJV) Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

I’ve been having a great time this morning just thinking about all of the ramifications of worshiping a God who is the great “I AM”.  The One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The One that we keep trying to put in a box, but He keeps His box cutter handy or just teleports out.  And then I came across this.

This God who was capable of making the entire universe is our help.  Stop and think about that a moment.  I remember the big fancy theological words of “imminent” and “transcendent”.  Those are fancy words.  What they mean is that God is both out there and in here.

So?  Relax and rejoice in the knowledge that even though the creator of the universe is beyond our comprehension and our touch, we are not beyond His.  He has reached out to us.  (Posted, January 5, 2026, PP)

Easy to Say

Proverbs 3:24 (KJV) When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

When you take this verse out of context, it almost sounds like it ought to fit into the 10 Commandments.  Notice, “thou shall not”, “thou shalt….”

Taken in context there are a lot of things going on here, but the ultimate reminder for us as we start this new year is to fear not.  I will grant you that there are times when fear is appropriate.  When my grandchildren sneak up on me and make hideous noises I jump.  I admit it.  The thing is it doesn’t work if I see them coming.  I see them coming if I’m expecting them.  Of course a large part of that is that I remember that they’re coming because if I get distracted and focus on other things then fear becomes a natural reaction

So?  Keep your focus on the Lord.  Keep His glory and power and love in the front of your mind.  Sure your mind will wander but keep calling it back.  And being not afraid in spite of what your YouTube channel tells you.  

Trust Resolution

Proverbs 27:27 (KJV) And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Does God make New Year’s resolutions?  Somehow, I don’t think He needs to do that.  Since He has no weaknesses or failures, what is there to resolve?  If there is any resolving to be done it’s on a constant basis and it’s part of His character.  So maybe we can assume that an attribute of God is continually providing for us.

Remember in the Lord‘s prayer we are to ask for our daily bread.  It’s not a matter of a long-term investments.  It’s a matter of being provided for now.  I think God lives in a constant state of resolution.  Probably a better word for that is commitment.  God is committed to see that we have enough goats milk.  You don’t like goats milk?  Talk to God about that; I can’t help you.

So?  As we moved towards throwing out our old calendar and digging out the new one it’s a time for us to be reminded not just that we need to continually improve, but there are certain things that we can continually count on.  

On the Other Hand

Psalms 64:10 (KJV) The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

If you have time to read through this chapter, you’ll find that much of it is lamenting the evil in our society that seems to be out to get the righteous.  It’s a good reflection of what it’s like today, as well as in Solomon’s time.  The forces of evil, selfishness, the power-hungry, and anarchy are out to get us.  We are surrounded.

But then, at the end, we are reminded of the hope that we have.  We can be “glad”.  That depends on us trusting.  But we have this promise.

So?  Evil exists.  Evil is all around us.  Evil would love to drag us down and destroy us.  God can be trusted.  And because of that, we can “glory”.  

Reason to Fear

Psalms 56:4 (KJV) In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

(Proverbs 27 also read)

If you are awake when you read this verse the last part of it will strike home.  The question is what can other people actually do to me?  The answer is quite a lot.  They can attack me physically.  They can sabotage my reputation.  They can threaten my children.  They can steal my possessions.  The list is almost endless of what people can do to me.

The question is how important is the damage.

This is another point where we need to get the big picture.  We need to understand that God is the one in which we trust.  We don’t trust in our ability to defend ourselves although we do our best.  We don’t trust in our reputation because that is so fragile.  Possessions can be replaced.  Ultimately we have to believe that God is going to limit the damage.  In most cases, unless we force the issue, He will find ways to help us avoid the damage.  Face it. usually the biggest threat to our peace of mind is our lack of trust.  Worry causes more damage than reality on a regular basis.

So?  We need to learn to trust and believe in the trust.  We need to find ways to set aside the worry and concentrate on Him.  We need to take setbacks and put them in perspective.  Just think about all the things you’re worried about through your life would’ve never come to fruition.  

Pick One

Psalms 32:10 (KJV) Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

As I read through this Psalm I kept coming across powerful thoughts that grabbed hold of me and made me want to stop and think about them.  It’s full of points of meditation.  I had to pick one.  I picked one several times.  I finally settled on looking at this.

We are saved by faith.  Faith is trusting.  We are to live by faith.  Faith is obeying.  And this is telling us that if we live this way, if we live in a trusting way, if we apply the standards of God in our lives, even when it doesn’t look like it will work, we have the promise of God’s mercy.

So?  Pick a promise.  This chapter is full of them.  A good place to start is the reminder of the security from trusting the Lord.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it.  

You Don’t Need to Look under the Rocks

Proverbs 4:16 (KJV) For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

Every month as I come to Proverbs 4 this verse stands out to me.  I am reminded not only that evil as a force is very real and there are evil people in the world, but that these individuals are focused on spreading the evil and causing problems for others.

You don’t have to go looking for the bugs, they come to you.  Just like in Texas we don’t have to go looking for scorpions. They somehow have a way of wiggling their way through cracks and showing up in our bathrooms.  I have found them tucked in the shower curtain.  I’ve seen centipedes 5 inches long crawling across the floor of my bedroom.  In the same way, your neighbors, your coworkers, and possibly even members of your family are out to get you.  It’s not just you being paranoid.

So?  All the more reason to live in faith and faithfulness.  All the more reason to follow the righteous path and keep our eyes on the things that God is teaching us and His wisdom literature. He will be your shield. 

The Big Picture

Psalms 18:20-21 (KJV) 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

If you know anything about the life of David, you know that he does not have clean hands, at least in the way we look at it.  We also know that David was aware of the sin in his life.  And yet he makes this statement.

There are a couple things we need to consider that David was also aware of.  First of all, he was aware of the fact that he never violated what seems to be God’s biggest concern.  David never worshiped other gods.  He never made sacrifices to other gods.  He maintained the Lord God as his Lord.

David is also aware of the process of repentance, confession, and forgiveness.  He knew that God would respond to his openness and contrition.

So?  You can get hung up on literal understandings of this verse or you can look at the entire scripture and understand what David is really trusting.  He’s not trusting in his righteousness, he’s trusting in God’s mercy.