Psalm 44
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. ESV; emphasis mine
Your right hand; Your arm; the Light of Your face. Planted. Set Free. Delighted in. Saved. Lord, may You be my continual boast. May I ever give thanks to Your Name.
Song of Solomon 6
4You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love,
lovely as Jerusalem,
awesome as an army with banners.
5Turn away your eyes from me,
for they overwhelm me—
Song of Solomon captivates me with its beauty. It is the loveliest of lovely. What is it to be overwhelmed and astonished in love- so immense? So immense- it is too much and he says, “Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me.” Overwhelm, in the deepest, soul revealing way.
10“Who is this who looks down like the dawn,
beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun,
awesome as an army with banners?” ESV
The dawn, the moon, the brightness of the sun. An awesome army with banners waving. The sense that all this glory is just an imitation of He who is. The true Real.
Hebrews 6
17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ESV
Your mercy, O God. “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose.” Lord, can I even comprehend what the unchangeable purpose of Your character means? You, so steady and trustworthy to the uttermost. You are refuge. We can flee to you in strong encouragement, exhorted to hold fast to the hope set before us. A Sure and Steadfast Anchor of the Soul. Our hope. We can avail the inner place behind the curtain. Jesus, our high priest forever and ever. I am awestruck that You even care to provide such strong encouragement to me. When I am tossed asunder, again, again, forgive me Lord. And to know that You do! You do.
Lord, all the longing of my heart points to You. All the inexpressible sweetness of desire and beauty; of words and creation; of hope; and of promise. It finds its fulfillment in You. To know that it is Your right hand, Your arm, the very light of Your Face and not me…it is in You I trust. When all around me seems to give and sway, Your mercy offers the image of an Anchor. I have a place behind the curtain. For you have saved me from my foes. You are my King, O God. Help me to walk planted, free, and thankful.
Rebecca (offeringsbecca)
Sixty-six books in a year 