Psalms – Prayers of Honesty and Praise
Those of a certain age will read the title of this devotion and recall a song from the infamous Carpenters, “Close to You”. I’m humming the verses of the song as I read our passage written by one who is seeking the closeness of God.
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you….
You are probably singing the whole song by now. But let’s switch our thoughts to the desire of God to be close to us.
Psalm 119, The Message
Part 19
145-152
I call out at the top of my lungs,
“God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”
I called to you, “Save me
so I can carry out all your instructions.”
I was up before sunrise,
crying for help, hoping for a word from you.
I stayed awake all night,
prayerfully pondering your promise.
In your love, listen to me;
in your justice, God, keep me alive.
As those out to get me come closer and closer,
they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;
But you’re the closest of all to me, God,
and all your judgments true.
I’ve known all along from the evidence of your words
that you meant them to last forever.
FROM THE HEART…
At first, there seems to be panic in the mind of the Psalmist who is desperate for God to show up in his life. His human trust and hope is failing him. He cannot sleep. So he does what most of us do (or should do). He stops to consider the promises of God. He thinks about all God has done in the past to save and protect him. He has false accusers and phony friends who are on the attack. As they come closer and closer to to him, the psalmist comes closer and closer to God. He realizes that God is for him not against him. He realizes the love God has for him.
“But you’re the closest of all to me, God, and all your judgments true.
I’ve known all along from the evidence of your words
that you meant them to last forever.”
We think and do the same if we are believers in the One who never changes, who is as near to us as we allow God to be. Draw close to Him and He will draw close to us. (James 4:8) That is a promise to rely on and to cherish! And just like me, He longs to be…close to You!
Our Father,
Like a child runs after her father to be close to him, to be where he is and do what he does, I am your child. I want to be close to you, close enough to hear the whisper of your voice in my ear, to feel the beat of your heart and to know you want the same. Draw close to us today as we draw closer and closer to you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
