Playing the background of my favorite Psalm is “I Am a Servant”, sung by Nancy Honeytree back in the 80’s.  This song caught me and spoke to me in a crossroads moment of my life.  No matter where you are, what you are doing as a vocation in life, no matter who you are or where you’ve been, if we love God with all our hearts, minds and souls, we are servants of Him. 

We want to serve because He loved and served us.  He sent His Son, Jesus to teach us how to serve and not be served, how to not demand first place at the table of life, how to love God first then love others like He loved us, laying down His life for ours.  Yes, we are loving servants of the Almighty God who Protects, Provides, Rescues, Delivers us from evil, and Saves us as His own for eternity.  God hears us and answers us with His best work in us.

I am a servant, I am listening for my name
I sit here waiting, I’ve been looking at the game
That I’ve been playing,
And I’ve been staying much the same
When you are lonely, you’re the only one to blame

I am a servant, I am waiting for the call
I’ve been unfaithful, so I sit here in the hall
How can you use me when I’ve never given all
How can you choose me when you know I’d quickly fall

So, you feed my soul and you make me grow
And you let me know you love me
And I’m worthless now, but I’ve made a vow
I will humbly bow before thee
O please use me, I am lonely

I am a servant getting ready for my part
There’s been a change, a rearrangement in my heart
At last I’m learning, there’s no returning once I start
To live is a privilege, to love is such an art
But I need your help to start
O please purify my heart, I am your servant…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 143, The Message

A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, hear my prayer,
    listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
    come to my relief.
² Do not bring your servant into judgment,
    for no one living is righteous before you.
³ The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
    like those long dead.
⁴ So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed.
⁵ I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done.
⁶ I spread out my hands to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.

⁷ Answer me quickly, Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;
    in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
¹² In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
    destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.

TRUTH:  Meditating on verses 7-12, we learn exactly what God does for His loving servants.  God answers, rescues, reminds us of His unfailing love, shows us which way to go, teaches us along the journey and keep us on level ground thinking.  He delivers us from the real enemy because God cherishes us as His own. 

Yes, I am your servant, Lord. I have called out to you and you heard me.

Proverb 1:33, NIV

WISDOM: “…whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for all you have done in us and for us, teaching the right path to go with wisdom to do life skillfully as your servants.  Thank you, Jesus, for be our living example on earth of servanthood.  Thank you for saving my soul, rescuing me, delivering me from evil’s hold.  Thank you for showing me the right path on my journey each day.  Continue to teach me for I am Your servant.