Before an Angry Judge

I can sleep tonight because The Judge makes it Right!

The anger in his voice increased.  I looked up.  The judge was looking right at me and scolding me!  Something about shopping and credit cards.  I hadn't been paying attention which added to the judge's frustration.  I was very confused.  It was my first time in court.

Many years ago I worked for a mortgage servicing company and was sent to bankruptcy court with the company attorney.  One of our customers had filed bankruptcy and the company sent us to represent the mortgage holder.  Court cases were called alphabetically and our customer must have been in the "Zs" because I'd been in the courtroom a very long time.  I was bored and had lost interest until I realized all eyes, especially the angry judge's, were on me.

I must have had a ”deer in headlights" look on my face.  I was frozen.  I had no idea what to do.  Fortunately, the company attorney came to my defense.  He stood up and respectfully addressed the judge.  He realized that the  judge thought I was one of the debtors who had continued to engage in amassing debt while in bankruptcy.  My advocate offered to the judge that I was not the offending debtor.  The real debtor didn't even bother to appear in court that day.  The judge assumed since I was in the front row I must be the offender.  I hope this was and will be my only time in court facing an angry judge!

Psalm 7 made me think about judges.  David throws himself on the mercy of God, The Judge.  David confesses that perhaps he has guilt on his hands.  Yet he believes God will save him and deliver him from his pursuing enemies.  David believes that God searches hearts and minds and knows true motives.  David acknowledges that God is The Righteous Judge who is absolutely just.

Psalm 7 reminds me that I live in a world that too often is not right.  I can't make the world right.  No one can make it right.  Except God.  Verse 10, in The Message, tells me God is The One who makes me right and keeps me right.

I am right before God only because I have an Advocate, much like that company attorney who stood up for me before the angry judge.  Jesus came to Earth to show me, us, the way, the only way to live in a not right world.  Our only opportunity to be right in this world is to throw ourselves on the mercy of God. 

Psalm 7 reminds me

God is dependable, more than anyone or anything in this world;

God is absolutely just, not assuming facts, but knowing motives;

God protects me because of His great love for me, and you. He sent The Advocate as proof!

Thank you God for being Right, making Right and keeping Right.

150 feet!

Papa.
Just as we entered a tunnel he replied...

"150 feet."  Papa responded to his grandchildren's query of "how much longer til we get there?"  I giggled because I knew it was really about 20 miles to our destination.  I was amazed that the children were satisfied with his decisive answer even though they had no idea of what 150 feet meant.

It's been several days since I read through Psalm 6 but when I opened my journal and looked at my notes I knew "150 feet" will become my subtitle for Psalm 6.

I noticed the words I'd underlined in my handwritten version of Psalm 6 :

§  Unfailing love- Years ago during a bible study on the book of Psalms I discovered how often the psalmists refer to God's unfailing love.  In the translation I'm reading now this is the first Psalm which acknowledges God's unfailing love.  (So I'm circling in blue pencil this time through the Psalms to remind me of God's unfailing love.)

§  Worn out-  The Psalm begins with a plea for mercy and healing.  It talks of anguish, despair, groaning, weeping and sorrow.  I can relate. Life on this earth can be hard, right?

§  Has heard- In the midst of the  psalmist's anguish, he acknowledges God has heard his weeping and prayers in the past.  God is reliable.

§  How long? -  This question sounds far too familiar.  It seems when the going gets tough, our most frequent query of God is "How much longer til...?"

In the midst of trying circumstances, I want to impose a time limit.  If I know the ending time, I will be able to endure the next few minutes and hours.  I can feel the immediate and temporary satisfaction of surviving another minute and being closer to the end.

Psalm 6 addresses the dilemma of "How long?" vs "God's unfailing love."

It is no coincidence this past week my ladies study group discussed James chapter one.  We wrestled with the idea that trials produce steadfastness or endurance.  When suffering comes we concentrate on how much longer or the conclusion or the ending. 

James and the Psalmist are reminding me, instead, I should concentrate on

§  God's knowledge of the future,

§  the comfort that He indeed knows my deepest need and

§  His unfailing love

Life's circumstances are opportunities to learn and understand, as best we can, of God's character. God is so much bigger than time or any step by step plan I can devise.  He operates according to unfailing love and mercy. 

Through life trials we learn God is in control.  God loves us.  He knows our deepest needs and delivers.  How long is not the question.  Rest in His character is the response to life trials.

Just as the grandchildren wanted to impose a time limit to enduring a boring car ride, I want to impose a limit so I can manage to my trials.    The grandchildren received an answer that didn't compute because they had no concept of distance. The answer of "150 feet" satisfied them though.  They knew Papa had a destination and it was a good destination. Papa loved them.  Papa was dependable.  They knew of Papa's character.

I anticipate that during my next life trial when I am worn out and ask God "How long?"  His response will be "150 feet!" 

I will be reminded that

§  God has a destination and it's a good destination. 

§  God loves me. 

§  God has  unfailing love, my prior life trials are proof.