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September 23, 2008

He Watches Over Us

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READ: Psalm 33:8-22

From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. —Psalm 33:14

In the early 1960s, I read the novel 1984 by George Orwell, which made famous the phrase “Big Brother is watching you.” In this imaginary society, all aspects of life are under surveillance.

Today, there are an estimated 4.2 million closed-circuit video cameras in the UK alone! London is saturated with them. These cameras watch lobbies and sidewalks for security reasons. They even monitor traffic.

Psalm 33 tells us that God is also watching from on high (v.14). He sees not just images and activities but discerns thoughts and motives. As Creator God, when He speaks, it will be done (v.9). His eternal purposes march on unhindered (vv.10-11). Earthly obstacles are mere steppingstones to Him. Though many may depend on military strength for deliverance and safety, their hope is in vain (vv.16-17).

Yet we who fear the Lord need not flee from this awesome God. The psalmist affirms, “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy . . . . He is our help and our shield” (vv.18,20).

The eye of the Lord may be fearsome, but we who trust in Him rejoice. He is not an intrusive “Big Brother” but our loving heavenly Father who watches over us.

The Rock of Ages stands secure,
He always will be there;
He watches over all His own
To calm their anxious care. —Keith

Keep your eyes on the Lord; He never takes His eyes off you.

Bible in One Year: Isaiah 55–57; Proverbs 29:21-27

Thank you WayzataJOHNN. This beautiful piece was sent to me by yorkie:

“I often feel that death is not the enemy of life, but it's friend; for it
is the knowledge that our years are limited which makes them so precious.
It is the truth that time is but lent to us which makes us, at our best,
look upon our years as a trust handed into our temporary keeping.

We are like children privileged to spend a day in a great park, a park
filled with many gardens and playgrounds and azure tinted lakes with white
boats sailing upon the tranquil waves.

True, that day allotted to each of us is not the same in length, in light,
in beauty. Some children of earth are privileged to spend a long and
sunlit day in the garden of the earth. For others, the day is shorter,
cloudier, and dusk descends more quickly as in a winter's tale.

But whether our life is a long summery day or a shorter wintry afternoon,
we know that inevitably there are storms and squalls which overcast even
the bluest heaven and there are sunlit rays which pierce the darkest
autumn sky. The day that we are privileged to spend in this great park of
life is not the same for all human beings; but there is enough beauty and
joy and gaiety in the hours, if we will but treasure them.

Then, for each of us the moment comes when the great nurse, death, takes
us by the hand and quietly says, “It is time to go home. Night is coming.
It is your bedtime child of earth. Come; you're tired. Lie down at last in
the quiet nursery of nature and sleep.

Sleep well. The day is gone. Stars shine in the canopy of eternity.”