Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Stormy Waters (Part 2)

Reflection: A cancer journey entails grief… particularly for those close to us who must watch. Their love leaks out in tears. But is that all I can say? Can I hope for nothing, other than to sit in resignation with this bald fact?

No! The Scriptures tell us that God moves close to the broken hearted and reaches out to those who are crushed in spirit. In other words: our grief changes the actions of God. Extraordinary isn’t it… and what a comfort!

Elsewhere in the Bible, it tells us more about this aspect of God’s character. It says that God will not break “a bruised reed” or snuff out a “smouldering wick” (Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20). The weak and the broken are precious to God, and God is gentle with them.

And that’s the character of our God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I have such pride and joy in the character of my God. You commit to giving your comfort to the broken. It can truly be said that in your gentleness, you show your greatness.
I love that about you, Lord. Amen.

Psalms 34:1-22

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

8Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

13keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

14Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

21Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22The Lord will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Stormy Waters (Part 2)

Day 1 of 14

NIV

Psalms 34:18

Days

Psalms 34:1-22