:: in.a.mirror.dimly ::

Yesterday’s Divine Hours had a “killer” Psalm reading. It’s one of those Psalms that is filled with terror and joy. It’s both disturbing and comforting. On one hand the writer describes all of the people and things that will fail us. He tears down our walls and lays us bare before God. We could stop reading here, become entangled in debates about how controlling God truly is, what his true nature is, what his intentions are, etc. It could be the end of our faith.

But then the Psalmist lightens up. In verse 18 he offers hope. The place of mercy and grace belongs to those who fear God and who hope in his steadfast love. There is no better place to be. May our hope rest in the steadfast love of the Lord today.

Psalm 33:13-22 ESV
13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.