God’s Promise of Light
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Questions and Wise Words to Ponder-
We don’t think about light much today because it is available whenever we need it. In fact, yesterday when I was working it was so bright in this room that I didn’t turn on the light. Today we are expecting storms and although it is daytime, I am going to have to turn on the light. A simple flip of the switch and I can see. How different was it when this psalm was written? Light wasn’t easy to come by. To say that God is the light of our salvation really meant something. What language might we use today to share how important God is to us?
When I visited San Diego a few years ago, I spent some time on the Martin Luther King, Jr Promenade. The words from the labyrinth there go well with this psalm.
Shedding the cloak of oppression and Donning the cloak of recognition.
Shedding the cloak of fear and Donning the cloak of trust.
Shedding the cloak of prejudice and Donning the cloak of respect.
Shedding the cloak of malice and Donning the cloak of compassion.
Shedding the cloak of bitterness and Donning the cloak of forgiveness.
Shedding the cloak of despair and Donning the cloak of hope.
Shedding the cloak of weariness and Donning the cloak of courage.
Shedding the cloak of ignorance and Donning the cloak of wisdom.
Shedding the cloak of darkness and Donning the cloak of light.
