Thursday November 30, 2023
Theme: “The happiness that comes from meditating on the word of God”
Text: Psalms 63:1-9
1. (63:1) Psalm of David. When he was in the wilderness of Judah. (63:2) O God! you are my God, I seek you; My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, In a dry, dry land without water. 2. (63:3) So I contemplate you in the sanctuary, To see your power and your glory. 3. (63:4) For your lovingkindness is better than life: My lips praise your praises. 4. (63:5) Therefore I will bless you all my life, I will lift up my hands in your name. 5. (63:6) My soul will be satisfied as with fat and succulent food, And with shouts of joy on my lips my mouth will praise you. 6. (63:7) When I think of you on my bed, I meditate on you during the watches of the night. 7. (63:8) For you are my help, and I am glad in the shadow of your wings. 8. (63:9) My soul is attached to you; Your right supports me. 9. (63:10) But those who seek to take my life Will go into the depths of the earth;
Let's remember:
David felt great happiness in meditating on the word of God. In the middle of the desert, on a parched land, he was full of praise for his God. He did not give in to fate and discouragement. David did not abandon his soul and watch it dry up under the pressure of the trouble in the desert. He channeled his strength and thoughts by directing the sighing of his soul towards trust and praise to God. He who is saved by God finds the greatest happiness in meditation on his word. When he feels stuck by the hazards of everyday life, he always resorts to meditation on the word of God. We see that the Word of God is a help, a recourse, a shelter, a support, a refuge, a rampart, a shield accessible through meditation. The wilderness of Judah was a wild and mountainous country in the eastern part of the tribe of Judah; David took refuge there to certainly escape Absalom (according to certain exegetes including Hengstenberg). The aridity of the soil did not affect his faith; it remained fertile in the idea of having a God who comes to the aid of his flock. David then maintained his faith through meditation on the word of God. Before sleeping and when waking up, he was in meditation on the word of God. He knew well that the goodness of God is better than life: thus his lips celebrated the praises of this God. He had his soul attached to God; and the right hand of God upheld him. Some are called magicians while their secret is meditation on the word of God. From today, the secret is revealed: happiness is found in meditation on the word of God. Excellent Thursday meditation. AmenAlain Louz.-