Tag Archives: Pslams

Leanness of the Soul

Posted on by

0

One of the things I love about reading the Bible is sometimes you’ll be reading a passage, and a word will just jump off the page and hit you.

You’ll be reading and you’ll sometimes have something just really nail you, something that just really catches your eye and you know that there is something God is trying to say to you in it.

I believe that’s one of the ways that God really speaks to us through scripture. When these phrases or words just won’t leave us alone. When there is something about them that just stick to our minds and our hearts.

I had that really happen to me this morning as I was reading Psalm 106 where it says this:

14 A craving seized them in the wilderness, *
and they put God to the test in the desert.
15 He gave them what they asked, *
but sent leanness into their soul.

Wow.  God gave them what they wanted, but sent leanness into their souls.

That’s the phrases leanness of the soul.

This notion of having everything you want or desire, but your soul being empty.  Your soul being dry.

Your soul being lean.

In life, it’s not about getting what we want or desire.

As much as we think that will make us happy.

It’s about getting what our soul needs.

As Jesus said, “What does it profit to gain the world, but lose your soul.”

Do we spend time today, nourishing our soul?  Do spend time today feeding our soul?  Do we spend time today, and each giving our soul what it needs?

Or do we ignore it, chasing other things.

The people got what they desired, but they had leanness of their souls.

How about us this morning? Do have what we want, but not what we need?

As I like to ask my folks at Asbury Church, how is it with your soul today?  Are you nourishing it?

Or is it becoming lean?

In the end, that’s our main job.  To nourish it.

May we take the time to feed our souls, and in doing that, we’ll find the life we cannot find anywhere else.

Lights and Lamps

Posted on by

0

Today in Psalm 119, I read on of my favorite passages of in all the Bible.  It says in verse 105

Your word is a lantern to my feet *
and a light upon my path.

I remember hearing this passage when I was a kid at Johnston Chapel UMC when we did Vacation Bible School and did the pledge to the Bible during each day’s opening ceremony.  It’s one of those verses that always stuck with me.

And that verse makes us feel good when we are thinking about trusting in God, because it promises that God will be a light to us and show us where we are going.

There is something about that text, though. Look what it promises. The word is a lantern (lamp) unto my feet and light unto my path.

A lamp and light are great. But, they are not spotlights.  They simply shine enough light for us to take the next step.

God does not always given us enough light for 10 steps from now. He gives us enough life for the very next step and tell us to trust Him.

He will show us the next step. And the next step.  And the next step.  And will lead us where we need to be.

But, we have to trust in Him in that.  We may see what is next. We may not see what is come.

So, we trust.

Today, take that next step that the Lord has given you enough light to see. And trust Him for the step 10 steps from now. He will lead you where you need to be.