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Last weekend the ESM had a wonderful retreat.
A retreat is a wonderful opportunity to get away from your problems and situation. You connect with God and others in the beauty of nature.
But when you get back home, everyday life takes over once again.
In everyday life, you’re surrounded by your problems; Your challenges; The things you need to take care of.
Your everyday situations can swallow you up. Your world shrinks once again to the circumstances you need to attend to.
Today’s passage is a psalm of David.
David was swallowed up by his circumstances. He was the youngest of ten sons. He was relegated to the role of a shepherd.
He was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but his life only became harder after that.
King Saul became jealous and persecuted David. His life became a life of running away from Saul.
He wrote this psalm in Gath, which was in the enemy territory of Philistine. He ended up there because it was the only place he would be safe from Saul.
David could have seen his life in a negative light. “Why is all this happening to me?”
He could have remained swallowed up by his circumstances. But David did not remain swallowed up by his circumstances.
He looked beyond his circumstances and saw something different.
This is what he saw:
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4)
I can see him in Gath, looking up at the sky at night.
He’s actually quite comfortable in Gath. He’s enjoying some peace from being chased by Saul.
But there must have been a part of him that felt forgotten and abandoned.
In that setting, he looked up at the night sky. As he did, he discovered something amazing.
In the vast heavens, the moon and stars, he saw something greater than that.
He saw the God who created the moon and stars. He saw a great God who did not forget him. A God who was mindful of him. A God who cared for him.
In that realization, his life was elevated.
He was not forgotten, but he was a somebody. Somebody beloved by God.
That realization helped David see his circumstances in a new light.
In bad times, God was more real as he cried out to him. In good times, he would rejoice and give thanksgiving to God.
God has crowned you with glory and honour. Yours is a glorious life. You are so much more than your problems and circumstances.
When you feel pressed down by your circumstances; When you feel small and insignificant; Look beyond your circumstances to the God who created the universe.
Let your life be exalted and lifted up.
What’s the best way to connect with God in this way?
Don’t stay focused on your problems and challenges. Look up to God. Open your mouth in praise.
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1)
In praise and worship, your soul will be lifted up to God.
That’s the secret that David discovered in this psalm.
We are so blessed to celebrate this picnic as a church.
We are not just eating food. We are sharing this glorious life that God has given us.
God has crowned you with glory and honour. Never forget that.
Always look to God. Always sing praises to God. Your life is a glorious life.
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