Walking on Water

Wisdom is a Rushing Stream

Posted on July 23, 2015 by wamplerp

The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. – Proverbs 18:4

This passage has to qualify as one of the shortest I have encountered on my journey looking at water in the bible.

The passage contrasts two things, the words of our mouth and the fountain of wisdom. The former is compared to deep water and the later is compared to a rushing stream. My initial reaction is that these metaphors seem to be reversed. I would tend to compare wisdom to deep water and the words of our mouth to a rushing stream. Let’s explore this stretch of water and see if there is more to this…

Deep water can 1) hide scary things like Leviathan and behemoths; 2) be a very cold and dark place; 3) harbor dangerous and unpredictable currents. So how are the words from our mouths like these things.

Certainly our mouths can spew very scary and harmful things. Unchecked, our words can start wars, end marriages, justify genocide, and all manner of beastly things. It is up to us to use wisdom to know when and how to speak so that our mouths do not bring forth evil.

Our words can be also be cold, dark, and promote decay. We have all encountered people that seem to see the negative aspects of every situation – they have Limburger cheese on their nose. These people often seem to relish sharing their cold dark words with others and the end result is that everyone experiences “decay”.

The power of our words is very unpredictable and sometimes dangerous to ourselves and others. I think all of us have said things during the heat of an argument or when we are hungry and tired that we would like to take back. Words are like toothpaste — they are not easily put back in the “tube”. The best we can do is replace the negative and harmful words with a sincere apology and a request for forgiveness.

The concept of wisdom brings to my mind visions of dusty shelves of books and grey haired wise men or professors standing around musty old academic halls. This is very unlike the visions I have when I think of a rushing stream. Rushing streams are a dynamic place alive with activity both above and below the surface of the water, and along the banks.

As a water scientist I get to spend a lot of time on rivers and streams. They can be amazingly beautiful places. The water is often clean and clear and provides great solace to my soul. This passage seems to be providing an alternative view of wisdom as a dynamic thing alive with complex truths and intricate eddies. I prefer this view of wisdom.

Although this passage is describing a “fountain of wisdom” I think it is really talking about God. God is like this too I think. We sometimes envision God in an “old man suit” sitting in a dusty library making rules when in reality He is wearing cutoff jeans, a tie dye shirt, and Birkenstock sandals. God wants us to seek out His wisdom as we would a rushing stream full of adventure and dynamic energy.

Prayer: God help us to seek Your wisdom and delight in the dynamic waters we find there.

Posted in Discernment, Following God, Free Will, Obedience, Proverbs, The Nature of God, Wisdom | Tagged bible, bible study, Christianity, Daily devotional, river, water, wisdom | 7 Comments

Prophetic Proverbs

Posted on July 22, 2015 by wamplerp

Shai Hills in Ghana, west Africa

The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord . But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death. – Proverbs 8:22-36

Somehow this water reference slipped by me as I was preparing yesterday’s post…so I am backtracking today to cover this stretch of “the river”. I was somewhat surprised by the frequency of the references to the Messiah in the Psalms. I was not really prepared to find Him here in Proverbs as well.

The water imagery in this passage is beautiful and rich. In fact it almost sounds like something from the psalms. The “me” in this passage certainly sounds like the same person referred to at the beginning of the gospel of John…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” — the word became flesh and dwelt among us – Jesus.

The person this proverb is describing came before water even existed and certainly before it was gathered into seas and when He “gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command”.

The passage then takes a very intimate and personal tone, especially for a passage from proverbs…”Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” — ask, seek, and knock and the kingdom will be yours (Luke 11:9).

This passage is a hidden well to be sure – the essence of the gospel is tucked away in this prophetic proverb. I am humbled and awed by the deep pools God is leading me through as I learn to “walk on water”. It has truly been satisfying my thirst to know God more deeply.

Prayer: God you are truly the great I am. You were there in the beginning, You showed us the way through Jesus, and You dwell with us now.

Posted in Christianity, Covenant, Following God, Free Will, God's Love for Us, Obedience, Proverbs, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm, Trusting God | Tagged bible, bible study, Christianity, Daily devotional, faith, Jesus, water | 1 Comment

Stolen Water is Sweet

Posted on July 21, 2015 by wamplerp

Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. – Proverbs 9:13-18

I was travelling through Ghana with a bunch of students for the last several days and have not had reliable internet access (or energy to do much but fall into bed in the evenings). I am back on the water today though with an interesting passage from Proverbs.

The general topic of infidelity and lust for someone other than someone within the context of a marriage covenant is the topic in this passage. The consequences of partaking of this “stolen water” are not pretty.

“Stolen water is sweet”. It tastes good at the time, but hidden within this “sweet” water are the seeds of all sorts of trouble that we would be better off avoiding. I am reminded of the fact that in Ghana it is typically not wise to drink or brush your teeth with anything but treated water. The consequences of taking untreated water, even water that may taste very “sweet” can be days in the bathroom or worse.

Why would the way in which we obtain something change the nature of it? Why would obtaining something in a way contrary to God’s plan for our lives taste sweeter than water obtained within the plan God has provided? I think the answer is linked to the complex “ecosystem” of mind, body, and spirit that our soul inhabits here on earth.

The term “water” here is being used metaphorically, and I think more broadly, to refer to any action taken at a time, with a person, or within a context that is contrary to God’s plan for your life. This of course assumes that you are able to discern God’s plan for your life. You have to be connected to the spring to be aware of God’s plan. We can avoid “stealing water” by becoming a good listener so we can hear God’s whisper, and by developing spiritual “whiskers” to keep us from placing ourselves in places or situations likely to lead to “water theft”.

This passage reminds me of a scene from the Magician’s Nephew from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The two main characters Digory and Polly have found their way into Narnia through a “wood between the worlds”. They arrive in Narnia as Aslan (the Christ figure) is singing Narnia into existence. Unfortunatley evil Queen Jadis entered Narnia by hitching a “ride” with Polly through the wood between the worlds. Digory is asked by Aslan to go obtain an apple from a certain tree to help protect Narnia from the evil of the queen. The queen enters Narnia at the wrong time and place and will bring great evil (she becomes the white witch who shows up in the Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe).

The queen follows Digory and steals an apple from the tree and she tries to convince Digory to do the same to heal his dying mother back in our world. Digory chooses wisely to listen to Aslan and follow His plan rather than the queen’s and returns to Aslan with the Apple. Aslan honors Digory’s faithful following by granting him an apple to heal his dying mother. The Apple Aslan provides is fruit from the apple tree which grew from the apple retrieved in the way Aslan requested. It was obtained at the right time in the right way.

So we are given a choice…we can hang out “deep in the realm of the dead” making our own choices about how we treat our bodies and the bodies of others or we can stick with the plan God has for us…our call.

Prayer: God you know the plans you have for us and part of that plan is only taking “water” that is meant for us. Help us to faithfully follow You and discern the proper time to take “water”.

Posted in Covenant, Death and Dying, Discernment, Divorce, Following God, Free Will, God's Love for Us, Life Together, Marriage, Obedience, Proverbs, reconciliation, Sin | Tagged bible, bible study, C.S. Lewis, Christianity, Chronicles of Narnia, Daily devotional, faith, water | 2 Comments

Drink Water from your Own Cistern

Posted on July 16, 2015 by wamplerp

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? For your ways are in full view of the Lord , and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly. – Proverbs 5:15-23

I was not able to “get on the water” yesterday due to a combination of illness and demands from my role as the faculty director of our study abroad program here in Ghana. I am back on the water today though to reflect on an interesting passage here in Proverbs.

“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well”. This is clearly meant as a metaphor to say in essence — “don’t sleep around”. In a broader sense, it is also a warning not to squander the intimacy reserved for your spouse (specifically your wife here) with someone else — “may you rejoice in the wife of your youth”. In other words, your true “trophy wife” is the one from your youth rather than a newer, younger, model.

“May you ever be intoxicated with her love”. It seems like as we grow older our relationships can either mature like a fine wine or cheese, or they can grow bitter and sour like vinegar. The difference is in the care with which the relationship is forged and maintained. A fine wine is not the result of chance. It requires hard work and great skill. A marriage is no different. In order for our marriages to mature like a fine wine, we must work hard and acquire the skills to maintain a healthy relationship as our bodies change and grow older.

The end of the proverb reminds us that God knows our hearts and even if we attempt to hide our feelings and actions God knows them. He is the God who sees us, not because God wants to be a celestial cop, but rather because He loves us and wants to prevent us from becoming “ensnared”. God promised to free us from our snares, but I think it is better to avoid becoming ensnared in the first place by faithfully following Him.

Prayer: God help us to honor our commitments, vows, and the ones we love.

Posted in Proverbs, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

The Clouds Let Drop the Dew

Posted on July 14, 2015 by wamplerp

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. – Proverbs 3:19-30

This post is the first of many in the book of Proverbs. As I enter this reach of water on my journey exploring water in the bible I expect I will encounter many interesting and thought-provoking passages. I do not know a lot about the book of proverbs so I look forward to a “voyage of discovery” with God at the tiller and me on the bailer. Yesterday was a choppy bit of water for the group of students I am leading here in Ghana so my “eddying out” was a bit longer than expected.

Two days ago I was out in a large wooden boat on Lake Volta in east central Ghana. The boat is used by an NGO called Challenging Heights to find and rescue children who have been trafficked to use in the fishing trade on the lake. The boat had three crew, each with very important jobs. The man in the back ran the outboard motor and steered the boat. He watched carefully the man in the front of the boat who was keeping watch for nets across the boat’s path. The man in the middle kept us from sinking by bailing the boat. As I begin this float through Proverbs I will need a special “crew” — God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. So off we go into proverbs…let’s get back on the water!

The passage begins…well…at the beginning. God is acknowledged as the author and Creator of the earth and the heavens. God created both the underlying logos that governs the natural world and the spiritual “spacious place” from which we come as we are formed in our mother’s womb.

God up to this point in the bible has appeared to the people as a Godly condensate, a cloud. So to say “the clouds let drop the dew” is really another way of saying God is the creator of everything seen and unseen. His hand touches all just like dew coats all surfaces.

The passage goes on to say never let wisdom and understanding out of your sight. I think this is really another way of saying keep God and the logos He has created at the forefront of your mind. If you do this “you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet”. I feel like I could use some sweet sleep after a very busy weekend.

The passage reassures us that God has our back and will always be at our side — sometimes He will even have us on His shoulders and we may not even know it or acknowledge it. God will help us avoid the snares of this world if we allow him “the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.” God has also promised to free those already caught in snares.

Prayer: God thank You for the wonder of creation and for helping us to avoid things that would ensnare us.

Posted in Christianity, Covenant, Faith, Following God, Free Will, Ghana, God's Love for Us, Heaven, Love for the Lost, Proverbs, reconciliation, Redemption, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm | Tagged bible, bible study, Christianity, Daily devotional, dew, faith, water | 2 Comments

Eddying Out -Praise Him with Every Breath

Posted on July 10, 2015 by wamplerp

Praise the Lord; Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord . Praise the Lord. – Psalm 150:1-6

This post marks the end of the Psalms. Although this Psalm does not contain a water reference it seemed an appropriate place to pause and reflect to mark the end of this stretch of water.

It so reflects the essence of my walk with water so far. I really feel like spending “time” on the river with God each day has become as natural as breathing. There are still days when life happens and I find it difficult to find time to read and reflect.

There was a time when missing a day would have made me feel guilt at having failed to fulfill my commitment. Now I feel like when I miss a day or two I get “out of breath”. It is not guilt that drives me to find the time to spend with God again, but a lack of spiritual “oxygen” to fuel my soul. My hope and my prayer is that as long as I have breath my soul will strive to praise God.

I will be travelling with a group of students tomorrow to a location in Ghana where child slavery is still practiced and accepted. I suspect I may need additional time and energy for reflection. I will take a couple days to “Eddy Out” then begin my “float” through the book of Proverbs on Monday.

Prayer: God you provide the air we breathe…. Let everything that has breath praise You.

Posted in Covenant, Discernment, Discipleship, Eddying Out, Faith, Following God, Ghana, Love for the Lost, Obedience, Psalms, The Earthly Realm, The Nature of God, The Spiritual Realm, Trusting God | Leave a comment

A Horn Raised Up

Posted on July 9, 2015 by wamplerp

Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord , for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord , for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord. – Psalm 148:4-14

This Psalm begins with a somewhat perplexing description of “waters above the skies”…this sounds like something higher than clouds. I am not sure what water this is referring to unless it is purely spiritual and metaphysical. The passage seems to be alluding to another realm apart from earth, and perhaps even apart from the physical realm our bodies call home. In this spiritual realm there is something, or someone, capable of praising God.

From a purely physical scientific perspective the water above the skies would be comets and other frozen water in our solar system. The water in these places is like water here on earth except it is present in a different form than liquid water.

The common thread between these two very different interpretations of “water above the skies” is the change of state required. For water to exist outside earth it must change states and for heavenly beings to exist on earth they also must alter their spiritual state. The most striking example being the “change of state” God accomplished when He walked the earth as Jesus.

We creatures here below are to ” Praise the Lord from the earth”. From our location here on earth we must do this with both our physical bodies and our souls. We exist between the two realms – (Heaven and earth). Water (body) and ice (soul) coexisting in a delicate balance that requires a mediator.

God himself “has raised up for his people a horn”, Jesus, to help us maintain the proper balance between “water” and “ice”.

Prayer: God You have provided us with both body and soul. Help us to balance these two parts of our being.

Posted in Christianity, Covenant, Death and Dying, Discernment, Discipleship, Following God, Free Will, Love for the Lost, Obedience, Psalms, reconciliation, Redemption, religion, The Earthly Realm, The Spiritual Realm | Leave a comment

Murky Metaphors – Frost Like Ashes

Posted on July 8, 2015 by wamplerp

He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord. – Psalm 147:13-20

I have been in Ghana for almost a month now and the language of this Psalm makes me a bit homesick for the cold and ice of Michigan. I could really appreciate an “icy blast” about now.

Several of the metaphors seem strange in this passage. Perhaps there is cultural context that I am missing. For example, the phrase “his word runs swiftly”. I do not remember God’s word or commands being compared to running before – swift or otherwise. I am not sure what to make of this metaphor.

From a contemporary Christ follower’s perspective it makes sense because God dwells in us through Jesus and the Holy spirit. His word arrives at the speed of thought through a soul to soul connection for those who have “picked up the phone”. It is much less clear to me the meaning this metaphor would have held for the Israelites.

The water metaphors in this passage are also somewhat confusing…”He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes”. It almost seems like the author is writing about something they rarely experience and as a result the analogy they choose is a little odd. Sort of like if someone from Michigan tried to use an analogy involving coconuts or palm trees.

God’s word overcomes the “icy blast” that produces snow, frost, and hail — “He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.” This reminds me of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

In the book “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”. Children travel through a magic wardrobe to Narnia which is locked into a perpetual deep freeze by the white witch. The arrival of the lion, Aslan, the Christ figure breaks the icy blast and spring arrives in Narnia.

It may be stretching this analogy too far, but what if this is a prophetic reference to Jesus — A prediction of His coming to melt the icy bonds of sin and death.

This passage is “tricky water” to be sure. I may be completely lost in my interpretations, but my reflections have taken me further down the river despite my confusion and lack of clarity.

Prayer: God help me to understand the meaning hidden in this passage as I continue down the river.

SDG

Posted in Christian Community, Christian Leadership, Christianity, Covenant, Discipleship, Following God, Healing, Obedience, Psalms, reconciliation, Redemption, religion, The Nature of God | 18 Comments

Hope in His Unfailing Love

Posted on July 7, 2015 by wamplerp

Praise the Lord . How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.- Psalm 147:1-11

The descriptions of God in this Psalm are beautiful…” He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” The picture it paints is of a God both awesome in power and abounding in love for His humble followers.

What does it mean to be a humble follower of God? I think the essential attributes of a humble follower of God are the ability to listen, hear, understand, and obey. I am reminded of a powerful scene from the movie adaptation of E.M. Forrester’s Horatio Hornblower books.

The main character Horatio Hornblower, played by Ioan Gruffudd, is in charge of a small band of sailors investigating the grounding of a British frigate on a beach in France. They find the captain of the ship wounded in a cave near the wrecked vessel. They are making their way to their shore boat when they are attacked by French soldiers. Part of the group is trapped by gunfire in the cave and Hornblower is near the launch with a view of the attacking soldiers. He provides covering fire and orders the men to make a break for the launch. Midway through their rush to safety, amid raining shots, Horatio yells out loudly “STOP”. Although puzzled by this order his men immediately obey, just in time to avoid being crushed by a Large cannon falling from the cliff. Their unquestioning and immediate obedience under fire saved their lives.

I think obeying God can feel like this sometimes. We are under enemy fire (in the form of deceptions by the deceiver) and sometimes God (our captain) does the equivalent of yelling “STOP”. We need to do as Hornblower’s sailors did…obey first and ask questions later.

The Psalm continues with some interesting water imagery… “He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills”. Clouds have often been a vehicle and a manifestation of God up to this point in the bible. So to say “He covers the sky with clouds” is to say that God Himself envelopes the earth – separate but pervasive and persistent. He sends rain to help us, tender plants, (grass) grow.

I really like the last part of this Psalm…”His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”. The key to pleasing God is not in strength, speed, or intelligence. The Lord delights in those who fear (obey) Him and are willing to put their hope in His unfailing love.

Prayer: God thank You for loving us. Help us to become good listeners so that we can abide in your unfailing love.

Posted in Christian Leadership, Covenant, Discernment, Discipleship, Obedience, Psalms, reconciliation, Redemption, Satan, Sin, The Earthly Realm, The Spiritual Realm, Trusting God | Leave a comment

Lifeguard and Lord

Posted on July 6, 2015 by wamplerp

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom
I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. Lord , what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. Part your heavens, Lord , and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arrows and rout them. Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. Psalm 144:1-8

This Psalm is another familiar one…making it difficult for me to approach this “stretch of water” with “fresh eyes”. I have been surprised before by the “hidden wells” in passages like this so let us begin.

This Psalm is similar to other Psalms attributed to King David. He spent much of his life as a warrior king and prior to taking the throne David was constantly pursuing or being pursued. It occurs to me that David, God, and all those who seek God have this in common. They are both pursuing and being pursued at the same time…playing hide and seek if you will.

The psalmist is clear that God ” is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge…”. Even while the author acknowledges this they seem surprised or in awe that the God of the universe would care for mere mortals in this way. We who ” are like a breath…days are like a fleeting shadow.”

The author seems to place God “high up in the clouds”. Yet towards the end of the Psalm God comes down from heaven to rescue us from mighty waters…” Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters,”. Jesus was, and is, God’s great “reaching down”.

Jesus rescues us from all that might ensnare us…He rescues us from the mighty waters… He is our lifeguard and Lord. He sacrificed much to save our drowning souls.

Prayer: Thank You God for being our rock, refuge, and rescuer.