28 HILLS AND VALLEYS F O O T ================================

• H O L D

READING

28 HILLS AND VALLEYS

PRAY O Lord, my light and my salvation, meet with me through your word today. —————————————————————– READ Psalm 27:1-14. —————————————————————– THINK What does it really mean, in the practical aspects of daily life, to experience God as ‘light’? (1). —————————————————————– FOCUS This psalm is in two parts. Before you read on look again at the psalm and see if you can find a change of tone. The first 6 verses are strong. They reflect a heart that is firm in God. He has such a vision of God that his heart knows no fear and he is confident that all his enemies will be brought to nought. Whenever trouble comes God will protect him (5). Moreover, he expresses a worthy spiritual desire to be constantly in the presence of God to behold his beauty. He really was on a spiritual high. How different is the second part. We pass from bright sunshine to lowering skies. He is in all kinds of trouble. A lot of the joy and confidence has gone. Where now is the singing and making melody to the Lord we find in verse 6? But isn’t life like that? We are full of confidence one moment, but quickly lose our vision of God when trouble hits us. Both experiences are real and we must be thankful for both because God teaches us through the sunshine and the storm. he is the God of the hills and valleys. But hope still shines through in the second part. Pick out the really positive notes. As the psalm ends we are reminded of the unfailing love of God and are encouraged to trust him.

PRAY ‘Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do’. (11).