Beauty in Life

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 26

But I will set beauty in the land of the living. (Ezekiel 26.20)

Devotional Thought: I watched the older gentleman slowly shuffle up the ramp and into the dentist's office.  He had been "delivered" to the parking lot by a "young" (Is sixtyish young?) woman.  She pulled into a spot to wait, not able to go in because of COVID restrictions.  I felt a bit of relief and to be honest maybe a dash of smugness: "Poor old guy.  At least I can drive myself where I need to go."  That thought, however, was followed by a huge dose of reality: "I'll be him before you know it!"

Jerusalem had fallen to Babylon.  Tyre, a coastal power on the Mediterranean, looked on with relief and smugness thinking, "We're glad we're not Jerusalem!  We can take care of ourselves!"  God said, "Your time's coming.  Death and destruction are on their way."  During the gloom, however, we find this wonderful thought: "But I will set beauty in the land of the living."  These are the only "positive" words in the whole chapter.  It's as if God were saying to any who would listen, "Don't fret.  I am there with you."

You're probably in one of two places in life - 1) thankful that you're not yet "old" or 2) grateful that you have made it to "old."  I think I'm on my way from one to the other.  I still drive to the dentist and use the steps instead of the ramp, but for some reason I can't lift my leg high enough to get on my new bicycle!  Here on the journey, though, God has set a beautiful hope: He is with me.

Whether due to age or health or other circumstances, you may struggle in this life.  But take heart.  God sets beauty in your life.

Prayer: "E'en down to old age all your people shall prove - your sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; and when silver hair shall our temples adorn, like lambs we shall still in thy bosom be borne." Amen.  (Adapted from Rippon, How Firm a Foundation)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 42.8-11

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? ”

10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.