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Sweeter Than Honey: In The Shadow of Your Wings

5/3/2022

12 Comments

 
In chapter 17 of Psalms, we find the first prayer of David. He asks the Lord to hide him in the shadow of His wings. David is looking for protection from wickedness and from his enemies. David’s enemies most likely were real men who were out to destroy his reputation or kill him. We probably don’t have people who want to kill us today, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have enemies. When I read David’s prayer, I think of the enemies I need to pray to God for protection from--mainly the enemy of sin.
From the Old Testament to the New, the eternality of God's Word is clearly proclaimed: 

Job tells us, “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12). 

Isaiah reminds us that, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). 

And Matthew records Jesus saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

God's Word is like an eternal Love Letter to us!

​Have you ever received a love letter, friend? Did you read it? Did you read it just once, or did you read it over and over again? A Love Letter is a treasure when you love the One who sent it!
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How would you like to read through God's Love Letter—His Word, the Bible, with a group of like-minded, Christian girlfriends? We're doing that over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group. Did you know you don't have to start a Bible reading plan on January 1? You can begin today! This simple plan, and an accountability partner, will help you succeed. Who will be your accountability partner? Share this post with them and invite them to the private Facebook group.
JOIN THE PRIVATE SWEETER THAN HONEY FACEBOOK GROUP
Sweeter Than Honey is patterned after this Bible Reading Itinerary. On Tuesdays, here at the blog, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through God's Word and Sweeter Than Honey, together! I would also encourage you to Join us over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group, introduce yourself, meet new friends, and share your thoughts there as well. We're waiting for you!

Psalms 15-17: In The Shadow of Your Wings

In chapter 17 of Psalms, we find the first prayer of David. He asks the Lord to hide him in the shadow of His wings. David is looking for protection from wickedness and from his enemies. David’s enemies could have been, and most likely were, real men who were out to destroy his reputation or kill him. We probably don’t have people who want to kill us today, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have enemies. ​
“Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From Your presence let my vindication come! Let Your eyes behold the right!

You have tried my heart, You have visited me by night, You have tested me, and You will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the Word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show Your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at Your right hand.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.

They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by Your sword, from men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.” (Psalm 17:1-15)
When I read David’s prayer in Psalm 17, I think of the enemies I need to pray to God for protection from—mainly the enemy of sin, the enemy of my own sinful ways. Can we say that we have purposed that our mouths will not transgress and that our steps will hold fast to His paths?
As King David did, we need to ask God to wondrously show His steadfast love to those who seek refuge from their adversaries, especially when that adversary is our own sinful ways. Let’s pray this prayer today:
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me” (17:8-9). ​
Let’s ask God to hide us in the shadow of His wings.

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a love letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important—the eternal. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are all tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can.
Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in!

52 Days in Psalms!

Hey, friend! I am SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!! ​How would you like to read through the book of Psalms with us and record the prayers of David in a journal? I love writing Scripture and praying Scripture, and I know this is going to be a real blessing as we spend 52 days in the book of Psalms!
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If you don’t already have the Sweeter Than Honey book, grab your FREE PSALMS DOWNLOAD here.​

If you’re interested, here’s a link to the lined journal for The Prayers of David I picked up at Amazon.
​
Be sure to join the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group. We're waiting for you over there! 
“Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one’s heart. It means rather to find the way to God and to speak with Him, whether the heart is full or empty. No man can do that by himself. For that, he needs Jesus Christ.” ―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible

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12 Comments
Donna link
5/3/2022 09:25:56 am

Love your series, Patsy. Today's lesson on Psalm 17 was a sobering reminder for me to pray for protection from the enemy of my soul, who seeks to devour me. How often I neglect this!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/3/2022 09:38:08 am

Thank you, Donna! Yes! I know I don't pray that enough!

Here are a few things I highlighted in my Bible today from Psalm 17:
* “…attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer…” (17:1)
* “…I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” (17:3)
* “I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God. incline Your ear to me; hear my words.” (17:6)
* “Wondrously show Your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge…” (17:7)
* “…hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” (17:8)
* “…Deliver my soul…from men of the world whose portion is in this life…” (17:13-14)
* “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.” (17:15)

Reply
Lisa notes link
5/3/2022 09:52:32 am

This also reminds me of the beautiful imagery from Psalm 91:4 "He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler." So grateful!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/4/2022 02:43:27 pm

I love that verse, Lisa! Also so grateful! :)

Reply
Barbara Harper link
5/3/2022 09:54:56 am

It's strikes me that we don't just pray for our mouths not to transgress, but we have to purpose that they won't. We won't have success without depending on His strength, but we also won't succeed without purpose.

I love this prayer for protection, especially protection from the roaring lion who seeks to devour us.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/4/2022 02:53:59 pm

We have to be intentional, Barbara, and I think intentionality begins with the heart. Before that thought gets to my mind and out of my mouth, the heart has decided "this is who I am." I've got to change the heart so the transgressions of the mouth never even reach my mind, because that is not who I want to be. I have to intentionally decide that "this is who I am" is rooted in Jesus Christ. I am His and I am created in His likeness—that should be reflected in everything that comes out of my mouth.

Reply
Jerralea Winn Miller link
5/3/2022 10:38:23 am

What an awesome thought: I'm the apple of God's eye! I can't get over it!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/4/2022 02:55:57 pm

That thought, Jerralea, blows my mind!! I am so unworthy of this great, great love and I am so thankful for it!

Reply
Michele Morin link
5/3/2022 11:01:13 am

It helps me to remember that the psalms were Israel's prayer book, and EVERYTHING is a topic for prayer.

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/4/2022 02:56:56 pm

I love that, Michele—"Israel's prayer book," and now it is ours! :)

Reply
Lauren Renee Sparks link
5/3/2022 07:13:14 pm

My word for the year is rest and being in the shadow of His wings sounds like perfect rest to me!

Reply
Patsy Burnette link
5/4/2022 02:58:21 pm

That's a great word for the year, Lauren, and in the shadow of His wings is the perfect place for the kind of rest we need.

Reply

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