Surrounded

Before me, behind me
You besiege me.

A literal translation of Psalm 139:5. NIV has "you hem me in", but "besiege" is a closer translation (hence the military feel to the image - note the tanks are in defensive not attacking positions).

It struck me that the siege isn't to keep someone out, but to keep us in! The rest of the Psalm confirms it. Even if the Psalmist tries to flee to the farthest place, he cannot break the siege. Its circumference is simply too wide.

This verse hit me at a time when I'd not been walking closely with God, and felt far away from him. And then came this wonderful assurance - even if I wanted to, I could not break the siege. We simply cannot to a place outside God's love. There is no such place.

The place of foolishness, of spiritual coolness, of deliberate sin, of whatever else is still within the siege.

May you be conscious of being under siege this year
Not by external pressures
But by the loving goodness of a great God.

Comments

[Andy]

Hi Richard,
I continue to enjoy your poignant reflections and stunning graphical creativity.
Blessings,
Andy