Can you believe it? Half-way through this 30-day writing journey.
Day 15
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. -Psalm 34:4-8
Question 1 -What does this passage say?
The phrases that are sticking out to me in this passage are these:
-Delivered me from my fears
-Those who look to him are radiant
-The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him
Question 2 -What does this passage mean?
My commentary shares an interesting fact about this passage. David [who wrote this Psalm] actually pretended to be insane to escape from the Philistines [DO WHAT?]. The plan worked and this Psalm was a thank you to God for his deliverance. This Psalm is David’s invitation to you and I to “taste and see” for ourselves that the LORD is good.
Question3 -What does this passage mean to me?
I can’t stop thinking about this part: Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
A few weeks ago I saw a friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time. At first, I was really happy to see her but something happened after I saw her that I wasn’t crazy about. Being in her presence, I felt worse about myself than I ever had.
I felt like my hair wasn’t pretty enough. My clothes weren’t right. And when the whole book writing thing came up…yep, I felt all of two inches tall.
Was it her fault that I felt this way?
No.
It was completely mine.
But the truth is, there are some people that after we leave their presence we feel great…and others…we feel…well, stinky.
Then, the other day I saw someone I hardly know, but we have mutual acquaintances. I’ve never really sat down and had a long conversation but just being around her was…nice.
There was a different disposition about her.
She was authentic. She was positive. She didn’t talk trash about other people.
I left her presence feeling so good. It was like a breath of fresh air. She had a real radiance about her…something that couldn’t be describe by anything else than the presence of God.
I can’t help but think about the part of this verse that says those who are wrapped up in God’s presence are…radiant.
On Thesarus.com I typed in the word radiant. Here are some of the words that are synonyms of it:
aflame
aglow
sparkling
luminous
All I keep thinking about is how I want radiance in my life. I have been guilty as anyone to be negative, down and to even say some not so great things about people.
But all of that comes from insecurity.
I hate that word “insecurity”. Shame loves to make us insecure more than anything else in this world.
It does horrible things to us inside and out. But more than anything, I believe it steals our radiance.
Radiance can’t be manufactured.
Radiance can’t be pretended.
You really can’t be a radiance fraud.
RADIANCE.
That’s what I want.
I’m thinking that radiance is really easy to obtain but even easier to squeeze out.
Negative thoughts? Steals radiance.
Hurtful words? Steals radiance.
Jealousy? Steals radiance.
Pride? Steals radiance.
Anger? Steals radiance.
But…
The presence of God? Brings radiance.
Speaking Truth to OURSELVES? Brings radiance.
Feeling confident in God? Brings radiance.
Seeing that God is good? Brings radiance.
