REFLECTIONS #205 “My best interest at heart.”

Our verse is found in Psalms 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

Yesterday, as I looked out my patio door, I saw a cat, creeping slowly, and ever so carefully, toward a little bird, that was picking up seeds on the ground, which had fallen from the feeder. The tiny slate-coloured Junco, with his back to the cat, was quite unaware of the danger he was in, and was exploring every crevice and nook which might hold his dinner. Now, I enjoy having the cats come by, as they keep the field mice under control, but to see this little winged creature about to be taken, was too much for me. The cat was gathering her feet under her for the final spring, when I noisily opened the patio door. The little Junco immediately took flight, frightened away from his dinner, as he thought, by a callous householder.

Not being able to talk to birds, I could not tell it that it had just escaped what would have been certain death, had the pussycat not been interrupted. In other words, what that bird saw as something bad, was in reality what kept it alive.

King David was being hunted by Saul, who had vowed to kill him, and he had to fly for safety from one hiding place to another, yet he could take time out to write this Psalm of praise and thankfulness. When we cannot see for the life of us just why our God has allowed certain things into our life, it may just be that that is exactly the trouble; we don’t see, as God does, and sometimes what we count to be hurtful to us, will turn out to our good. David’s God is our God, too. He has our best interest at heart. He always has.

But now my feet are on the Rock If God’s unchanging, endless love; I brave the rudest billow’s shock. For nought can His foundation move. —

(Jack Barnard)