A couple of years ago a-not-yet-but-soon-to-be- friend shared these verses at a Mom’s Night Out. They went straight to my heart. As is often the case, they marinated and grew. I’ve been meaning to share some thoughts, but never have quite pulled it off. As I’ve been asked to share a weekend devotional, this is a good time to attempt to gather my thoughts.
Praise! God desires my esteem. He desires me to exalt Him; in all times, in all circumstances. In the midst of praising *I* find that I am soothed and calmed. My perspective changes, though often the circumstances, the boundaries remain the same.
What? Bars, gates and boundaries? To a personality like mine these sound like prison terms. However, I’ve come to see that God doesn’t mean them that way. Gates and boundaries serve for my protection, they map out my sphere of influence (my territory), and they give direction and a perimeter to my service in the King’s vineyard.
We all respond differently to boundaries. My oldest daughter will see a line in the sand (a boundary or rule) and will stay miles away to be sure she doesn’t cross it. Her mother, on the other hand, is naturally a “get-as-close-as-you-can-to-the-line” thrill seeker”. (Yes, I’ve been burned enough times to begin maturing in this area.)
I’ve thought so often of these verses in the last few years. As I studied, I realized that gates were also place of meeting in Bible times. Hmmm….hospitality, fellowship, ministry are found within my boundaries, at the gate. It isn’t a prison! ::snort::
These verses can be applied so many ways. I simply ask the Holy Spirit to speak the words to your heart where they may bring encouragement, peace and satisfaction.
God has called me HERE, to W TX. He’s called me to homeschool. He’s called me to be a stay-at-home Mom during this season in my life. Until quite recently He called me to severely limit all outside speaking, activities etc. These were my boundaries. I knew they were my boundaries. I was staying inside of them. I knew they were for my protection. Sometimes it is easy though to STAY in the boundaries, to DO what we know we should do, but with an attitude that robs us of the joy we could experience.
As I made a practice of praising Him FOR the bars, gates and boundaries He has established for me, I’ve experienced a soothing calm. I’ve begun to find not only protection but PEACE and SATISFACTION within my boundaries. My prayer for all of us this week is that we begin to walk in new security, satisfaction and peace within our boundaries.
Word Studies Follow: (I love that Hebrew greeting and plan to start utilizing it)
Praise – Strong’s 7623 Sabah – The primary meaning is to sooth or calm (as in a storm). Also means praise, exalt, holding something in higher esteem. In its fullest definition the word speaks to the soothing effect that praise has on one’s psyche.
Gates – Strong’s 8179 – Saar – gate, entrance, can stand for a city or town, there was often a meeting area near the gate
Peace – Strong’s 7965 – Salom (shalom) – peace or tranquility, common Hebrew greeting – “how is your peace?”, present with the wise – absent with the wicked, often pictured as coming from God
Border – Strong’s 1366 (funny breath/accent marks then) Bul – border, boundary, territory, barrier, wall…points out the limits or boundaries of territories. It depicts the limits God sets for various aspects of His creation (Ps 104:9) but also man-made boundary markers set by people (Deut 19:14; Prov 22:28) that were to be respected.
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©2008 D.R.G.
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