June 17, 2019 
The word Sabbath means to cease.  So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms.  He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return.  Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
Psalm 13
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.
New International Version (NIV)
           Twenty-five years ago, I returned with my Dad to the place where he grew up.  We camped in a valley and then climbed a mountain in the Ozarks of southern Missouri.  At the bottom, we found ourselves in a fog.  But step by step we climbed the hill together.  How do we get from the valley of doubt to the mountain top of conviction?  One step at a time.  David takes us on an upward journey in this simple Psalm.  In fact each verse is another step in the right direction.

          David starts in the basement with a desperate complaint.  His accusation is two-fold:  "Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?"  At first glance, we may wonder, "Can David talk that way to God and get away with it?"  Have you ever felt forgotten by God?  We may commend David for his self-awareness.  These words show that he has reached the bottom of the valley.  Now watch him climb with God's help.

          Perhaps it is not God's fault after all.  "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts?" (v.2)  Still disturbed, David begins to come to terms with his own situation.  He has sorrow and his enemy triumphs, but God is not to blame. 

          David stops complaining long enough to ask for help.  "Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.  David remembers this relationship with God and asks for light.  We call out to God because he is our only hope.  Without his help, the enemy would win.

          From complaint and confession, David finally comes to surrender.  "But I trust in your unfailing love."  We may disappoint ourselves, but God never disappoints.  His constant faithfulness causes us to rejoice.  David no longer languishes and laments.  Instead he sings to the Lord, because God has been good to him.  This confession is a far cry from his initial complaint.  Even on our darkest days, we must continue to climb.  If we talk to God long enough we may find ourselves singing. 

          Not only is the view better from the top of the mountain.  But we would not trade the journey with our climbing Companion for the world!  Let's take a walk with our Father today, up and out, all the way to the top! 
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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