Forecast Of Good

“Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” Psalm 86:17 ESV

Reflection: How does God show up in your life, practically speaking? 

David asked God to “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 ESV. You might have read this psalm before, specifically this verse, and even prayed in unison with David, “Yes, please Lord, show me your way”.  But, let’s think about this for a moment. If we are asking God to show us the way, are we actually looking for His guidance and direction? The other day, I wrote about a sequence of events we had experienced that seemed too odd, too coincidental to be random events (see “When The Lord Speaks”). I believe the Lord wanted to get my attention, so that He could confirm and declare His plans, what was coming. You might wonder, is that even biblical, to look for such signs? 

We read in the focus verse today, after he asked God to teach him His way, David asking God for practical signs, “Show me a sign of your favor” Psalm 86:17a ESV. In one of the Norwegian translations, it says a sign as a “forecast of good”, indicating to David that God is with him, that God is in the situation, that David is on the right path. And, secondly, to demonstrate to his enemies who David’s God is, so “that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” Psalm 86:17 ESV We see this close relationship between David and Father God, walking through life together. 

Jesus also talked about signs, “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” Matthew 16:1-4 ESV. On the surface it might seem like he was speaking against signs as he was rebuking the Pharisees. But, quite the contrary. We see here that they “demanded” signs, even if signs were all around them. They had no interest in the truth, only in their own, selfish and evil ways. No interest in surrendering to and following God. 

Remember, even John the Baptist started wondering if Jesus was the Messiah, “And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”” Luke 7:20-23 ESV. 

Jesus directed us to pay attention, to see what is going on around us. To understand the signs of the times. But he also told us to not be deceived as there are many false teachers and prophets out there, especially as we approach the “end of the age.” “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.” Matthew 24:3-4 ESV. John wrote later “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 ESV

We should absolutely pay attention to the big stuff going on, as signs of the times. But as we learned from David, God also works in the details of our lives. He is near to us, if we seek Him. “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” Psalms 145:18 ESV. In fact, when we experience such signs it is very comforting to us. So we can, and should ask God for a sign (notice ask, not demand), to confirm that we are walking on His path. But if we ask, we also need to be open for it, to look for it, when He shows us. 

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