Psalms 28:7

Today’s verse is from King David, and it is a cry out to God for safety and security. The mighty and powerful David is looking to the Lord to be his Rock and his protector. We read right before this verse that David gives praise to the Lord, for he has heard his cry for mercy, and then we read our verse.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Reading the Psalms gives us a fascinating insight into David. I have honestly always enjoyed but struggled with reading scripture like this. David is so expressive, so over the top with his emotions and writings that it often losses me since I just am not emotionally expressive like this. On the one hand, I step back and read a larger body of the text and sincerely appreciate how David is laying out his heart to the Lord, but on the other hand, I just struggle to relate and feel stuck that I just do not offer myself to God like this. 

This verse does the same for me. Reading it, we see a swing in emotion and context; it’s fascinating. The first part is, The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. David boldly claims his strength and protection comes from the Lord. This makes sense to me; David has seen the Lord over his life bring protection and strength to him in great and mighty ways. But then we see the verse transition, and this is pretty interesting. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. This mighty warrior then talks about his heart jumping for joy. Here I see a picture of this mighty warrior that often just loses himself with enthusiasm and excitement for God and is dancing in the streets Ike a madman. This is the part that I often struggle since my emotions are much more contained and internalized. David seems as if his life is connected to a God-driven karaoke machine, and he just breaks out in song and worship whenever he is feeling it. 

Something I have learned over many years is genuinely appreciating and embracing who God has made me be. I am not emotionally expressive like King David, that is not who God has made me be. However, at the same time, I recognize this is an area that God has grown me in, and I can continue to expand my emotional language and expression. I embrace and believe these words, and they are real in my life. 

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today my sincere prayer is that my life, my actions, and what flows out of me are joy and praise. This may not look like dancing in the streets or have anything to do with a karaoke machine, but I desire that God is glorified, and the joy is seen by those who I interact with. Amen.