Courts

“Oh Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” Psalm 84:12

As soon as I put the key into the hole, I could tell right away that the box was full.  From years of routine, I have come to know when the open space inside is filled to capacity.  I turned the key and the latch hung up a bit—an indicator that the box was more than just full; it was stuffed.  The small metal door came open.  Just as I suspected, the filling was stuffed and turned and piled upon each other.  It took pulling on small corners first to expel one piece at a time until I could get the bulk to give.  Then as if a dam broke, the paperwork fell into my hands.  Our post office box was once again empty and now ready for a refill.  I clanked the small door closed, turned the key and carried my pile of modern-day papyrus to the nearby table.  There, I sorted the junk from the important to the recyclable.  For so much in that box, I walked away with so little.  But one envelope gave me pause.  I’d seen it before, but now it meant something different. I would wait to open until I got home.

As I ripped the envelope open, I read the official words, “You have been selected for Jury Duty.”  Ugh!!!

For 20+ years, these envelopes gave me no cause of concern.  My profession wouldn’t allow me to serve and I was automatically excused.  But now…now I don’t have that guaranteed dismissal.  Now I have to do my civic duty unless the courts deem differently.  So now, I get to enjoy all that inconvenience of figuring out the day I’m needed like so many others (possibly even you) have had to endure.  I’m not liking this.  Not liking it one bit.

And as I cut out my little Juror badge to be worn on MY assigned day, I thought of Psalm 84:10:

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house

of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

I can honestly say the opposite of this Psalm is true…anywhere else other than being in our courthouse is a good thing.

But King David reminded me of much more.  And maybe you,too. Here was a king who had everything at his disposal: Wealth, fame, luxuries, and status, to name a few.  And he got it.  He understood what life was all about and the place of God in it all.  The world’s perfect things couldn’t compare to merely one day in the presence of God.  None of it!  David knew that the day he stood in judgement from God–good or bad–would still be the best day of his eternity. He knew, the perfectness of God overshadows anything humanly imaginable. That one day, that one moment in time, standing in the greatness of God would be beyond wonderful.  It would be far beyond anything he ever knew (and that was a lot!). And it will be the same for us.

David kept his eye on the prize.  We must, too.  When we set up ourselves to live for what comes at the moment of eternity’s beginning, everything else finds its proper place.

And to finish what David wrote:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he

withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in

you.” Psalm 84:11-12  (emphasis mine)

Will you trust Him? Will you seek to have at least one day in His house over every single great thing you can imagine here?  Will you put God first? It is all fleeting, and David understood.  Do you?

Dear Lord, bless us all who read your Word and strive to live the life you direct us to. May we always trust you and in you for all our needs.  Keep our eyes on the final day and the reward waiting for us.  A reward that pales in comparison to anything we can imagine.  Bless these women who read and see the beauty of your Word.