Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalms 119:147 (New Living Translation)

I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

I rise before the sun is about almost everyday of the year. Who cares? Lots of people do. I walk into the bathroom and flip that magic switch on the wall that lights the world and allows me to do whatever I want.

People in the ancient world didn’t rise and walk about before the sun rose. It was dark. There were some oil and wax lights, but they weren’t anything like we have today. It was dark. It was dangerous.

The writer of this Psalm confidently rose each day before the light of the sun made the world safe. This writer went into the dark world, but carried the light of the hope in the words of Jehovah. The words of Jehovah provided comfort. They were the spiritual and emotional light that allowed the writer to venture into a dark and dangerous place.

I should always carry God’s revelation with me. I should do this much more often than I do.