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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Psalm 36:7





Psalm 36:7 – Unpack our verse for the week and share what you’ve learned
 (This post in response to Blog Hop for Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study)



I want to start unpacking this verse by first looking at 3 translations.  Looking at more than one translation helps me to understand scripture more clearly.  

Psalm 36:7 (NIV)  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 36:7 (KJV) How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psalm 36:7 (GNT) How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[a] protection under the shadow of your wings.

Combining all three verses I might come up with one verse that reads like this:


How excellent, priceless and precious is your unfailing, kind and constant love, O God! We, people, children, take refuge, find protection and put our trust under the shadow of your wings. 


To further unpack this verse--I got out my thesaurus and looked up some information on wings and made the chart below.

How
Price-less
Is
Your unfailing
Love
O God!
People
Take Refuge
In the shadow
Of Your Wings
what
Degree
Cherished
Breathe
Bottomless
Affection
Creator
Joy
Asylum
Shade
Used for flight

Expensive
Persist
Boundless
Appreciation
Father
family
Fortress
Cover
Used for protection

Prized
Prevail
Steadfast
Devotion
King
nation
Haven
Protection
Camouflage

Rare
Survive
Constant
Fondness


Hideaway
shelter
defense

valued
Be
consistent
passion


Sanctuary

Heat & cool

rich
Alive
Faithful
respect


Shelter




endure
infallible
Tenderness


Harbor





Persistent
Yearning


Home





Unlimited
delight








unrelenting







After looking at my chart I might again rewrite the verse as such

How priceless and cherished is your unfailing, boundless love, affection, devotion, and tenderness for ME?  Your love is so priceless, rich and rare that I (JOY) find in it a haven, hideaway, harbor and home beneath your wings of protection

Like many people, I am performance based--I love to do a good job and to get a pat on the back.  But in real life, sometimes we don't always get that pat on the back and an empty feeling inside can develop. In chapter 3 of A Confident Heart, Renee Swope mentions Proverbs 19:22 What a person desires is unfailing love.   I,  like Renee have tried to fill that emptiness or desire with something other than God's love--only to find disastrous results with that effort.  When I began to seek God's word and guidance, that void became filled.  

The great thing about Psalm 36:7 is that there is no reference at all about my performance or actions.  There is only reference to God's perfect  unfailing love and how that love is mine to claim.  I find much peace in all the words that describe love, unfailing, and refuge in my chart. 

On my break down of this Psalm 36:7 I found another verse that speaks of His love and hiding in the shadow of His wings.  Hope it speaks to you as it does to me.  



Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. (Psalms 17:8-9 NKJV)


Joy



 

3 comments:

  1. O, it so did my heart good to read your post on this Psalm! You did an excellent job relating God's truth. Thank you for drawing out of this verse so many wonderful insights.
    Carla Pollard - P31 OBS Group Leader

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  2. Joy this is wonderful. A great job. Thank you for sharing your hard work.

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  3. I love the chart and your way of doing this. This is so helpful thank you. I am blessed. Liz

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