Peace Like A River

Peace ….like a river. The water of Grace flowing over the rocky path of my life, smoothing the keen edge of my stumbling stones with His mighty flood. Grace lifts me and carries me when I relax and trust Him. I only sink and stumble when I want my way.

Rainsong

I half expected to hear thunder, the rain was so heavy. The music of rain is a favorite sound, rich with memories. It brings a sense of safety and love. Whispering on my parka when trekking a muddy trail, kissing my face even while communicating an urgent need to press on. It coaxes out the scent of the forest as it falls on the boughs of ancient trees. Pattering on an umbrella at the farmers market as I snuggle close to the man I love. The aroma of dark coffee wafting up in our small shelter while a piper plays the music of southern jungles amidst the venders of flowers and apples. There is less of a crowd and those of us who still come to the market in the rain feel a kindred spirit that is missing on brighter days. Maybe the best rain sound of all is this one that wakes me now. Hard and fast on the window, a sweet scent of its own fills the room where I am nestled in a quilt in the dark. It must be a love song.
Long ago, when there was no beauty to speak of, when the world was fresh and new, without form, without fill, only The Breath of Elohim in the dark, embracing the newly born creation, water was the blanket that surrounded all that would be. I wonder sometimes if I have a memory of sorts, of safety in the shelter of rain. God is here in the dark; his breath surrounds me, the scent of rain washed air, a sweet embrace,. Snuggle in deeper, rest for a moment in this love. Time to refresh rather than sleep, to wake up excited because life is about to happen, but for now, there is the song of rain on the window.

The Journey

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Psalm 119:33 RSV

I love this Psalm. I remember feeling dread when it came up in the monthly rotation of Psalms because it takes so long to read. To much information to take in when I wanted to get through my five Psalms in a day. Now I love to linger here. I have hardly graduated from Hebrew preschool but I know enough to understand that each Hebrew letter has a testimony to tell. This verse, 33, is part of the story of the fifth Hebrew letter, Hey.

ה

Hey is the letter of the divine breath of God, the Holy Spirit. It represents revelation and light from YHVH. It is shaped somewhat like a hut with a window. The often used word, “behold” is from the idea of Hey. When I see the word “behold” in scripture, it warns me that I am about to get a glimpse beyond the physical realm into the heavenly. Pay attention to what comes next. Hey tells of the creative power of YHVH who is the cause of creation.

 Teach me, often translated, cause me, is translated from the Hebrew ‘howreeniy’ The Hebrew root is yaw-raw’ (Strong’s #3384) meaning to flow like water or to rain. It also is used of shooting an arrow or to point with the finger the way, which gives it the meaning, to teach. In this verse yaw-raw’ has the letter Hey as a prefix. As a prefix Hey is the definite article, “the”. The teaching of YHVH becomes “the cause” of what comes next.

 The way of thy statutes; Life is a journey on a path. Believers in Messiah have repented from going our own way and have turned (repented) to go the way of Messiah. “The way” is the journey and “thy statutes” are the map or the prescribed way of YHVH. Therefore the Divine Breath, what we call the Holy Spirit of God is the cause, the insight to God’s heart and Word, that directs me on the path of life.

 Imagine that you are lost in the thick forest. Never having been here before you have not point of reference to find your way home.  The guidance of the Spirit is like a gentle breeze. It does not force you to go anywhere the way a hurricane would. It needs to be paid close attention to. At times we need to stop for a moment and meditate on the direction of the breeze, to note the testimony of the leaves. Walk before our God in righteousness. He is directing you home with an intimate gentleness that requires use to pay close attention to the end.

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