Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

2 From your presence let my vindication come!

Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,

you have tested me, and you will find nothing;

I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips

I have avoided the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held fast to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my words.

7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,

O Savior of those who seek refuge

from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me in the shadow of your wings,

9 from the wicked who do me violence,

my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;

with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

11 They have now surrounded our steps;

they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

12 He is like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!

Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,

14 from men by your hand, O Lord,

from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

You fill their womb with treasure;

they are satisfied with children,

and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;

    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Hillary Donohoue:

There is so much to relate to in this chapter, but what I want to highlight is towards the end. 

The part that is at this moment sticking out is where in verses 14-15 David is talking about Christ and heaven as His inheritance...

Why this stands out for me is because I have always struggled with knowing we are in the world but not of it, and that if you love the world you are against God...I realize these verses mean so much more than just face value...but still, the reality is we belong to Jesus and heaven is our home......BUT I like earth! So it's this struggle I've always wrestled with.

In my head I'm like, "heaven has to be great! God is good and so heaven will be. No one can know what God has in store..." But yet still, I feel a bit of sadness at potentially losing what we have here. I just don't like change ever though.

So anyway, when I read David's words-that men of the world's portion is in this life....it both encourages me and frustrates me. 

I feel encouraged cause I am thrilled to know the truth that there is more to come and God is good and trustworthy so it's in His nature that eternity with him and our portion there will be good...But it's frustrating because don't we all want a decent portion on earth too and see justice here and now? And like, all the time consistently! 

I think this shows the “now, but not yet” where we get to enjoy the presence of God on this earth, crying for His justice, enjoying and stewarding God’s creation, but not calling this place as our sense of belonging as we will one day belong with Jesus in heaven where spending in His presence and seeking his face. There’s a sense of anticipation for the future with Christ and a gratitude that we get to praise God in this earth until we meet him one day.