My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. – Psalm 26:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 18, 2013): Psalm 26 & 27

Dr. M. Scott Peck begins his bestselling book entitled “The Road Less Travelled” with this stark statement – Life is difficult. It is probably one of the most dramatic understatements of literature. As much as we may want it to be different, maybe even have spent a life of pretending that it is different, our reality is that “life is difficult.” Every day we are usually reminded at least once of the difficulty of life – maybe it is in a difficult conversation, or a conflict with someone important to us, or a problem or a stress that just does not seem to want to go away. Our expectations are often that life would be easy if we could just do things right – but life is not designed that way, and often Easy Street is usually just another dead end. Peck goes on to stress the difficulty of life, but he also says that once we realize that difficulty, life actually does get easier – once we recognize life’s essential character, we actually become better equipped to deal with the stresses that life is going to throw at us.

David carries his plea to God. The reality behind the words is that life, even for a king, has been difficult. I really think that David has tried to live up to everything that he lists in this passage, but sometimes the living has been hard. He has fallen, but he has also raised himself to his feet again. At times, David had wondered if he would really make it, or would his enemies win out in the end. Yet he has pushed on.

But in this moment David says that his feet are on level ground. They are words that, for David, symbolize comfort and safety. He is sure that, in spite of the difficulty of life, God will answer his petition – he will be vindicated in the presence of his enemies - and in the end, when he falls for the final time, God will be the one that will reach down and lift him up one last time. For David, this has to be more than just a private realization – this was something that needs to be lifted up in the public assemblies of his God.

Life is difficult. And I think that Dr. Peck is right, once we realize how hard life really is, or more precisely once we become honest enough with ourselves to recognize the difficulty of life, it really does get easier. And it is in that moment that we can stand with David on the level plain, secure in the fact that our God comes to vindicate us – and more importantly to redeem us.    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 28 & 29