“O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:3-4).

Psalm 144

From the vantage point of a space traveler orbiting our moon 235,000 miles from the earth, our planet is a beautiful sight to behold! But viewing our planetary home from our sun is a bit less impressive. From that vantage point, only 93 million miles away, planet earth is only a shiny, blue dot in a vast, starry sky. But if you travel only 4.2 light years to our nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, the earth is invisible to the naked eye. From that point of view, the small, blue dot in the cosmos has completely vanished. In terms of cosmic vastness and architectural structure, our planet is less significant than a grain of sand on an endless ocean beach.

David, the stargazing shepherd, was well acquainted with the sky above and understood the dilemma. How can the One big enough to deliver the cosmos out of a mere thought in His mind actually care for an extremely small and insignificant blue dot and the tiny creatures who inhabit that planet?

Our Creator can indeed create not only lightning and thunder, hurricanes and continent-shifting earthquakes, with a blink of His eye, but He can also create entire star systems and solar systems with a simple thought in His immeasurably vast imagination.

So who is man that God would actually care about him, care for him, and devote Himself to him at the expense of the life of His Only Begotten Son? Sheer amazement! Staggering wonder! Awestruck admiration! Our minds can only begin to comprehend, and our words can only feebly provide an appropriate response!

• Psalm 144:1-2 – “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.”
  • Read the words so carefully chosen! He is my rock. He is my Lord. He is the drill instructor who personally trains me for the battles I face. He makes my hands skillful in the art of self-defense. He loves me 100 percent based on what He’s done for me. He is my defensive coordinator, my offensive coordinator, and the foundation upon which I put my feet and secure every step I take. What does this passage cause you to exclaim with wonder?

• Psalm 144:5-7 – “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and confuse them. Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens.”
  • In terms of the battles you’re facing, what is David asking of God?

• Psalm 144:9-10 – “I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David His servant from the evil sword.”
  • What was David’s response to God’s amazing care and hand of protection?
  • What is your level of appreciation for God’s constant care, and how have you been expressing it?

• Psalm 144:15 – “How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
  • What blessings are yours because God has melded your choice with His choice to place you into His very own family and make you a son or daughter of the King of the cosmos?

• Isaiah 25:1 – “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”
• Job 37:5 – “God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend.”
• 1 Chronicles 16:24 – “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”
  • What changes in your attitudes and actions does your realization of God’s greatness and personal care inspire in you?

John 13:15 – ​“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

From today’s scripture, how does THE Shepherd inspire you to shepherd your flock?

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me” (Psalm 144:1-2).

Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication