Psalm 11:1 - Take refuge in the Lord

In the Lord I take refuge.
     How then can you say to me:
     “Flee like a bird to your mountain.

When I read this verse I was struck by the beauty of the phrase "Flee like a bird to your mountain," the I remembered the hymn with this title. I read the hymn and I think this verse and hymn don't really match up. The hymn is beautiful and has a good message, but in this verse, David is upset because of this statement and the two following verses. David plans to take refuge in the Lord, not retreat as he is being counseled to do,

Lord, thank you for offering us a place of refuge. Help us to trust in you always and not flee when things get difficult. Amen.

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Jonah 1;2 - The opposite of Jesus

“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

We have been studying Jonah in our Webb Chapel small groups on Sunday night. It occurred to me the story of Jonah is almost the opposite of the story of Jesus coming to the Earth. In the verse above God sends Jonah like God sent Jesus. After that...

• Jonah says no. Jesus says yes.
• Jonah is the reason for the storm. Jesus calms the storm.
• Jonah's sailors didn't want to take his life. Jesus soldiers were happy to take his life.
• Jonah is thrown overboard, repents, and is saved by the big fish, where he stays for three days and three nights. Jesus is crucified, takes on our sins and saves us by being in the tomb three days and three nights.
• Jonah is vomited, Jesus is raised.
• Jonah finally obeys. Jesus always obeys.
• Jonah is angry at the people's repentance. Jesus rejoices in our repentance.

Lord, thank you for giving us examples like Jonah. Sometimes we do everything we can to run away from you, but you run after us. Please make us more like your son, Jesus. Amen.