Experiencing the Extremes

How wonderful to walk in a soft breeze on a beautiful sunny day. How we appreciate the gentle wind laden with the aroma of an
assortment of blossoms.

A part of that appreciation is the experience of snow, ice and bone chilling cold winds. We may like ice and snow or summer
breezes but experiencing both extremes surely increases our pleasure with either.

I would venture to guess that if we have been very hungry, at times; our appreciation of a full stomach would far outreach that of
the man who has always had food on demand.

Perhaps this is also true in our relationship with YHWH. When we call to Him in our distress and He obviously answers, our faith
is strengthened. On the other hand when we find our selves so ‘down in the dumps’ until we feel we cannot survive and we ‘see’
no answers from YHWH, we may find ourselves feeling alone and deserted.

Neither extreme is accurate I believe. ‘Up’ is great but ‘down’ is sometimes necessary. YHWH is there in both of these and when we can convince ourselves of that, we will find a much easier walk with fewer stumbles. Mankind at best is a creature of extremes. We
are either blessed or cursed, not just in a time of sunshine or ice. If you think that statement is accurate then you will spend most
of your time either manic or depressed. How do I know? I have been there and I am seeking balance.

Tehillim (Ps) 51:1-19

1 Have mercy on me, O Mighty One, according to Your kindness, goodness and faithfulness: according to the abundance of
Your compassion obliterate my rebellious transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is obvious and forever before my face.

4 Before You, I have veered from the righteous path and I have done evil in Your sight. Thus You maybe justified when You
speak and be clear when You judge.

5 Behold, I was shaped in a state of iniquity and in a state of guilt, my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost parts of a human being and in the hidden part, You shall make me to know
wisdom.

7 Purify me with hyssop and I shall be pure: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me again to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have crushed may exult.

9 From Your face conceal my sins and obliterate all my perversities.

10 Create a clean heart within me, O Mighty One and renew a stable mind within me.

11 Do not throw me away from Your presence nor take Your set-apart, qodesh being away from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your noble and generous spirit.

13 Then I will teach rebels of Your ways and those exposed to condemnation shall be turned back to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of shedding innocent blood, O Mighty One, Mighty One of my deliverance and then my tongue
shall shout aloud of Your justice and righteousness.

15 O Master, open my lips and my mouth shall joyfully shout forth Your praise.

16 For You do not desire sacrifice, for if You did I would give it. You do not delight in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices to the Mighty One are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart, O Mighty One, You will not despise.

18 As it pleases You, do good to Tsiyown: build the walls of Yerushalayim.

19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall
they offer bulls upon Your altar.

If it feels cold and dark where we are, then we need to look and make sure we have not walked away from the ‘Giver of light and
life’. Daviyd waked away and sought his own path when he took BatShevah as his own. He even went so far as too cause the
death of Uriah, BatSheva’s bethrothed/husband. These were what we would call major crimes but YHWH did forgive him.
Penalties were accessed and they were sure and had to be paid. However, after payment, Daviyd was restored to favor with
YHWH.

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