{"id":1418,"date":"2011-01-23T01:42:56","date_gmt":"2011-01-23T01:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/01\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-standing-on-solid-ground.html"},"modified":"2011-01-23T01:42:56","modified_gmt":"2011-01-23T01:42:56","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-standing-on-solid-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/01\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-standing-on-solid-ground.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Standing on Solid Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standing On Solid Ground<\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 26:1-12<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nNow I stand on solid ground,
\n     and I will publicly praise the LORD.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 26:12<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nWe don’t know the exact context for Psalm 26. It could be that David
\nwas impressed with the evil around him and wanted to recommit himself to
\nGod and God’s ways. Or, perhaps David was being accused of things like
\nlying and hypocrisy and wanted to defend himself before God.<\/p>\n

\tNevertheless, in Psalm 26 David contrasts his faithfulness to God
\nwith the sinfulness of those who betray God through their actions:
\nliars, hypocrites, evildoers, the wicked, sinners, and murderers
\n(26:4-5, 9). Unlike these people, David has lived with integrity, loving
\nthe sanctuary of the Lord (26:1, 8). Yet, what might seem like boastful
\npride in his own righteousness is qualified in verse 11 when David
\nprays: “So redeem me and show me mercy.” He needs God’s help if he is to
\nlive a life of integrity.<\/p>\n

\tPsalm 26 concludes: “Now I stand on solid ground, and I will
\npublicly praise the Lord.” The Hebrew word translated here as “solid
\nground” is mishor<\/em>. It can refer literally to a “level place” or “plateau” (for example, Deut. 3:10). Yet mishor<\/em>
\nhas, in biblical Hebrew, a metaphorical sense of righteousness or
\njustice. For example, in Malachi 2:6, God says that the Levites “lived
\ngood and righteous lives.” Psalm 67:4 celebrates the fact that God
\ngoverns the nations “with justice.” Both of these verses use the word mishor<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\tThus, in the final verse of Psalm 26, David proclaims that he stands
\non the “solid ground” of righteousness, the result of God’s mercy in
\nhis life and that which is demonstrated in his rejection of evil and his
\nlove for worshipping the Lord. Thus, in the final line of the Psalm,
\nDavid proclaims, “I will publicly praise the LORD.”<\/p>\n

\tAs Christians, we seek to build our lives on solid ground. Jesus
\nteaches us to do this by listening to his teaching and following it
\n(Matt. 7:24). Yet we realize that, like the psalmist, we need God’s
\nmercy to help us live out the teaching of Jesus. Thus, we stand before
\nGod and live our lives, not upon the righteousness of our own making,
\nbut rather upon the righteousness of Christ. When we put our weight down
\nupon him, we are able to walk rightly and worship fully.<\/p>\n

\tQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> In what ways has
\nChrist been “solid ground” for you? Do you feel as if you are living on
\n“solid ground”? How has your experience of God’s mercy been translated
\ninto right living?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nPRAYER:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\tMy hope is built on nothing less
\nThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
\nI dare not trust the sweetest frame,
\nBut wholly lean on Jesus’ name.<\/p>\n

\t     Refrain:
\n     On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
\n     All other ground is sinking sand,
\n     All other ground is sinking sand.<\/p>\n

\tWhen darkness seems to hide his face,
\nI rest on his unchanging grace;
\nIn every high and stormy gale,
\nMy anchor holds within the veil.<\/p>\n

\tHis oath, his covenant, his blood
\nSupport me in the whelming flood;
\nWhen all around my soul gives way,
\nHe then is all my hope and stay.<\/p>\n

\tWhen he shall come with trumpet sound,
\nOh, may I then in him be found;
\nDressed in his righteousness alone,
\nFaultless to stand before the throne.<\/p>\n

\tAmen<\/em><\/p>\n

\t(This hymn, called “My Hope Is Built” or “The Solid Rock,” was
\nwritten by Edward Mote in the early nineteenth century. He called it
\n “Gracious Experience of a Christian.” It joyfully proclaims our
\nstanding upon the rock, who is Christ, and who is our righteousness. The
\nwords are in the public domain.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Standing On Solid Ground Psalm 26:1-12 Now I stand on solid ground,      and I will publicly praise the LORD. Psalm 26:12 We don’t know the exact context for Psalm 26. It could be that David was impressed with the evil around him and wanted to recommit himself to God and God’s ways. Or, perhaps…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Standing on Solid Ground - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1418"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1418\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}