On a bike ride you can think of so much, and one day on the bike, God reminded me that when I got home I should read Psalm 37. When I got home, I read the whole psalm several times and found that there was a lot in it that related to our work in the Danish European Mission. Through the reading of the psalm, I saw the following three things that are and will be our lot - as Christians - in life.
1. Opposition to the righteous, the believer, the one who walks with God
We know this all too well in DE and have experienced it since the 1960s (the start of the Danish European Mission):
The unrighteous spins schemes against the righteous and grinds his teeth against him. The unrighteous draw the sword and draw the bow to cut down the helpless and poor and slaughter those who live righteously.
2. Is God silent? Does he not care? Is God doing anything?
What God does about it is often forgotten in our eagerness to serve Him and work for Him with help, money and support. But what does Psalm 37 say about what God does?
The Lord laughs at him/her.
Their swords strike them in the heart and their bows are broken.
The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the unjust and saves them, for they take refuge in him.
The Lord supports the righteous.
The Lord loves justice, and he does not fail his faithful.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their defense when trouble comes.
They are always protected, and the righteous shall inherit and possess the land (the Kingdom of God) and dwell in it forever.
3. Our vocation and service in Danish European Mission has God's attention
It is the Lord who directs a man's course, who strengthens him and rejoices in his journey.
When he stumbles, he doesn't fall down, because the Lord supports him.
The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom, his tongue says what is right.
The righteous is merciful and generous.
Find your joy in the Lord and he will give you what your heart desires.
He has the law of his God in his heart, his steps do not falter. Be still before the Lord, wait for him.
Niels Peder Nielsen is chairman of the board of the Danish European Mission and assistant pastor at Silkeborg Oasis Church.
