CAUTION

“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV)

Having placed the letter inside the mailbox and firmly pushing the box door shut, I turned and headed down the country road for my daily walk. I was deep in thought about my friend’s difficult situation; and as I walked, I mentally prayed that the note just mailed would bring her encouragement.

Making my way around a bend in the road, my attention shifted as my eyes were immediately drawn to a neighbor’s front yard.

In preparation for hosting an annual August Oktoberfest, our neighbor anticipated the additional care needed for the safety of his guests. Yellow ribbon was roped from tree to tree outlining the perimeter of his property. The line of tape clearly set apart the area in which partygoers could safely enjoy the evening’s festivities.

CAUTION

Continually repeated in large, bold, black lettering, this one word appeared to jump off the yellow ribbon. Passing motorists were alerted to the fact something out of the ordinary was happening and a higher level of attention was required as they drove this stretch of road.

What a vivid illustration of the Psalm 16 scripture verse running through my mind.

Appointed by God at a young age to become king over Israel, David led an amazing life. His rise to power, however, was filled with danger, setbacks, risks, and near escapes.

The youngest of Jesse’s sons, David tended sheep, killed both a lion and bear with his bare hands, and was so musically gifted he performed for the king. He fought and defeated the giant soldier Goliath and he lived as a fugitive for many years as he was hunted by King Saul who had dedicated his life to killing David.

Yet the Lord’s faithfulness to David, and David’s to the Lord, brought him safely through all these problems. David called on the Lord God when he was in trouble, expressed thanksgiving when he was delivered, voiced his trust for the future, and praised God for who He is. Satisfied with God, David was aware that having God he has all that he needs for a contented, well-directed, and secure life.

“The LORD has assigned me…the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places...” Perfectly capable and completely trustworthy, the Lord is good. Bolstered by the reminder and with renewed confidence, I picked up the pace and marched down the road with a determined stride.

You can be confident, too, my friend. The Lord knows the way that we take (Job 23:10). The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him (Psalm 34:7) and nothing will ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).

Blessings, my friend.

Faithfully Following

PS When asking permission to take the photo for this blog post, my neighbor extended an invitation to join the evening celebration. My husband and I experienced a wonderful time with new friends, delicious food, and lively German music compliments of Shippensburg Blaskapelle German Band.