The Battle of Midway
I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, Your years are throughout all generations. Psalm 102:24 NASB
Midst – What’s your “halfway” point? The answer depends on your measurement process. If “four score and ten” is the limit of life, then halfway happens pretty early. That’s Abraham Lincoln’s view. The biblical view adds another twenty, but Moses didn’t enter the second half until he already reached Lincoln’s limit. It seems that the one who really does the measuring is not the physician or the undertaker. YHVH knows when we have reached the mark. All we know is that someday we will.
Today may be that day. Or it could have been yesterday, or last week, or last year, to tomorrow. That day occurs and when it does, we need David’s courage to say, “My Elohim, do not lead me out from the midst of my days today.” Such a statement takes courage because there are plenty of days when we wish life would end. Why ask for twice the burden, twice the struggle, twice the sorrow? Wouldn’t it be better to be on the downside, to reach the end and be done with the fight? Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you only had so many more days to go before you could call it quits?
David recognizes that he has things to do. So do we. Lots of things still left undone. But David doesn’t see them as burdens, as chores or weights to carry. If he did, would he ask not to be removed? No, David sees what lies ahead as important and necessary. He is not finished and so he doesn’t want God to end the assignment now. “Give me the time to complete what You desire,” is likely to be David’s attitude. “Don’t take me out halfway through the job.” That prayer takes courage. It takes commitment. How much easier to let the Lord remove me? How much more comforting to see the Messiah split the Mount of Olives and know it is over for me? Ah, but not today. Today isn’t about my comfort, my desire to quit, my shortsightedness. The midway point isn’t really about me at all. God chooses the laborer. God sets the task. And God decides when we have finished. David’s prayer is the precursor to Yeshua’s request, “I do not ask you to take them out of the world.” Too bad! Escape would be such a relief.
But it isn’t going to happen. All those prognosticators looking for an exit don’t understand David’s prayer. They don’t realize what Yeshua wanted. We are here to stay until the work is finished. The secret of the Bible is not leaving; it is learning to live while staying. We are not holding our collective breath in order that Messiah will come to rescue us. We are learning to breathe while we restore His kingdom here on earth. By the way, the Kingdom will not be restored anywhere else. This is the place. This is the time. That is the battle of midway. And today is not the midst.
Al ta’aleni bahatsi – not yet.
Topical Index: midst, hatsi, midway, Psalm 102:24
Thank you. This is encouraging.
This is encouraging for those who embrace life as it is. Making lemonade, growing where you are planted, looking for the silver lining, etc. A lack of contentment seems to be what takes us away from believing and doing what God’s Word says. Contentment quite often is attached to the “good”. What about the bad? The book of James is quite clear about this topic. More times than not we will be in the midst of challenges. I’d like to think this is where God wants me—growing, not waiting to die. If we can’t be content “here” and now, will we be content when God makes the “here” new? You’re right Skip, Heaven can wait.
One of my prayers of late has been very similar – God, do not take me out of this world until I have accomplished the tasks You have placed me here to do. Of course, He sees the big picture, so that could be today,
But I hope not!
me too, selfishly, because I so much enjoy our friendship
Thank you for this encouraging word. The horizon is looking bleak thru the lens of the media, but we are here to expand the garden. Your message is a call to stay focused on OUR assignment. Yes, it’s very scary to me, but I pray for courage and strength for all who understand. I think being in Israel in October helped prepare me for what is coming to us. I want to stand strong and fearless as the people of Israel do. May it be so!!!
It was such a joy to have you with the group in Israel. I hope you will come back with us again. There are so many people there who need to know that real people, individuals like you, are willing to stand beside them. They feel abandoned by the world so we must make the difference and be God’s feet in that place.
I would like to hear what you see about Israel & what is coming to us ……..I am seeking to learn all that I can ….thanks