A sheep in the care of my Shepherd

Sheep have a reputation for being among the least intelligent of animals. Now, perhaps they're not as unintelligent as they seem (check out this article), but they're certainly not bright. They definitely aren't anywhere near as smart as humans.
Sheep stick together in a herd, and what one sheep does, the others generally do. They do have a tendency to wander off alone, and aren't always good at recognizing danger. However, they can remember fellow sheep and a few human faces (see the article linked above). When a sheep has one shepherd for its whole life, it learns to recognize the voice of that shepherd (see this for a bit more on that).

Photo Credit

The Bible often compares God to a shepherd, and his people to sheep. This was a familiar image to people living in both Old and New Testament times. King David himself was a shepherd as a boy (1 Samuel 16:11).
When Jesus was born, some of the first people to see him were shepherds (Luke 2:15-16).

Israel (Jacob) called God his shepherd. In blessing his son Joseph, he said "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm--may he bless these boys." (Genesis 28:15-16)
Moses compared God's people to sheep: "Moses said to the Lord, 'May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd'" (Numbers 27:15-17). (Joshua became that shepherd for God's people.)

The Psalms have many references to God as our shepherd, which makes sense since David wrote many of them.
Psalm 100:3 says, "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
In Psalm 119:176 the psalmist confesses, "I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands."
And of course, the entirety of Psalm 23 is a metaphor for our life as sheep, being led by God, our shepherd. He provides everything we need, he protects us from harm, he corrects us when we stray, he is by our side through the darkest parts of life, and he will bless us to our life's end and beyond.

Several other passages in the Old Testament reference sheep and shepherds. See, for example, Isaiah 40:11 and 53:6-7 and Jeremiah 50:6.

In the New Testament, the best-known passage about sheep and shepherds is found in John 10. Not only does Jesus call himself the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep, but he is the gate to the sheep pen--the only way into that place of safety and rest. Anyone who tries to get into the pen any way other than the gate "is a thief and a robber." (See verses 1-2, 11, 14-15 especially.)
(For other New Testament references to God as our shepherd and us as his sheep, see Matthew 2:6, 9:36, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:2-4, Revelation 7:17.)

Perhaps being compared to sheep isn't the most flattering comparison. But if you think about it from a spiritual standpoint, it makes sense. Without God's direction (especially through the words of Scripture) we wouldn't know where to go and what we should and shouldn't do. Without his voice calling us to follow him, we would easily be led astray by other distractions around us. (We often are distracted as it is!) God provides everything we need, protects us from harm and evil, and loves us as his children. We might not even know when we're in danger because as our shepherd, God keeps those evil things away from us.

He calls us by name, just as shepherds call their sheep. He knows all our faults and still loves us and cares for us. And when faced with the ultimate adversary--Satan--he gladly laid down his life so that we could live.

When I consider all that, being a sheep isn't so bad after all. I'll readily admit that I'm not always very bright. I make some really stupid decisions, and I often get distracted away from my Shepherd's voice. But he's always there to bring me back to the fold, to heal my wounds, and to remind me how much he loves me.

Now, on a rather humorous note... check out this video!

Thankful in the Storms

I got up this morning with the intention to mow the back yard (at my grandparents' house... we've been housesitting for them for a week but they're coming home today!).  Then, when we were finishing breakfast, I heard thunder.  It's stormed nearly every morning for the last week!

I have Pandora on (it's kind of become an obsession... I love all the fun/inspiring music playing while I'm writing at home or working at the library), and a little while ago the song "Praise You in the Storm" came on. My life isn't really a "storm" right now, but it just made me smile because of the thunderstorm that was going on at the time.  (It's since quit... now I have no excuse to not go mow the lawn!)

The point is, it was little reminder that I can always be thankful, even when it might not make sense (thank you, God, for [insert really difficult thing here]).  It's been easy to be thankful for a lot of things-- the fact that my grandparents basically let us eat whatever we wanted out of the fridge and freezer, so I didn't have to buy groceries this week.  The wonderful friends and fantastic coworkers I have.  Time to rest and relax with my husband in the evenings.  The opportunity to witness and enjoy an incredibly beautiful wedding last weekend.

But I know that life isn't always made up of things for which it's easy to say "thank you."  We experience loss.  Grief.  Depression.  Financial difficulty.  The day-to-day stress which, when it piles up, seems too much to bear.  The sick child.  The loss of a job.  The death of a parent.  The move of a dear friend.

In those times, it's hard to be thankful.  I've had experiences of my own when I wondered, what good can possibly come from this?

Sometimes I've seen the good that has come from those times.  A lot of the time I don't... but I know that God always brings good even out of the worst things.  He promises that he will, so I can trust that.

It's not easy to trust in that, but that's why faith is a gift from God, not something I can produce on my own.

If you're in a valley right now, I just want you to know that God is there, too.  He has a plan--even if you don't know what it is--and he will bring about blessing through those trials, whether for you or someone else.

Evil has already lost in this world: Satan has been vanquished and Jesus has conquered.  Even the most horrible things are temporary.  Christ has died and risen, and is in heaven waiting to bring us to be with him in paradise for eternity.

When I can't see the good that could come from a situation, that's why I take comfort in: knowing that it's temporary, and ultimately, I have victory in Jesus.

I pray that you are encouraged by that knowledge today!

(P.S. The song that's playing now?  "Grace Like Rain.")

Linking today with: The Fontenot Four, black tag diaries, Uplifting Love, There's Just One Mommy, Graced Simplicity

Holy Night

So often I am weighed down by thoughts, worries, ordinary things.  Money.  Grocery shopping.  Homework.  Housework.  Jobs.  School.  Those are the things that fill my mind the most.

Sometime, just for a while, I want to be completely filled with thoughts of God, of his acts in history and in my life, of the future he has in store.  I know, I could just spend time in meditation, contemplation.  I've been out of my habit of regular Bible reading for a while now.  All those earthly things I listed have crowded that out of my schedule.  That needs to change, and I know it.

But I wonder, what Mary and Joseph experienced on that night that Jesus was born.  Did any earthly cares fill their minds?  Joseph's, perhaps, unless that's just my opinion of men.  He was probably thinking angry thoughts directed toward a variety of innkeepers, worry about his wife having a baby in a barn, of all places, and, I hope, wonder at the thought that the baby she was bearing was the Son of God.

And maybe he wasn't.  Maybe all his thoughts had to do with the extraordinary, world-changing event that was taking place before his very eyes.

As a woman, I can almost guarantee that Mary wasn't distracted by much of anything, except her pain.  I have yet to give birth, but as far as I've been told it's not a comfortable experience.  I wonder if the fact that Mary was giving birth to God made any difference in that.  Probably not: Jesus is just as much human as he is God.  But holding that baby in her arms, when it was all over...the only thoughts in my head would be those of awe, wonder, delight, and joy.  Not only was she a mother, holding her firstborn in her arms, but she had just given birth to the Savior of the world.

I don't think that the full meaning of that would have occurred to her all at once.  Not on that night.  What was to come was probably not what Mary would have ever imagined.

But for that one night...that precious, holy night...she held her baby in her arms and rejoiced, her thoughts only those of God.

May I be as Mary.

God's Lessons for Me Lately

I always need to be taught something.  I might not always know what, but God does!

The last few weeks, one of the biggest lessons has been patience.  Things don't always go the way I want them to, or as quickly as I want them to.  Delays happen.  It's incredibly frustrating.  I've been impatient to the point of angry tears a few times recently.  But our times are not His, our ways are not His, our thoughts are not His.  God.  Knows.  Best.  HIS timing is perfect--not mine.  I just have to go along with His plans and wait and see the wonderful things He has in store for me.  Sometimes that's really hard.  But I know God works everything out for good (Romans 8:28)!!

The other thing God has been teaching me is that HE knows best, not me.  I want things to go my way because I think my way is the best way!  I think that if everything would go according to my plans, it would all work out great.  But that's because I'm forgetting that God is God and I am not.  That I am extremely short-sighted when it comes to the future.  That God is all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent) and everywhere all the time (omnipresent).  And I am none of those things.  :)  Not to mention He is all loving and all good.  And He loves me more than I can fathom.  He has a plan for me, a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  He knows what I need to learn in life, and He knows how to work out my circumstances so I learn them.

Almost every time I've been in the car lately, I hear the same song.  I'd get tired of it if not for the fact that God has used it to speak to me in every moment that I've heard it.  I always need it.  And it's been getting stuck in my head, which is good too!!  The song is "Blessings" by Laura Story.  Here is an excerpt of the lyrics:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

(Chorus)
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

(Chorus)

Sometimes someone else has already put my feelings into words.

Psalm 103:8-13:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or relay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Once again I have experienced God's incredible love, mercy, and most of all his forgiveness.
Every day, every hour, every minute he gives me a fresh start, another chance to live my life to his glory.

And as Rebecca St. James sings in the song above, "My child, let me remind you, it is I who'll lead and guide you as you go."  God doesn't force us to get it right on our own.  HE gives us the strength and willpower to obey him!!

a song to go with today's post

Not all the lyrics of this song apply to me, but I can relate to the refrain especially.  Each day is a gift!!

Pondering Mary: Luke 1:26-56

In the title of this post, "pondering" could either be a verb or an adjective.  I've been pondering about Mary this morning, when my fiance' and I were discussing this passage.  But we can see how the word is an adjective in Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  I'm going to imitate Mary and ponder "all these things"--the birth of Jesus--from her perspective for a bit today.

In Biblical times, women were pledged in marriage (not a sexual union but as binding a relationship as marriage) as young as fifteen or sixteen.  We can assume Mary to be about that age.  She was young, a virgin, and probably known by almost everyone in the small town of Nazareth, where she and her betrothed, Joseph, lived.  We know that Joseph was a carpenter, so neither of them was very wealthy.

Mary was "highly favored" by God (Luke 2:18).  He had found favor with her, and had chosen her as the young woman to be the mother of his Son.  Mary was visited by an angel, six months after Mary's cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were visited by the same angel and Elizabeth miraculously became pregnant despite being well along in years.  This angel, Gabriel, told Mary that she would "be with child and give birth to a son" (1:31)  Gabriel explained that this baby would be the Son of God.  Mary, quite understandably, asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:34)  "The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you...For nothing is impossible with God" (1:35, 37).

Now, Mary was a good Jewish girl, and had heard her whole life about the coming Messiah that would be the Savior of God's people.  She know how powerful God was.  But in imagining this conversation she had with Gabriel, I wonder what was going through her mind: "I'm going to be pregnant even though I'm a virgin?  What will my parents say?  What will Joseph think?  What about the whole town?  They're never going to believe me that it's the Holy Spirit that made me pregnant.  I mean, yeah, nothing is impossible with God, but how am I going to convince everyone of that?  Will Joseph still want to marry me?  He's going to think I've been unfaithful to him!  The punishment for adultery is death!  I could die!!  What is God thinking?!?"

Chances are, if I had been in Mary's place, that's the sort of thing that would have been going through my head.  We don't know what mary was thinking, but we know what she said, and it was an incredible display of faith: "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered.  'May it be to me as you have said'" (1:38).

We often skim over this verse, but just think of the implications of it!  Despite the dozens of difficulties and accusations that Mary was about to face, she was faithful and trusting in God.  She went along with the plan, no matter how crazy it might have seemed.

Joseph was, understandably, very concerned when he learned that Mary was pregnant, but being a kind man, he planned to divorce her quietly instead of publicly disgracing her which would have led to her stoning and death.  Before he could do this, he too was visited in a dream by Gabriel, who explained what had happened to Mary.  Joseph believed the angel's message and took Mary to be his wife.  They later had several other children, and settled back in Nazareth after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  (I'll get to that story another day!)

Mary is probably the Biblical woman whose faith I most desire to emulate.  The book of Romans wouldn't be written for many years, but Mary realized that when God's in control, everything works out for good.  Probably at the time of her pregnancy, she had no idea how much the baby inside her would change the course of human history, and be her own deliverer.  I know she was somewhat aware of it (Gabriel shared a lot with her), but not until she saw her Son hanging from the cross, and then risen from the grave three days later, did she really understand what it meant to be the mother of God's Son.

One of my favorite Christmas songs, that connects nicely to this, is "Mary, Did You Know?"  Here's a link.

Thankfulness.

I have not been reading the Bible or posting nearly enough over this vacation, but my heart has been overflowing with joy and thankfulness and words I can't express, but I know that God can read my heart and thoughts even when I can't express what I'm thinking or feeling.  I consider that as much praying as reciting the Lord's Prayer, perhaps even more so, because it's my innermost thoughts and feelings.

These last few days I've spent with my fiancé and his family.  I've grown to love them almost as much as my own parents and siblings, and I love my fiancé more every day.  I am so blessed: I have food, clothes, a home or dorm to live in, so many people who love me, a great education, a car (just within the last few days), books, a computer, and even more important things: forgiveness.  Grace.  Salvation.  The gift of eternal life.  The love of God, which is even more precious than the love from my fiancé or family.

Psalm 136 talks a lot about thankfulness.  It outlines God's salvation of the Israelites, from the creation of the world to the conquest of the Promised Land.  After each phrase, the worshipers repeat the refrain, "His love endures forever."  Here are verses 1-9:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights--
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever
the moon and stars to govern the night.
His love endures forever.


After everything that God has done for us, how can we not give him thanks?

Paul writes to the believers in Colossians, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (2:6-7).  Overflowing with thankfulness.  That's how I've felt the last few days.

To the Corinthians, Paul wrote, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  The most thanks we give to God is for the victory over death, sin and the law we have in Jesus.  That is our greatest gift.

In Psalm 28 David writes, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."  At my church the congregation often sings after communion the song Give Thanks by Don Moen:
"Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son."
This is the greatest gift of all.

Today, I will have a thankful heart, and be mindful of the gifts God has given me and realize how gracious and generous He always is with me.

He has Mercy on Me: Psalm 119:121-136

So, due to a massive amount of homework, three different meetings, and a variety of other things, I failed to post yesterday.  I didn't read the passage either, unfortunately.  However, today is a new day, and I read both sections of the psalm before breakfast this morning.

In the verses for today, the psalmist is asking God for wisdom and understanding to discern God's laws, and asking God to treat him with love and mercy.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.

I think the psalmist realizes here the struggle we all have in understanding God's word sometimes.  God is patient and loving, however, and because he wants to impart to us knowledge he "deals with us according to his love" and "gives us discernment" to "understand his decrees".

Some days I read the passage and go, "What is this supposed to mean?  I don't get this at all.  I don't see how this applies to me or my life in the least."  The same thing happens in Bible studies or sermons sometimes.  God knows that sometimes we have trouble understanding Scripture, for whatever reason, and he lovingly and patiently gives us discernment and understanding.

It's a neat circle, too, because as we read Scripture more we gain more wisdom and understanding, as the psalmist continues,
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
I am definitely simple-minded sometimes, but as God's words unfold (I love the sound of that), I gain understanding.

Verses 126 and 136 are two ways of phrasing the same thing, which is a common pattern in this psalm:
¹²⁶ It is time for you to act, LORD; your law is being broken.
¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

The psalmist is mourning the fact that God's law is being broken and disobeyed.  I don't like it when other people disobey God, but it's even worse for me when I disobey him.  I've experienced sinning and then bursting into tears with regret and shame and sadness because I have broken and disobeyed God's law.  I ask him to act on my behalf to help me obey him.

This leads right into verse 132-134, which say
¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts.
This is such a beautiful prayer!

God, turn to me, Lord, have mercy on me, for I love your name.  Turn my life to focus on your word.  Don't let sin take control of me.  Save me from my own sinful self and from sin in the world, because then I will be able to better obey your teachings.

Today, I am going to know that God has mercy on me, and that he will help me live a life that glorifies him.

A Light to My Path: Psalm 119:105-112

The entirety of today's passage is great, but tonight it's verse 105 that's really speaking to me:

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

I'm in the process of making a really big life decision, and although I have a lot of options I really don't know which direction to take just yet.  However, I know that God has a plan for me, like the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

God's word has direction for me, like this passage from Jeremiah, and the message I'm getting from this is that I'm to seek God first.  And then everything else will fall into place.  Jesus says in Matthew chapter seven, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  (Matthew 7:31-34)

Thank you God, for giving me your word and for showing me the way to go.

It's really all about trust and priorities.  Is God the biggest priority in my life?  Am I trusting him to take care of me?  Am I trusting my fiancee to take care of me as well?  Is he the second biggest priority in my life?

If those things are in place, everything else will fall into place after them.  When I put God first, he will take care of me, and work everything else out as well, as my favorite passage in Romans says:  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Today, I am going to get my priorities in order, and I am going to trust in God above all things, and let his word light my path.  (Click on the link to hear a beautiful version of Amy Grant's "Thy Word".)

Running with a Free Heart: Psalm 119:25-32

Today's passage has such beautiful imagery!  Here is the whole passage, with my favorite parts highlighted:

25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
26 I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep my from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.

30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.


In the first section, note the pattern of each sentence: law, and gospel.  We sin, we are sorrowful, we are burdened with our sin and God's laws: but he preserves our lives, he teaches us, he strengthens us and is gracious to us.
Verse 28 really strikes a chord with me, because often my sin causes my soul to be "weary with sorrow".  I HATE sinning against God, yet I do all the time!  This is wearying and saddening to me.  But God in his great mercy strengthens me according to his word: this is gospel.

In verse 30 the psalmist tells us what is truth: God's laws.  We live in a culture where the definition of truth is so widely varied, and here we see what it really is.  This I cling to.

Verse 32 is probably my favorite.  It's just a beautiful picture of what God does for us.  We in our sinful state are stuck in the slavery of sin and death.  God's law binds and burdens us.  But God through Jesus has set us FREE from that law!  Our hearts are FREE because Jesus paid the ransom for our sins.  We are free to "run in the path of God's commands".  His laws don't bog us down anymore; instead of being the walkway to death they are the path of life.  This verse brings to mind a picture of a frolicking (I love that word), happy child, free from care or worry, skipping along a sunlit, flower-strewn path.  Living in the love and grace of God is great!

Today, I am going to realize the freedom I have in Jesus, and run in the path of his commands with a free heart!

Seeing Wonderful Things: Psalm 119:17-24

I love my Concordia Self-Study Bible.  It has notes for almost every verse, and they're so helpful in my study.  The note for today's passage reads, "Devotion to God's law marks the Lord's servant, but alienates him from the arrogant of the world."  I can relate to this, and I'm sure my brothers and sisters in the faith can as well.  When we strive to obey God and are devoted to his law, it makes it obvious that we are his, but it estranges us from the world.  This is how it should be (in the world but not of it), but sometimes it's hard to always be different.  Sometimes I don't like standing out.  It's those times that I have to remind myself that, like Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

The psalmist writes in today's passage,
17 "Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word."  We obey God out of gratitude for all he has done for us!

18 "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."  This verse implies two things: The law is good, and until God opens our eyes to see this fact, we are blind to it.  The law is a good thing!  It keeps us from harm, it shows us the right way to live, and it shows us of our need for a Savior.  Yes, the law is good.

19 "I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me."  This earth isn't our home.  We don't belong in the world of darkness, but we know where our true home is and we ask that while we are in this temporary dwelling God still make himself known to us.

20 "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times."  The psalmist uses such descriptive, passionate language here: his soul is consumed with longing for God's laws!  O that my soul would do the same.

21 "You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed, and who stray from your commands.  22 Remove me from scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.  23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.  24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors."  Again, this is showing the stark contrast between the one who follows and loves God's law, and those who don't.  Those who don't obey God are called arrogant and cursed.  Proverbs 1:7 reads, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."  To disregard God's laws or to think one has fulfilled the law is simply foolish!  I learned this lesson many times when I was younger.  I often "despised the discipline" of my parents, and was then reminded how foolish I was.  Sometimes I was more foolish yet by declaring I didn't care if I was foolish!  I wanted my own way anyway.

This is how I often act as God's child.  I think I know better, and don't care if my way seems foolish.
Today I know how wonderful God's law is, and I want him to open my eyes to see that.  God, let me not be among the arrogant, but among the wise who revere your laws!