“Arise, O God, judge the earth; For You shall inherit all nations.”
Psalms 82:8 NKJV
I woke up this morning with the phrase, “ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance.” As I meditated on the phrase, and the voice who spoke it to me, I asked the Lord what He wanted to speak to me. There’s been something brewing in my heart that was stirred up again last night and a fresh fire was lit today – a sense of urgency to finish this project – not for my sake, but for His.
Then, in today’s reading I landed upon this passage, and I had to smile. G-d speaks in such remarkable ways. As I often do, I read the verse in several different passages and landed on this one:
“Arise, O God, judge the earth! For You possess all the nations.”
Psalms 82:8 TLV
He possesses ALL the nations. The thought caused me to pause.
There’s not one place He hasn’t seen, nor one place He hasn’t touched. Nothing and no one is beyond His grasp. And this thing before me, this project stirring in me, well, that is part of His possession and His inheritance too.
The Hebrew word for inheritance in this passage is nāḥal – take as a heritage, to give for, have, leave for, take (for)) inheritance, to have in, cause to, or be made to possess.
In other words, each nation and every tribe, from the most remote of places to the most populous, belongs to Him.
Lately I’ve been thinking about Randal. He told us when he was 6 that he felt called to be a missionary – more specifically, he feels called to sing and proclaim the holiness of G-d in the nations. The thought is terrifying, exciting, and humbling. I don’t know if his call will be in the states or across the ocean, and if there, he will live long term or short. I long to cling to him. I long to see him soar. It’s such a dichotomy in this transition. The tension is palpable.
Then I read passages like this and am reminded there is not one place on this earth He has not touched. There’s not one place His Spirit cannot reach. He hovers over the face of the earth. His eyes run about, to and fro, seeking those and sending those who have loyal hearts.
We’ve moved 12 times in 22 years. In each move He’s been with us – often it seems He’s gone before us to pave the way. I guess in a way I’ve given my kids missionary blood. Each season has found us in a different territory for a specific purpose.
Today I find comfort in knowing that as a resident of His land and follower of Him, I am His inheritance. He possesses all of me and everywhere my foot treads. The world may seem scary – but He’s gone before me. And, true to His nature, He is a good King who cares for His people, even a lowly servant like me.
Father – thank You for Your Word. Every day You speak to me, refreshing my heart. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Obadiah 1, Psalms 82-83
July 1, 2022