Just Before The Dawn

Psalm 112 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
7 He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honour.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Interesting, this psalm. It's an acrostic poem, where each verse begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostics can be used as a memory-joggers, like Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain helps us to remember the colours of the rainbow.

I am growing very fond of the Psalms - they help me when I lack the words to express my emotions at the moment. They help to jog my memory as to the right things to say, to do, to think. Like today - which proved to be a very dark day, one certainly to forget. I'm encouraged by this psalm to look for the dawn, to seek the light in the darkness. I'm eagerly awaiting the dawn - but am quick to realise that it can get pretty dark before it gets light again.