~ written by Connie Dunmyer
One of my all-time favorite movies is “Groundhog Day”. The story is that Phil (Bill Murray) repeats the same day, Groundhog Day, over and over and over again. All of his efforts to push into “tomorrow” or even to end his life are for naught. It’s not until he takes advantage of the repeated days, until he is changed internally, that he finds himself moving forward. It is very funny and also very thought-provoking.
There are days when I feel like it’s “Groundhog Day”. Every day seems to be the same. Nothing changes. I am going through the motions. Counting the clicks on the clock.
There are days when I pray the same prayer, over and over. The same prayer I prayed yesterday, last week, last year, last decade.
There are days when I am tempted by the same things. Some days I give in. Some days I don’t. But the temptation never seems to fully go away.
There are days when I am awakened by the same ol’ fears – over and over and over again. Days when I concur with Ecclesiastes, “Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Eccl. 1:2)
However, repetition can be a good thing:
Being told “I love you” by my husband never gets old.
Watching a sunrise or sunset never gets old.
Repeated hugs from my grandchildren never get old.
Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 are both written by David, and are nearly exact replications of each other. It’s good to be reminded that David was a flawed person that God used in extraordinary ways. We even refer to David as “the apple of God’s eye”. (Psalm 17:8) … a phrase that applies to everyone of us that have accepted Jesus as our Savior.
Psalm 14
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 53
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 40:13–17 and Psalm 70 are also near duplicates.
Psalm 40:13-17
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord; come quickly, Lord, to help me.
14 May all who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.
Psalm 70
1 Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me.
2 May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.
There are more examples: Psalm 108 is a compilation of Psalm 57:7–11 and Psalm 60:5–12. And Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 are near verbatim.
So what’s my point?
Three points:
- Be encouraged! Even Biblical-greats had the same problems, same needs, same fears, same requests, same praises over and over again. And …
- Repetition teaches and trains, and plants the truth deep into our souls. So read both. Contemplate both. Remember both. Utilize both. And …
- It’s good to be reminded of our previous needs, that are seemingly repeated time and again. Not to focus on the “need” but focus on what God did for us IN that need.
The enemy will always try to remind you of the bad and try to convince you that you must have done something to bring all this repeated problem on your own head. That you deserve it. He will pummel your thoughts with “what-if”s and “why-me”s. But the enemy is lazy. For pointing out past failures and problems is the easy way out. Shoot – I could do that all on my own.
It takes strength, courage, faith and persistence for the man or woman of God to say “no” to the enemy and instead, repeat – over and over and over again – the praises of our God! Praise for what He has done for us in the past. And especially praise for what He WILL do for us in the future – for that which we have not yet seen.
John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
So on this Groundhog Day – regardless of whether shadow is seen or not – let’s find a promise of God to repeat. Memorize it. Speak it until you are hoarse. And let us look forward with our spiritual eyes to see that “Spring”, that freedom, that mercy, that God’s promises are right around the corner. And there is "no shadow of turning with Him." (James 1:17 KJV)
“But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!’” Psalm 40:16
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