Resting in the Lord Begins with Being Real...Part 2 of 4.

Part 2:
Here in Psalm 131 we get a glimpse of a BeReal moment that David shared with the Lord and the Lord’s people. 

• FIRST, 

• He was real in the way in which he viewed and addressed the Lord in verse 1.
  • Keep in mind who David is at this point in time…When it comes to Kings, David was the GOAT. He was the greatest of that time. Just imagine what being the King over a nation must do to one’s ego…to one’s power…to one’s control.   
  • Yet we read that David approached the Lord in all realness and humility as he cried or sang out a name…
    • You and I both know that when we speak a name that it’s not just a word. Each name triggers thoughts, emotions and memories. For instance…
      • If you were to say your grandmother’s name in your head right now, then it’s likely that you’re thinking about a favorite time with her, or a favorite meal that she used to make you. All of that came by just stating her name or by bringing her up in your mind. 
    • On July 3rd of this year, a few weeks ago, my father-in-law passed away after experiencing a heart attack while out on a bike ride. While I was back in Iowa, celebrating the life he lived, many people stopped by to share their memories of Brian. Brian wasn’t just a word or a name. Brian’s name meant more than that to each of us…and we all got to express who Brian was to us in our lives. Those are the thoughts and memories that pop up in our minds when we hear his name stated out loud. 
    • So when David says, “Lord” or “Adonai,” like some translations choose to use here, he wasn’t just flippantly throwing a name out there to begin an empty or meaningless prayer or conversation or song with. His relationship (Adonai is a relational name for the Lord) with the Lord was much deeper than that and he is expressing that in the way in which he addresses Him. 
    • By crying out to Adonai, David implies beneath the surface an acknowledgment of the Lord’s position and a recognition of the Lord’s attributes that he’s come to know the Lord by. 

• David acknowledged the Lord’s position in his life by crying out “Adonai.” 
  • I belong to Him…He is master over me, ruler over me, has power and leadership over me, He is sovereign over me. As I, David, am a king of a nation…He is the King of all kings of the entire world. 
  • We see a recognition of the Lord’s position even in the Book of Matthew. In Matthew 6:9, we see an example of how to begin a prayer. 
    • Matthew 6:9 (CSB) “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.
    • When we consider our Father in Heaven…we automatically should think about how He is to be honored…how He is holy…and what all of that entails. That’s revealing from the very beginning that you’re recognizing His position in your life. 
    • So enough with the vain and empty prayers. If you’re going to address Him, then Be Real about His position in the moment. 
• David also recognized the Lord’s attributes when crying out to “Adonai.” 
  • He recognized that the Lord is always present in his life. He is my protector and provider. He is loving, good (Ps. 16:2), gracious and forgiving…I know Him as such, because I’ve experienced these attributes firsthand from Him in my life. 
  • One author states that, “The more we acknowledge Him as Adonai, the more we will see of His goodness [and the rest of His attributes, and]...As we give ourselves to His rule, we will experience more joy in serving and [experience more] peace in [the] waiting.” https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-christians-mean-when-calling-god-adonai.html

• Let me ask you this, when do you find yourself most often crying out to Adonai, if at all? If you do, then are you acknowledging His position and attributes..or is the conversation all about you. BeReal with Him in conversation…Remember, He already knows your every need and your motives. BUT…He longs to hear you cry out to Him for who He is and what He has done, is doing, and will do. .
• The Lord knew that David was off to a great start in this conversation by addressing Him as Adonai…Time to continue being real with Him.