Verse of the Day for December 2

Peter stood up at Pentecost and quoted this psalm. He said David was not writing about himself here, since David died and was buried, but about the Holy One whose body would not see corruption. The psalm reaches all the way to an empty tomb.

Then comes verse eleven, and it is surprisingly modest. Thou wilt shew me the path of life. Not the whole map. A path, which you only ever see a few steps of at a time.

David is confident about the far end: life, presence, pleasures for evermore. He is humble about the near end. He expects to be shown, which means he does not yet know.

That is the shape of a believer's December. We wait for Christmas knowing how the story goes, a cradle and then a cross and then a garden with an open grave, and still we need showing for Monday.

If you are at a bus stop this morning wondering which way to turn on something, you do not need to see the whole road. Ask to be shown the next stretch. The fulness of joy is not only waiting at the finish. It is in thy presence, and his presence walks with you.

The resurrection settles the destination. It does not excuse you from asking about Tuesday.

Fulness of joy is found in his presence, and his presence is on the path, not only at the end of it.