The Look

When I was in high school, we had a conversation with my mommy. It began when my brother asked Mommy what she had done to one of our classmates, because he was afraid of her. She replied that she hadn't done anything, she just looked at him. We were both appalled that she had given him "the look". It's the mom "look", the one you get when you are REALLY in trouble. And you really should be in trouble, but it's kind of that last straw warning before punishment is imminent. Anyway, "the look" is what came to my mind this morning when I read these verses:

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Psalms 34:16

That's the bad news. The good news actually comes earlier in the Psalm (and even in the previous two Psalms).

A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalms 32:1-2

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
Psalms 33:18-19
 
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
Psalms 34:8-15

But if you want to get the full impact, go read Psalm 32-34 for yourself. =)