Sent: August 6, 2002
Subject: Someone to Watch Over Me
Dear Ethan & Emily:
One of your mother’s favorite songs is “Someone to Watch Over Me.“ It was written by brothers George and Ira Gershwin, and first appeared in the Broadway show “Oh Kay” which opened in New York in 1926. “Someone to Watch Over Me” has come to be regarded as a Gershwin “classic” and reappeared later in “Crazy for You” which your mother and I enjoyed seeing recently at the Arvada Playhouse.
I know your mother thinks of me as that “someone” in her life, and I am privileged to be that man…to love her and watch over her as long as I live. After 30 years of marriage, I feel every day as though I just fell in love with her.
“Someone to Watch Over Me” is quite a song, and I have printed it out for further consideration as it has spiritual connotations…
“There’s a saying old says that love is blind”
(from The Merchants of Venice by Shakespeare)
So true…many people who know better often discard their values to pursue relationships that seems attractive but in the end lead to frustration, disappointment, and despair. But the love of God is never reckless; it is always with purpose and for our good. In fact…”Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” (Eph. 1:4) Knowing that mankind would sin and sever a relationship with Him, God in His infinite love set in motion a place to seek His created loves ones and bring them back to Him thru His son Jesus Christ.
“God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins (1 John 4:9-10)
“Still we’re often told, ‘Seek and ye shall find'”
Finding that perfect “someone” with whom to share a lifelong relationship sometimes ends “empty-handed.” Some settle for “second best” because they are not willing to wait on God’s timing. But that is not the case when it comes to seeking God. This line from the song comes from many passages in the Bible…both Old and New Testaments where God tell us repeatedly that if we seek Him, we will find Him.
“‘If you look for me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek Me. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord.” (Jer. 29: 13) See also Matt.7: 7 & Luke 11: 9.
“So I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven’t found him yet.”
While you seek the “lad you have in mind” here on earth, you can be assured that in developing a relationship with the Lord, you will find that He never disappoints, as He has promised that He will more than fulfill your heart’s desire: “The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him.” (Lam 3:25)
“He’s the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I’d like to add his initial to my monogram”
One humorous note here: your Aunt Joan tells me that the night your mother was introduced to me at Grace Gospel…she told her that I was the “lad she had in mind”…and that if we were to marry, she would not have to change the monogram of “MLM” on her new luggage since my last name had the same initial as hers! That’s my wonderful…and practical Honey Bunny!!
“Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
The Bible confirms what we already know if we will only be honest with ourselves: “All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus, while on Earth, identified the “lost” nature of mankind and identified Himself as THE Shepherd who would “save” them: “But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd (Matt. 9:36).
Jesus declared: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
“There’s a somebody I’m longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
someone who’ll watch over me”
The LORD promises to do just that to all who turn to Him in faith: “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Ps. 32: 8) “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right….” (Ps. 34:15)
“Happy are those who obey His (God’s) decrees and search for Him with all their hearts.” (Ps. 119:2)
“I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood”
Our Lord has so identified each of us: “Once you were wandering like lost sheep…” (1 Peter 2: 25a) But, oh, the peace and comfort we find when we put our trust in the “good” Shepherd: “…those who honor (revere) Him (the Lord) will have all their need.” (Ps. 34:9b) “…those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.” (Ps. 34:10). “The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” (Ps. 34:17)
“I know I could always be good
Someone who’ll watch over me.”
Actually, none of us can “always be good.” The Bible is correct in saying: “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Ro. 3:23) “If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.” (1 John 1:8)
But God in His mercy “sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us.” (Ro. 3:25) And thus, even when we stray from the path of obedience, we can count on our loving Lord to seek us out and bring us back into the fold: “The LORD, who scattered His people, will gather them together and watch over them as a shepherd does is flock.” (Jer. 31:10
“Although he may not be the man some
girls think of as handsome”
The coming Messiah and our Lord and Savior was similarly described by Isaiah: “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His (Jesus the Messiah) appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.” (Isaiah 52: 2) We would do well to follow God’s example in evaluating our relationships:
“People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.” (1 Sam 16:7)
“To my heart he carries the key”
When Adam and Eve sinned, the perfect fellowship they had shared with God was broken forever…an event which had repercussions all down thru human history. But in sending His Son, God provided a way for mankind to again restore peace with Him and to find forgiveness, and the way back was not to be thru human effort or works…but by faith.
The love of our Lord has no limit. It goes beyond earthly value and provides salvation to all who believe: “In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear (reverence) of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” (Isaiah 33: 6)
So that’s why faith (not works) is the key! God’s promise (to be forgiven and to be declared righteous in God’s sight) is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it…if we have faith like Abraham’s.”(Romans 4: 16 – 24)
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:1-2)
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners…For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.” (Ro. 5:6-11)
God makes the provision for our salvation, but we must consciously decide whether we will accept or reject Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior:
“For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Ro. 10: 9-10)
“Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me.”
Seeking assistance whether in affairs of the heart or in matters of life and death, we do best when we turn to God for help. David, the great King of the Old Testament reflects this line of the song: “But I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my Savior; O Lord, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:5)
And for those who know Him, the Psalmist affirms that we never outgrow our need for God’s watch care over us: “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Ps. 121:8) And as the Psalmist declares confidently: “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the sheep under His care.” (Ps. 95: 6-7).
This fact was a great comfort to the first Christian missionary, Paul, who was comforted by knowing that “the God who sent us is watching us.” (2 Corinthians 2:17b)
And the most amazing fact of all is that God began “watching over” us even before we were born. The Psalmist reminds us in Ps. 139: 15-16: “You (God) watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
Yes, I am privileged to “watch over” your mother but all of us who claim the name of the Lord can rest assured that He who controls the universe is also there “every moment” of every day “watching”…and “loving” us as a shepherd cares for his sheep or a father watches and protects his young children.
“The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Ps. 121: 8) “The One (the Lord) who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed He never tires and never sleeps.” (Ps. 121:4)
Live your life today in peaceful confidence knowing that God is “watching over you”!
All my love,
Dad