What a wonderful gift we have in our bibles! Our home church bible reading today includes Psalm 143. What timely scripture this is for us. Written 3,000 years ago, it nonetheless is relevant to us in these times.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
This reminds us of our position. We have no basis for hope apart from the mercy of God which we cannot merit.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
Does this ring a bell as we see our voice being stamped out? Who isn’t alarmed by these things!
5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
It is a new day. We are now looking back at how our ability to speak freely is being taken away.
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
There is hope in God! He will hear the plea of his own! Indeed, he will comfort and guide us.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
Our hope is not in politicians; it is in our Lord!
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
Our only basis for hope is in the Lord upholding his promise – to build a great nation in Abraham of God’s own. Those who are born again are his “remnant” in which he has promised much. These promises are unconditional, meaning we are not required to uphold our end of anything. See verse two. Timely scripture.
A New World.
These are difficult times, my friends. Truth is irrelevant in today’s society. We are slaughtering our babies, and our government is boasting while it promotes this awful scourge. There is violence in the streets. People claim to want justice, but no one seeks truth. Drugs are being promoted and prostitution is ignored. Not long ago, it seemed impossible that the United States appears to be left out of Revelation. Today, it seems likely that this nation has already begun imploding upon itself. We have timely scripture.
Don’t be surprised. Jesus warns us of these things. At the same time, do not be discouraged. Keep your eyes on the horizon, looking for our Lord’s return. He is coming. Indeed!
Father, thank you for your words of comfort. Let us share the gospel despite the risks. Amen.
Copyright © 2021 Scott Powers
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash