The Lord is Faithful

One of the four books my Bible reading plan had me in last week was the Psalms. Yesterday I read Psalm 31. It is a psalm of magnificent trust and confidence in God that grows out of the soil of lament. What a good thing to meditate on and fill our souls with during these troubled times.

For weeks we have been faced with pandemic and financial uncertainty. Now, for the last two weeks we’ve seen the images of George Floyd’s death and the widespread unrest that followed. We are witnessing trouble and uncertainty unlike anything in our nation for decades.

But in a fallen world, trouble and uncertainty are never far from any of us. More typically it comes in the form of an unwanted medical diagnosis or a fracture in a relationship with a loved one or a betrayal from a friend or other personal crisis. Few of us go long without absorbing some kind of a blow or confronting a painful predicament.  

Psalm 31 offers us hope in whatever difficulty we face. Read the Psalm and let David’s words sink deep into your heart and soul. 

David was experiencing “terror on every side” (verse 13). That sounds a lot like what is going on today. Yet, he could encourage his readers to “be strong, and to let their hearts take courage” (verse 24). The reason that he could take courage in the midst of terror coming from every side, the reason he could call others to courage is he knew that “the Lord was
his God” (verse 14). That is, he knew that he was in a covenant relationship with God. God had “wondrously shown his steadfast love to him” (verse 21). God had “heard the voice of his pleas for mercy when he cried to him for his help” (verse 22). David knew that “the Lord preserves the faithful” (verse 23).

What can we do in such times as these? We can take refuge in the Lord. He will come to our rescue. He is faithful and he will do it.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

--verses 1-5

Much love, Barry