Faith in Time of Crisis 8

Image “In the shadow of your wings” by Rev’d Paul Collings

Faith in time of Crisis 8 By Dr J P Hunter

Psalm 91:1+2, 14+15. 

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honour him.

Meditation

This Psalm is about God’s protection for those who love him. The two opening verses contain four names for God and four metaphors to describe the protection He provides: shelter, shadow, refuge and fortress. This protection is based on the trust which the psalm writer puts in “my God”.

Then in verse 14 and 15 there is a change of voice when God is speaking and replies with His reassurance of protection. God knows that we all go through times of trouble in our lives. He does not promise to deliver from adversity so that we never meet any. He promises to deliver us in adversity. He will come alongside to be near us, to deliver and honour us. The key to this protection is our relationship with God. This relationship will have to built on love for God, that is keeping His commandments, faithfulness and seeking Him in prayer, thereby acknowledging His name.

Prayer

Almighty God, my refuge and saviour, shelter me in times of trouble. When I pray to you in my times of difficulty, be near me and answer me, for I put my trust in you. I strive to keep your commandments to love you and honour your holy name so I may live in hope. 

Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Jonathan Aitken, adapted.       

Hymn StF 455, verse 1.

All my hope on God is founded;

he does still my trust renew.

Me through change and chance he guideth,

only good and only true.

he alone calls my heart to be his own.

Robert Bridges (1844-1930 

based on Joachim Neander (1650-1680