Faith in Times of Crisis 12
Artwork - “You are my Rock” by Rev’d Paul Collings
Meditation by Dr J P Hunter
Psalm 40:1-4a, 7-8,11.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord, Then I said, “here I am, I have come- it is written in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
Meditation
Waiting for God to help us is not easy. In this Psalm David records that he not only waited; he waited patiently. His patience, based on trust, was justified. God heard his prayer, my cry, and David received three blessings from waiting: 1. God lifted him out of despair, 2. God set his feet on a firm rock, 3. God put a new song of praise into his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through a trial of trusting and waiting. During this trial of waiting David’s attitude changed to wanting to obey God: I desire to do your will, the tipping point in David’s journey. So it could be in ours.
Prayer
Lord, you lifted me out of the pit of my despair. You rescued me, put my feet on a rock and changed me. All I now want to do is to keep your laws and obey your will. That I may live to show the saving power of your love. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen (Jonathan Aitken, adapted.)
Hymns and Psalms 727, verse 2
Meet it is, and just, and right,
That we should be wholly thine,
In thine only will delight,
In thy blessed service join:
O that every work and word
Might proclaim how good thou art,
“Holiness unto the Lord”
Still be written on our heart!
Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788).
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