Faith in Times of Crisis

 

Psalm 107 – selected verses – New International Version - NIV.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

⁴ Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
¹³ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
¹⁵ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

¹⁷ Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
¹⁹ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
²¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
³¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

⁴³ Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Meditation By. Dr J P Hunter

This Psalm speaks of four different types of people in distress and how God rescued them: wanderers 107:4, prisoners 107:10, the sick 107:17 and the storm tossed 107:23,25. In our pandemic times, at the start of Lent, we might feel similarly either imprisoned, sick or storm tossed. And what did God do for all of these and does for all of us? Four times the answer is to recognise His hand in our lives and to give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind 107: 6,13,19,28. Is there not a vaccine, is there not light at the end of the tunnel?  No matter how extreme our situation, God is able and willing to break through and help us. To those in distress he is loving and kind. It is love divine that will see us through. 

Prayer

Lord God, creator of all life and also of mine, I come to seek your presence. First to thank you for leading me and those near to me through worry, isolation or illness this far. With the words of this Psalm, I thank you for your unfailing love for mankind and also your love for me. Then I would like to ask you to help me in my earthly life this day, to make more room for you that your Heavenly unbounded love may enter. And that I may give to others from your love in return. In your name, Amen.

Hymn – Singing the Faith 503, verse 1

   Love divine, all loves excelling

   joy of Heaven to earth come down,

   fix in us thy humble dwelling,

   all thy faithful mercies crown.

   Jesu, thou art all compassion,

   pure, unbounded love thou art;

   visit us with thy salvation,

   enter every trembling heart.                                                                                                  Charles Wesley (1707-1788)