Monday 31 December, 2018

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” 5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 12 What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. 16 Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. 17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

This psalm could be titled “The search for peace”. In trouble, paralysed (v3), the writer can only cry out of his desperation “Lord save me.”

I notice he doesn’t cry out “Lord how did you let this happen to me” or “Lord don’t you care about me”. His was a cry to our God who loves us and responds with love when we call on him.

There was nothing the writer could bring to earn God’s favour and help – simply a cry “Help”. Our loving God responded, because he loves it when we come to him. What did his response look like? Verses 5 and 6 show us that he responded with compassion not condemnation, with protection not punishment, with salvation not judgment.

The result is peace – verse 7.

God saved us when he sent Jesus, the rescue he had planned from the beginning. The answer to my search for peace is Jesus.

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that you respond to your people when they call for help. You are the God who turns his ear when I call on you. Thank you. Amen

Written by Claire Moore