Thursday 26 August, 2021

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— 2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. 7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

As I read this Psalm, I think to myself – how timely! In the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of global disasters, as wars rage on and it seems almost logical to despair – the question arises, what’s the answer to it all? What purpose or goodness could there be in the midst of such vast calamity?

Here the Psalmist gives us the answer – God Himself! God is the One who saves, God is the one who is just, God is the One who blesses and guides. Sometimes we might know this in our heads, but it is when we open up our hearts to Him in praise and thanksgiving that we actually experience these truths.

And so, what a timely reminder it is – that as we face lockdown and all sorts of personal and communal challenges – that God Himself is the answer to our woes. It is as we praise Him and open our hearts to Him that we find His blessing and favour pouring into our lives.

God, thank You that You are good. Thank You that You are in control. Thank You for caring about the smallest details of each of our lives, even in the midst of much bigger problems. We praise You for who You are, we trust You with all our hearts, and we ask that You would continue to have your way in our hearts and in this world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Written by Ps. Matt Samperi