Focus

Take time to rest in the comfort of the Lord today.

Read

Psalm 57 (NRSV)

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and save me,
he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah
God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

I lie down among lions
that greedily devour human prey;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

Reflect

When making a pastoral visit recently, I asked, “Can I do anything for you?” It’s the sort of thing you say when you aren’t sure what else to say. According to books on pastoral care, it’s not the ideal way to reach out to a person who is in distress. It’s far better to be specific, to say, “I’d like to help you with laundry” or something like that. Sometimes, though, it slips out anyway.

Her answer surprised me: “I would love a hymnal.” This woman, who is nearly confined to her bed now, wants a hymnal. She says that when she feels afraid, overwhelmed by life, or laid low by the pain doctors says she will live with for the rest of her days, she likes to sing hymns. The words encourage her, comfort her, and help her connect to God. She sings what she remembers, but her memory isn’t what it used to be. So a hymnal would be nice.

Until today I’ve always read this psalm as the lament of someone who is facing a powerful external foe: a foreign army, an insurrection. It occurs to me, though, that sometimes the most powerful enemies we face are in our own bodies.

My friend’s body has been ravaged by disease, but her heart is steadfast. She, like the psalmist, is determined to “sing and make melody” as she lifts her praises to God.

Pray

Lord, in the midst of trouble and tribulation,
strengthen us to sing your praises.
When life is painful and difficult,
tune our hearts to your melodious mercy.
When we are under attack,
help us to find refuge in you.
Amen.

Go with God.