We’re only six months in, but the images of 2020 are going to be some we never forget.
Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the impeachment trial and acquittal of the president, only the third in history. Cars lined up at drive-through testing centers where workers in full protective gear swab for COVID-19. Parking lots and freeways completely deserted at rush hour because the nation is on lockdown. A police officer kneeling on the neck of an unconscious George Floyd, resulting in his death. Hundreds, even thousands of protesters of all races marching through city streets with “Black Lives Matter” signs. Blazing fires and broken windows caused by rioters and looters.
Accompanying these images are intense emotions, from bewilderment and frustration, to fear and anxiety, to rage and disgust, to grief and desperation. Those of us who have enjoyed the health and safety of middle-class, white, suburban America have recognized how thin the walls of our bubble are. While we’ve always lived close to the sharp edges of disease, corruption, injustice, and violence, a lot of us are realizing our vulnerability. It’s one that others in the world, including many in our own community, have always known and experienced.
How will we respond to the events of 2020? Will we find ourselves constantly scanning the horizon, looking for the next threat? Will we hunker down, dig in, and harden our hearts and minds. Will we swallow conspiracy theories in our ache to make sense of it all? Or will we take a cue from the Psalms and lift our eyes up to seek God and receive his grace? 2020 could be the year that we become more confident in God, more obedient to his ways, and more loving to one another.
We’re in week three of our summer series, Psalms Playlist, where we’re allowing the Psalms to inform our minds, soothe our emotions, and guide our prayers. This week’s psalm, Psalm 34, is timely because it shows us a firm foundation on which to stand when it feels like the whole world is shaking.
Day 1
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
What comfort and hope do you find in Psalm 34 during our current national crises?
Reflect
Testimonies are powerful. At times when our faith is shaken by our circumstances, the testimony of someone who has experienced God’s rescue is a lifeline. Psalm 34 is such a testimony. The heading tells us it was written by David, during the time in his life where he was on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him.
The description parallels events described in 1 Samuel 21:10–15. In fleeing Saul, David goes to the Philistine king in Gath. The people suspect that he is the David, the great warrior and slayer of Goliath. Fearful that his reputation will cause him to be seen as a threat, David feigns madness so he won’t be recognized. The ruse works and David is able to leave.
Some might read this story and see David’s escape as a lucky break. Some might admire his cleverness. Yet in Psalm 34, David gives all the credit to God for his rescue. David’s God-focused perspective allowed him to see past his circumstances to the spiritual realities beyond.
That will be our aim for the week as well. If we go through life without an awareness of God and his activity in our lives, we will be much more prone to react to a crisis with fear, anger, desperation, or even hatred. But if we turn to God, we can experience peace, and react with faith, righteousness, compassion, and love.
Respond
Take all your cares, worries, frustrations and fears to God in prayer right now. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see how God is at work and ask him to strengthen your faith.