Monday Reflection – December 13, 2021

Monday Reflection – December 13, 2021
God’s Faithful Covenant

Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame. Psalm 74:21

While one is not sure as to when Psalm 74 was written, it is clear that the writer Asaph is pleading with God to remember His destroyed sanctuary. Some scholars believe that the Psalm was written following the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. Some argue that it is even later, following the desecration of the temple in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. Some say that the Asaph of David and Solomon’s time composed this Psalm on the occasion or the memory of the destruction of the tabernacle in Shiloh (1 Samuel 4). Whichever it is, what is clear is that Psalm 74 is a plea and a prayer in great sorrow from the destruction of the sanctuary.

In the midst of this prayer, Asaph asks God to remember and respect His covenant. This everlasting covenant that was established with Abraham is intended to be everlasting covenant for all generations. How can God forget or disregard so sacred a promise He made? But, can He? Absolutely not! I imagine that Asaph and his people were so overwhelmed by the sight of the destroyed temple that he wonders where is God. I imagine that the negative effects of the reality and the impact on him and his people socially, spiritually, psychologically and mentally was so grave that he at least wondered, maybe doubted, whether God has reneged on His promise. In this context, we hear Asaph’s plea in today’s Watchword, “Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame.”

Admittedly friends, when life gets too much for us to deal with, we may at times wonder about God’s power and faithfulness. We question God’s presence, plan and purposes. When time seems to be running out, we question God’s will and timeliness. Today’s New Testament text provides hope, “Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her” Luke 1:58. We recall that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were old and she had passed child bearing age. Like all other families, they desired children, especially a son, for which they had prayed for a long time. God answered their prayers and they were priviledged to be parents to John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ.  

In a world where life gets difficult, God remains faithful. In a world, where we are handed sorrow and joy, pain and gladness, mountains and valleys, rugged and plain paths, God’s promise remains sure. In a world where disaster and destruction, sickness and death are a part of life, God’s abiding presence and sustaining grace are always available. In a dangerous world, full of the haunts of cruelty, God’s people can rely on God’s covenant promise. In a world where the value of our money is declining and the prices of goods are ever increasing, God’s providence is assured. In a world where Covid-19 seems here to stay, God’s delivering power is at work. Let’s anchor our hope in God, through Jesus Christ.

We join Tate and Brady in declaring:
Through all the changing scenes of life,
  In trouble and in joy,
The praises of my God shall still
  My heart and tongue employ.

Jermaine Gibson