Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our Psalm reading for this week reminds us that although God promises to protect his people from all harm and danger, he never promises that we will not be exposed to harmful or dangerous situations. I’m reminded of the anecdote about the Confederate general Thomas Jackson, who, when asked why he seemed so fearless on the battlefield, would say that, as a child of God, he was as safe in cannon fire as he was in his own bed at home. In our Psalm, God’s people are compared to wineskins that have been in a smoky place or those people who walk on a path with hidden pits dug on it.
Even though we walk in danger and distress, we can know that the Lord is the redeemer of the world. That means he is our redeemer as well. We may endure terrible stresses, such as being engulfed in choking fumes or falling into a trap. Yet God’s promises remain true. His words of comfort and promise are true. His redeeming love is present.
If we trust in ourselves, these situations will get the better of us. If we follow our hearts, our hearts will steer us astray. As we trust in God, though all of life should seem to be against us, we can have a faith and confidence. The Lord will never leave us or forsake us. In that last day, he will rescue us, cleanse us, heal us, and place us in his presence, where there is fullness of joy forever.
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