Today’s psalm: Psalm 145:10-21
“he hears their cry and saves them.”
(Ps 145:19b)
Many are praying to God for relief from COVID-19. But while God is mindful of everyone and would like everyone to be saved, manifesting His great mercy, He also looks to people living in accordance with His ways, which is about justice or righteousness. “The Lord is just in all his ways, merciful in all his works.” (v.17). So there is a dynamic tension between God’s justice and His mercy. But it is all about His righteousness. God acts, but we need to act as well. We are to love, fear and call upon God.
First, “the Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he destroys.” (v.20). Love of God is the first and greatest commandment. In justice, it is what is due to God. Now if we love God and desire to remain in His love, then we obey Him. As such, as His beloved and obedient children, then God watches over us. On the other hand, the wicked are those who do not love God, who do not act in justice toward Him, who are disobedient to Him. As such, they cut themselves off from the love of God, leading to their destruction.
Second, “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (v.19). To fear God is to be in awe of Him, recognizing His awesome power and dominion. As such, we submit ourselves to that dominion, and live our lives in accordance with His will. If we do so, then as we cry out to Him, He will save us. Many people today are crying out to God for relief from COVID-19, but fall short in not amending their lives and turning back to Him. If we desire that God save us, our part is to repent and live according to His ways.
Third, “the Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” (v.18). God can act for our well-being even if we do not call upon Him, but if we do call upon Him, then the God who loves and cares for us hears and responds. He is near and never far-off. But we need to call upon God in truth. We need to realize the truth of God’s call, that we are to live our lives in accordance with His righteousness. We are to place our faith in Jesus, who is the Truth, knowing we go to the Father only through Jesus.
Today, under the scourge of COVID-19, we implore God for His help. We are assured that He who is just and merciful watches over us who love Him, is near as we call upon Him, and will hear our cry and save us who fear Him. Indeed, “the Lord is trustworthy in all his words, and loving in all his works.” (v.13b).
So we look to God not only for relief from this pandemic, but more importantly because He is our God and we are His people. We give Him the worship that is His due, and we work so that all the nations of the earth will know the salvation of our God. “My mouth will speak the praises of the Lord; all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.” (v.21).
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