Psalm
120 reminds me of an article I read recently that noted the number of
auto-related deaths is at a 50 year low. The reason given, in
addition to many standard safety features, is the rapid response of
highly trained emergency personnel. Collisions will happen, but
paramedics and trauma centers are very accessible to almost everyone
today. This psalm speaks of the other kinds of trauma that we face.
He begins, “In
my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me“.
We can easily hear the pain in his prayer, “Deliver
my soul, O Lord, from lying lips“.
The closer someone is, the more deception stings. Clearly this
sounds like a marriage that has become toxic, “My
soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace. I am
for
peace; but when I speak, they are
for war“. I have
known men that are “workaholics” mainly because they do not want
to go home. It always takes two to create conflict, but many times
one partner abandons all civility and peace is destroyed. Proverbs
21:9 describes it this way, “Better
to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome
wife“. So what happens
after the skidding tires and sound of crashing metal? This is not
the time for ignoring the wounds. It is time for emergency care.
Psalm
121 continues the picture, “I
will lift up my eyes… Where does my help come from?“.
Have you asked that question? He quickly answers, “My
help comes
from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth“.
My gut reaction to pain is retaliation. Ephesians 4:26 offers this
truth for the first dents and dings, “In
your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still
angry, and do not give the devil a foothold“.
Fender-benders can add fuel to the fire and quickly lead to a
downward slope, but the psalmist writes, “He
will not let your foot slip,
He
who watches over you will not slumber“.
What happens when your wreck is a multi-car pileup? Is the vehicle
worth repairing? More importantly are
you worth repairing?
The Great Physician specializes in intensive care. “He
will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and
going both now and forevermore“.
Notice his first step was to look up.
Psalm 122 begins the
healing process. “I
rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the
Lord’.”
None of us would let a friend bleed without getting them to the
hospital. Good intentions and well wishes and positive attitude are
worthless if we leave our friend stranded alone at the scene. He
begins to describe Jerusalem, but I believe this is what the Church
should look like. The church should be “closely
compacted together… to praise the name of the Lord… Pray for the
peace… May those who love You be secure… May there be peace
within your walls“.
I hope this describes your church home. I home your church is full
of people that will allow their scars to show, “For
the sake of my brothers and friends“.
The healing you have received will give hope for the newly wounded.
All of us are paramedics when we care for those in need. The
greatest ministers of all are those that have experienced God’s
mercy. “For
the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your
prosperity“.
Are you a first responder?