Lately I have taken to use the old Book of Common Prayer as an aid in some of my time with the Lord. For the night prayer it begins with “The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.” Then there is a suggested confession of sin (a good practice at the end of the day). But what I want to turn to is the Psalmody - Psalm 4; 31:1-6; 91; 134 (these are all recommended to read at night). In particular I want to look at Psalm 4.

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?

How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;

the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

In particular I want to highlight verses 6-8. Contextually, the psalmist (David) is in distress - he is in the midst of some pretty troubling circumstances. However, he is also quite confident in the Lord - that the Lord will hear the prayer of the godly (the faithful ones). When we come to verse 6 there is an answer to a taunt of sorts. The insolent insinuate that there is nothing good. Then comes the plea to the Lord: Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD! To have the Lord’s face put upon you is a great blessing (see Numbers 6:25,26). So, in essence, he is making an appeal for the presence of the Lord. And then the statement that is fairly shocking (not shocking as untrue, but shocking as to the weight of it) - that the Lord’s presence has brought more joy in the heart than any abundance of wealth and goods. This is something we confess, but how often do we experience this?

I think as we have had so much pulled away from us in this very strange time that perhaps the Lord is showing us this reality. He is showing us what matters the most. As I’m stuck in our bedroom for who knows how long, I want the joy of the Lord. I want the presence of the Lord and the blessing of that presence.

So as I laid down last night I went to sleep with the promise of verse 8 that is based on the presence of God - and in his presence I (and all his children) can sleep with confidence in the Lord.

It was harder to think of song to go with all this, but this one will work - and I don’t believe you’ll need the lyrics. It’s called “Give Me Jesus” by Fernando Ortega. May this be the cry of our hearts and the basis of our confidence.

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

2 Chronicles 20:12c

This morning I write from my bedroom, not because that’s where I normally enter a post, but because I am self-isolating. Yesterday I began not feeling good (a bit more than the past few days). Later in the afternoon I developed a low grade fever and so I called my doctor (after hours) and I was put on with a triage nurse (who has been overwhelmed the last few weeks). Pretty much having chest pains, sore throat, and the fever puts me in the protocol - even though I don’t recall being exposed to anyone with a confirmed case. Basically, I need to isolate and stay away from the family until I am fever free for 24 hours. There is not a likelihood of being tested, unless I get to the point of having difficulty breathing (it seems a little odd that we are waiting that long for people to get tested).

I think of the end of Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:12 - it seems very appropriate at a time like this, because quite simply we can’t control this virus. I don’t even know if what I am experiencing is the virus or the common cold just a bit worse than normal. The unknown is what is hard to handle. And we don’t fully know what to do against this unseen menace, but what I (we) can do is look to God in all things and do my best to follow the guidance of medical professionals. This is certainly a time to look to God (as is every moment of every day). It is in the here and now that we rest on the character of God. I am concerned for my family (more than I am for myself) - particularly the immune compromised and my parents and Erin’s mom.

I had another topic I was thinking about writing on today, but it wasn’t right for the occasion. At this moment in time I feel like I’m being pushed to trust and rest in the mighty hand of God. It is His hand that holds me fast. It is His hand that will never let me go. It is His hand that is keeping my family and the church. It is His hand that is not scrambling over what to do in this situation. It is His hand that is great comfort.

I think of the song “He Will Hold Me Fast.” It is a song that reminds me of great truths. I know myself and I know that left to myself I could go down a path that turns to fear and worry and anxiety - and it could become overwhelming. These words, and Scripture, ground me to what is good and true and beautiful. May it ground you too.

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
'Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;

For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.

Yesterday was a good day in my neck of the woods. The sun was shining. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The neighborhood was buzzing with socially distant activity - and that is where the ominous nature of all this still pressed through. There was joy mixed with sorrow. It was again a surreal experience. If you let it, that dichotomy of existence….it could weigh you down.

Even in the midst of a beautiful day, there is still distress. There is trouble. What is going to happen with all of this? What decisions will our leaders make next that deeply affect each and every one of us? So much feels completely out of our control - because it is.

As I was reading in John 16 this morning I was reminded how out of control the disciples felt - and how confused and sorrowful, and certainly weighed down by the prospects of what would come next.

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Jesus had told them that he is going away. But then he said something shocking. That it was to their advantage for him to leave. How could that be? How could it be that they would be better off if Jesus, their teacher and Lord, left them? What does he say next? That the Holy Spirit would come. That he would convict the world in various realms. That He, as the Spirit of truth, would guide the disciples into al truth - the truth about Christ and salvation. And the truth that Christ has gone and prepared a place for his children (John 14:1-4).

Now the context of this text is that Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death - for his gruesome crucifixion. It will be a time when the world rejoices in its apparent victory. Jesus says to them: 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

By all accounts, on that Friday it seemed as though Jesus was a bit of a fraud. But soon that day would be seen for the good that it is, because Christ’s death and resurrection secured salvation for all believers. It no longer is a time of mourning (though there is that because of our sin that demanded it), but of great rejoicing. And that joy no one can take way (John 16:22).

Not the rejoicing of the world. Not the uncertainty of life right now. Not the oddities of a virus that no one truly understands. Nothing…no one can take the joy of salvation from Christ’s people.

And then the last words of this chapter: 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

Jesus knows what we need. He knew what the disciples needed to hear. They needed to hear of the work of the Spirit (and all believers have that same Spirit - indwelling us, always with us). They needed to hear that though they would have sorrow (facing reality is good) - they truly can have peace. They needed to hear that though they would experience tribulation in the world, yet Christ has overcome the world. And that is the source and ground and solid foundation of peace.

And as I think about myself, I experience the weighing down of all this. What change will all of this bring about? How is life going to be different. And then I need to return to the place of rest and peace. I am so thankful for the Spirit of God - may He rest upon us all.

Here’s a song for today - “Rest Upon Us” by Caedmon’s Call.

My soul is weary, and my cup is dry,
I am so in need of you,
Though my rightesousness is rags,
Your mercies are new

So Lord, come down to me,
So my heart can see,
How encompassing your grace can be

Holy Spirit, rest upon us,
Breath of God, touch my soul,
Come unfailing love of Jesus,
Rest upon us, rest upon us,

My mind is heavy and my days are long,
I lift my eyes up in the night,
My heart it weighs me down,
But your burden is light,

So Lord, come walk with me
Until my heart believes
All the bounties that your grace can bring

Holy Spirit, rest upon us,
Breath of God, touch my soul,
Come unfailing love of Jesus,
Rest upon us, rest upon us,

I will wait for you
I will wait for you
You rest upon us
Come rest upon us

Well, yesterday (or the day before) this video began to circulate across social media. It was started by actress Gal Gadot and it’s a mashup of different celebrities singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. Apparently it was meant to be a comfort in this time of isolation and anxiety and fear, but honestly, I can’t imagine (pardon the pun) anything worse. To sing “Imagine there’s no heaven…” is diametrically opposed to the truth that we all need to hear.

This morning one of my readings was Psalm 103.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s….

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, (Psalm 103:1-5, 15-17)

[Here is another song to listen to that beautifully captures this part of the Psalm]

That is the truth we need to hear. There is forgiveness. There is hope in God. Our biggest problem is not COVID-19 (as big of a problem as that is), but it’s sin and rebellion against a holy God.

Another reading was John 10 - 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 

So, not only is there a heaven, but there is a God in heaven who sent his only Son to lay down his life for the sheep (his children) so that they could be with him in heaven for all eternity. That is the news we all need to hear.

On many mornings I pull out my guitar while I read and pray, and this morning I sang “All Must Be Well.” The words here are what someone should put out on the web and have go viral (pardon that reference too - but it’s what we say). They are a decided contrast to the whole misguided idea of “Imagine.” This is actually a song of comfort. Listen. Sing along. Rest in the truth of God’s good and gracious hand being upon his children.

Through the love of God our Savior, all will be well 
Free and changeless is His favor, all is well 
Precious is the blood that healed us 
Perfect is the grace that sealed us 
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us 
All must be well 

Though we pass through tribulation, all will be well 
Ours is such a full salvation, all is well 
Happy still in God confiding 
Fruitful if in Christ abiding 
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding 
All must be well 

We expect a bright tomorrow; all will be well 
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, all is well 
On our Father's love relying 
Jesus every need supplying 
Yes in living or in dying 
All must be well