Encouragements for our troubled times No. 21
COVID-19 Series | Date: 13 August 2020
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
A message from our Pastor
Psalm 91:5-6
"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. "
As King Solomon tells us “there’s nothing new under the sun” and in the book of Psalms we find that in every condition that we can find ourselves in, the psalmists experienced themselves. I think that is why we find them so precious and so comforting in our times of distress.
Here, in Psalms 91, the psalmist understands us perfectly. We can be so troubled by what is happening around us that our fears get the better of us. As things escalate and our troubles increase we need that calm confidence in our God that the psalmist exhibits here.
Firstly, in verse 5 he tells us that if we make our dwelling place with God then we will have no need to fear the terrors by night, those fears, worries and anxieties that flood our hearts and fill our minds especially in the dark of the night. During the night every problem seems impossible to solve and every difficulty insurmountable. It’s then that we have to remember that we have no need to be anxious, for our God is for us and nothing is impossible for Him.
And when the ‘arrows fly by day’ and all we can see are temptations or problems raining down around us, we can commit ourselves into the caring hands of our Father knowing that He will protect us. Therefore we have no need to fear them for our God hides us under the shadow of His wings.
Secondly, in verse 6 the psalmist tells us that we need not fear the pestilence that walks in darkness. The psalmist is alluding to the fact that during the night we are at our most vulnerable. We are unaware of any danger that might come upon us. We will not see its approach, we cannot prepare for its attack nor can we take any action to avoid it if it should come our way: but why should we fear when our God, who neither slumbers nor sleeps, is watching over us.
And when destruction is laying waste to all around us and man’s worst fears are being realised, do we then have cause to fear? ‘no’ says the psalmist, you shall not be afraid for our God is our refuge and our fortress and we can trust Him to keep us safe in Him.
As we face “getting back to normal”, therefore, we have nothing to fear. If God is for us who (or what) can be against us?