Encouragements for our troubled times No. 62
COVID-19 Series | Date: 27 May 2021
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 61:6-8
“You will prolong the King’s life, his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! So, I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.”
This psalm is written by David so it is natural for him to refer to himself as the King as he is the King of Israel. But does this mean that this can only apply to kings? No, because David is writing as a believer whose heart is overwhelmed, who flees to the Rock that is higher than himself. But there is also a sense that this applies to us because, as Peter tells us in his first letter, we are a royal priesthood and all equal in God’s sight. Therefore, these words relate to us.
He will prolong our life, our years for many generations. Our lives are in His hands. He decides how long our lives should be and when we will die. Therefore no one and nothing can cut our lives short. He will prolong them for as long as He has determined that they should be. We will live for as many generations as our loving Heavenly Father has determined for us; no more and no less. What a comfort it is to know that our lives are in His mighty hands when we live in such uncertain times and in such a fallen world.
We shall abide before God forever. For, it is by His mercy and truth that He preserves us. Not only does He prolong our life for many generations here on earth but He preserves them forever so that we shall ever be before Him. That same Almighty power that hedges us about, that is a strong tower for us, and a shelter in which we can trust, also ensures that we will abide before Him forever. Nothing is left to us. Why will He preserve us for Himself? Because we are good enough? No, we will be preserved by His mercy. God has elected us to eternal life; not for any good in us, but because He loved us. He preserves us not because we are worthy, but because He accepts us in Jesus Christ His Son and will not let us go. And the bias of this love is the truth of the eternal covenant that He made with the Son to redeem us by virtue of His shed blood. He will preserve us and keep us for Himself because He is true to His Word, and His covenant and promises are yea and amen.
In the light of such love to us we can say with David, “so I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may dial perform my vows.”