SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 18:1.    I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength.

Oh Friends, you know I don’t like to dwell on the negatives, but when they happen, especially with some frequency, we must pay attention. Today though, we need to offer some praise and thanks to the Most High God that hurricane Tomas did not lash Haiti with its full force, but merely with some high winds and water that caused some property damage and flooding, but as far as I know, no loss of life. Thank you Lord! Thank you! The unfortunate people of that corrupt, poverty stricken country could not withstand another terrible disaster, not having really recovered from any of the many they sustained in the last few years. We ought to be also thankful that most of the other Caribbean islands only received high winds and rain. St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the surrounding small islands weren’t as lucky though. Neither were the people on Java, where the volcano on Mt. Merapi exploded again on Friday, more violently than it’s done in a century. Imagine the flames and other stuff it expels on explosion, shooting some ten thousand feet in the air nuh! Or the dust from it settling on cars over 400 kilometres away! The death toll has obviously risen, many from just inhaling the gas released by the volcanic explosion. Oh Friends, oh Friends, what’s happening? Why are these terrible disasters happening now, and with such frequency, and when are they going to end? ONLY the Most High God Jehovah has the answers to those very perplexing and troubling questions. We have to get down on our knees and pray my people! Call out to Almighty God for mercy, grace, forgiveness or whatever it is we need to staunch the flow of disasters! Though I guess we first have to live right, to live godly, or sincerely promise to do so and turn away from the sinful, ungodly life we’re currently living. That’s why Bruh David, in thanksgiving for deliverance from his numerous enemies, in particular his nemesis Saul, uttered these special words of wisdom, hope and faith. ‘I will LOVE thee, O Lord, my strength.’ Oh Friends, I’m chuckling, for the Spirit is at work early tonight, at his mysterious best. Earlier on, I spent some time searching for a Bit, considered several, but rejected them all, including this one. But since I was going to begin with the disaster story, I decided to go ahead and start, then worry about a Bit after. Well lo and behold, in the middle of writing the intro, I glanced at the opened Bible next to me and was most surprised to find it opened at Psalm 18. I really don’t remember leaving it opened there, though I must have, but by the time I was done writing the intro, it certainly seemed to be the most appropriate Bit. Why? Because my people, when disasters and troubles rage all around us, the first, best and wisest place to look for help is to our God. For as Bruh David continues: ‘The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler (shield), and the horn (strength) of my salvation, and my high tower (stronghold).’ (Ps.18:2) Yes Friends, only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has all those attributes; attributes we can faithfully call on and rely upon in times of trouble, sorrow, pain and grief. No other animate or inanimate creation in this universe possesses all those qualities. Thus He is the right ONE to whom we should all flock, to whom we should all offer much praise, thanks and worship. Bruh David learned this through hard experience, and never forgot it, as he consequently proclaimed: ‘I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.’ (Ps.18:3) Ah my brethren, those are words and sentiments we should also loudly and sincerely proclaim, since they are the source of truth, peace, strength and righteousness. The psalm is basically a reworking of Bruh David’s Song in 2 Samuel 22, and he also sings the same sentiments in Psalm 144, titled, ‘I will sing a new song,’ which, re the scholars, is a compilation of several others. (8, 18, 33, 102-104) ‘Blessed be the Lord my strength (rock), which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight (battle). My goodness (LOVING-kindness), and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust (take refuge); who subdueth my people under me.’ (Ps.144:1-3) Oh my people, I know that life is rough, and though we sincerely try to live right, sometimes so much unfortunate, wrong stuff comes against us that our faith falters and we begin to question our beliefs and motives. But please don’t be afraid, and don’t worry unnecessarily because that’s a natural response to trouble and heartache, and it happens to all of us at some stage in our walk of faith. Friends, I beg of you, though we may falter, let us never fall, let us never give up, for it’s in those tough, desperate, disastrous times that we need the Lord God Jehovah the most. For, as I said above, He’s the only ONE with all the parts to make us whole and to lead us right. Remember we’re merely weak, frail, innately sinful beings, thus we tend to be contrary, fearful and double minded, but if we sincerely LOVE and trust the Lord, the most powerful and potent force in the universe, He has promised to make things right for us. And we know that He faithfully keeps all His promises. So in these very troubled times my brethren, the wisest thing we can do is listen to Bruh David, who certainly knew what he was talking about, and continue serving and worshipping the Most High God. Remember too, Jesus’ words: ‘The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt LOVE the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:’ (Mark12:29-30) If we consider ourselves true believers, then let’s genuinely practice that command, for it will surely bring fulfillment to our lives. Till tomorrow then, God willing, walk with Him in peace and safety. Much LOVE!…Faith 101…LOVE THY GOD…