“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.” Psalms 59:16-17 (NIV)
For two Sundays in a row, snow kept us from worshiping in person. Though we met on Zoom–for which I am grateful for the technology–the worship wasn’t the same. As we returned to the sanctuary this last Sunday, I felt I was returning to a place of refuge. Not simply seeing and hearing one another in a virtual space but united together in song and prayer. Our sharing in the Lord’s Supper seemed more intimate, and God’s Presence felt greater. Having left that place of refuge, I felt the psalmist strengthened and ready to face what the week may bring. And I look forward with great anticipation to when we can meet again.
In today's passage, we hear some themes repeated:
Singing: The psalmist’s response to God’s grace with praise and worship. In the front of the United Methodist Hymnal are directions for singing from John Wesley, “Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature.” When we worship, we offer from our very souls our gratitude for his love.
Strength: The psalmist emphasizes God’s strength, a source of empowerment. We can try to go through life alone, slogging through the mire of every trial by ourselves, but that leaves us depleted physically and spiritually. However, when we acknowledge our need for God and look to him for our strength, we can do all things.
Love: We are made in God's image. Through sin, that image has been tarnished, but thanks to our belief in Jesus Christ–our acceptance of God’s love—we, too, can learn to return love to God and to others. The salvation offered through Jesus Christ is the tarnish remover, making us bright and shiny mirrors to reflect God’s love to the world.
Refuge: God is our stronghold, offering us protection at all times. He is our source of protection in times of trouble, but also a place where we can experience his presence at any time. Anytime we go to God in prayer, anytime we unite to worship, we enter into a place of refuge.
Reliance: We trust in God. It is by this trust–our faith–that we are saved. In coming to Christ, we acknowledge that there is no gift we can offer that would save us from sin. We can do lots of good things–and those works, as good as they may be–won’t justify us from our sin. Only our reliance on God can do that. When we relinquish ourselves, acknowledging our vulnerability, we place our faith in the One who provides our every need in every situation.
Returning to our sanctuary reminded us of the powerful refuge we find in worshiping together as a community. The strength and love we experience in God's presence are magnified when we unite in song, prayer, and share in the Lord’s Supper. However, this sense of refuge and reliance on God is not confined to our communal gatherings. Even in our individual moments of worship—whether in the quiet of the morning or during personal challenges—we can sing of God's strength and love. As we continue our spiritual journey, let us embrace both our communal worship and our personal times of devotion, finding refuge and strength in God's unfailing presence every day.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for being our refuge and strength. We praise you for your unfailing love and protection. As we journey through our days, help us to rely on you completely, trusting in your strength to carry us through every trial. May our hearts always sing of your grace, and may our lives reflect your love to the world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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