The Lord Is My Rock And My Refuge
BRD REFLECTIONS
Lamentations 5 and Psalm 61 (NIV)
(Karen Tan, Companions in Christ Facilitator, Discipleship & Nurture)
READ:
Lamentations 5 and Psalm 61 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Lamentations 5 – The Hebrew people were sent into exile to Babylon after the Fall of Jerusalem. Lamentations 5 talks of a time of intense suffering and pain. The land was completely destroyed by the invaders and the people experienced pain and loss as individuals, and as a nation. All these were a result of God’s judgement due to the sins of the people (Lam 5:16) and their ancestors (Lam 5:7).
Psalm 61 – this psalm begins with a cry and a prayer to God. An unceasing cry to God from the psalmist evoking images of God as the rock, the refuge and a strong tower, protecting him against the enemies. And the psalm ends in praise of God’s name and a renewed vow in worship of God.
APPLY:
1. Recognise and acknowledge God’s sovereignty, righteousness and justice, in my life and in the world.
2. Recognise that my actions and decisions have consequences and I can confess my sins to God.
3. Trust and appeal to God for He is merciful and compassionate – slow to anger and abounding in love
DO:
1. I can cry out to God and “lament” my loss, my pain and my suffering, and He will be my rock, my refuge and my strong tower.
2. I can confess my sins and repent before God, knowing that He is sovereign and just yet He is merciful.
3. Then I will be like King David: “And I’ll be the poet who sings of Your glory — and live what I sing every day”. Psalm 61:8 (the Message).
PRAY:
Father God, You are the sovereign God who is righteous and just and yet at the same time You are merciful – slow to anger and abounding in love. I confess that there are times when I am wilful and insist on my own ways and I know I will have to bear the consequences of my actions. Yet I know I can confess to You and cry out to You and You will hear my cry and prayer. For this I thank You knowing that I can “take refuge in the shelter of your wings” (Psalm 61:4). And I pray as You continue to work in and through my life, I will be like King David – a poet who will sing of Your glory and live what I sing every day. In Jesus’ loving name, Amen.
