Cry Out And Be Faithful
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Habakkuk 1:1-11 and Psalm 57:1-11 (NIV)
(Peter Goh Yu-Tang from Discipleship and Nurture Ministry)
READ:
The verses that stood out to me are:
“How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?” (Habakkuk 1: 2)
“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.” (Psalm 57: 7)
OBSERVE:
Habakkuk 1 begins as a lamentation by the prophet, crying out in anguish and asking God how long his prayers would seemingly go unanswered while evil and wickedness surrounded him. God assured Habakkuk that He would respond in a manner which would demonstrate His sovereignty over all creation.
Psalm 57, too, is a lamentation, by David. It was written at a time of intense fear when King Saul, driven by jealousy, was hunting him down and David had to take refuge in caves. It was a cry to the Lord for mercy and protection. David rounded off this song with a declaration of faith in the Lord as he proclaimed a steadfast heart which enabled him to sing praises in the face of fear and oppression.
APPLY:
During the worst period of COVID, I went through an intense season of trials, not only at my work in a hospital but also at home, such that I felt that I had no solace. My family was going through a particularly difficult time with my two children as they struggled with issues which were not of a physical or tangible type. One particularly bad morning, I felt crushed by overwhelming anxiety and anguish. I remember weeping and calling out to the Lord. The threat of the pandemic was tremendous. The helplessness I felt as a father of suffering children was equally immense. But I remembered David’s psalms of lamentations and ended my lamentation with a declaration of my faith in God that He would deliver us. He did so out of the blue through 2 marvelous angels whom he sent to pray with us. And answer our prayers He did with complete healing of my family, and the eventual deliverance of our world from COVID.
DO:
When engulfed by insurmountable troubles, fear and anxiety, I will continue to lament, to cry out in anguish and to plead with Him for mercy. I must remain faithful and pray fervently. He will answer, in His mighty way.
PRAY:
Dear Lord,
How long do we have to endure a world with evil surrounding us? There is wickedness and injustice to the poor and downtrodden, just like in the time of Habakkuk. is rationalisation of sin, wokeism and modern idolatry. We are sometimes overwhelmed. I ask for Your mercy to be upon us. Grant me a steadfast heart as I proclaim my faith in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
