Jesus’ Ministry
January 16, 2019
Scripture Reading: Psalm 36:5-10
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. –Psalm 36:7-9
I loved to sing the song Under His Wings* when I was a child; I guess I needed its message. It is no longer in our hymn books. I do not see any theological problems with it. Perhaps the use of male pronouns for God is problematic but that could be altered. Maybe the tune is too hokey for the modern generations. When I searched for the words of the song, I found another by the title Your Wings by Lauren Daigle that was written recently and carries the same sentiment. I hope it is appealing because the message is ageless and very necessary in times like these when hate and divisiveness are tearing us apart in support of lust for power and ultimately greed.
I have read that chaos reigned during Andrew Jackson’s presidency and spilled over into Civil War in the 1860’s. I lived through the protests of the 1960’s. Government discord and corruption are not new; they brought down the mighty nations of Israel and Rome. Knowing that we have God’s love protecting us does not mean we hide from the evil that besets us. It provides the shelter we need to empower us to work even harder for the realization of the Kingdom of God in our world today.
There is another song I regret has been removed from hymn books, God is Working His Purpose Out**. It was most likely removed because the music is slow and methodical and gets old after one verse much less five. The music fits the theme. We live in a world with a need for instant gratification and have loss the faith and trust in God’s good time. I am a basketball fan. A most often heard comment by Rookies is that they are being more consistent because the game has slowed down for them. Perhaps it is not that God’s time is slow, its that we have not acclimated to it.
Under His wings I am safely abiding;
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me;
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.*
Prayer: Lord, grant us the critical patience we need to further your work of love efficiently and effectively in whatever chaos we may find ourselves. Amen.
*First verse and chorus of Under His Wings by William Orcutt Cushing https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/565
**See at https://hymnary.org/text/god_is_working_his_purpose_out
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.