Kingdom Building

September 25, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
   who abide in the shadow of the Almighty
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
   my God, in whom I trust.’
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
   and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
   or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
   or the destruction that wastes at noonday. –Psalm 91:14-16.

It takes courage to step out in faith, take a stand, push against the norms of society when it allows injustice. Jesus never said it would be easy. He did say he would be with us when we were pursuing our work toward his Kingdom. I think the Psalmist describes that well in the above verses. I have always loved the imagery of being protected under God’s wings I sang about as a child. The words in this Psalm is also a beautiful anthem I sang as an adult.

Singing these words seems to vanquish from my mind the horrors that it describes—snare of the fowler, deadly pestilence, terrors of the night, arrows that fly, destruction. I am naive to most of these threats while people all over the world face them routinely. What would drive me to leave my home and walk for miles without food or water to find safety for myself or my family? How desolate would I feel if I was turned away by those who might help? What if I became separated from my children not knowing if I would ever see them again? What if I was arrested and returned to the terror I fled?

I took heart when I read recently that the populations of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador were between 87 and 90 percent Christian as they are surely experiencing the shelter of God’s wings in one way or another. I believe the resurrection of Christ initiated the development of the Kingdom of God in our world and that we are called to be active participants in making that happen. The time for action is now wherever people are facing such horrors.

Prayer: I pray for those in harm’s way to feel the shelter of the Most High as they do face the horrors described. I pray for the courage to do my part to assuage the circumstances with which they must deal. I pray that all peoples of faith come together as one to answer God’s call to love. Amen.

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.