Tuesday, September 22, 2009

His Story

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side--let Israel now say--it it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us" (Psalm 124.1-2)
The psalm writer is recalling national history or more exactly, His story, the story of how the LORD had delivered them through national crises and attacks by enemies. The writer understood that remembering was important. In fact, it was crucial to the continuance of the community of faith. To remember God's deliverance was to refocus the individual and corporate heart on God. It was to refocus people on following God as the LORD of all.
This psalm could be written about our history in America as well. America's story is also His story, the story of God's deliverance for a people. Just like Israel, we are not perfect. There are some big blemishes on our past like the slavery and segregation of African Americans and our treatment of Native Americans. But there is also story after story about how God delivered us in the midst of unbelievable odds. How could this upstart group of thirteen rag-tag colonies beat one of the greatest military forces in the world? Go back and read some history of the Revolutionary War and I predict you, like me, will be amazed all over again.
This psalm could also be written about our individual faith stories. Each of us has a story of how God brought us through. It is worth remembering that today! What time in your life can you look back on and see that your history is His Story?

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