The Song in His Heart

5.11.2011

Ps 55:22 22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. NIV

Much of our culture these days is consumed with green-ism – taking better care of our planet. The First Lady is concerned (and seems to want us to be as well) with taking better care of our bodies. Many soap manufacturers are on the anti-bacterial bandwagon. And yet we find despite all of these things, life seems to be getting dirtier – I can’t imagine the ecological devastation in Japan following the tsunami; I can fathom the germ and filth impact of the floods currently soaking those who live in the Midwest and Deep South.

As many as are beset with a cleaner planet and cleaner bodies, are those who are plagued with financial tsunamis and debt-rivers over flowing their flimsy banks. The housing market is floundering – foreclosures, once looked upon as some sort of financial failure, are now as commonplace as dandelions in spring (which seems to be finally making its way into northeast Oregon…) Unemployment is frightening.

OBL met his match at the hands of Seal Team Six; and while that is an enormous victory in itself, only a fool would think that global terrorism is abating; pull up one by the roots, and five more grow in his place. Our world is, and has always been, a fear-driven and very scary place.

Think of a flaccid church which has become for many just a means of semi-peacefulness and pseudo sanctity. We are indeed a self-centered society trying to drown out our guilt and depression with our goodies and distractions. Often I am reminded of 1 Peter 5 where the ancient apostle said, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (Verse 7, NIV) I think Peter (whom then – btw – I think is a perfect example of most of us now) was quoting a song he’d sung in church many times: Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Peter, who found himself to be increasingly at odds with both the Romans, and the unbelieving Jews. Peter had lots to worry about – but he’d learned the song in his heart – cast [all] your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall – [He cares for you]. I’ll bet he sang that song as he was crucified upside-down on a cross.

Today’s verse for me is the song David – another who had much to worry about and fret over – sang throughout his life of crisis management. We have to remind ourselves of something – shouldn't it be for the believer to remind himself of God who invites us to give Him the toxic waste of our anxieties and fears which rob us of joy, and consume the precious inner-resources of our lives?

Father in Heaven,
Here my Lord, have them all – take all of my life as well. Use it all for Your good and glory – amen.