My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? – Psalm 22:1
Today is Good Friday, the day we recount the story of Jesus death on the cross. The words of this Psalm, that we here repeated from Jesus on the cross, echo in our minds. Perhaps more this year than other years. This prayer seems to be on the limps of so many; those who have loved ones struggling for life, those who are caring for patients in hospitals, those who are overrun and barely are holding it together, those who are stir crazy in the house whose only outlet is the news networks that make them fear it is all still getting worse than better.
I could make that list and go on and on. There are so many reason that this year, the prayer prayed by the psalmist, prayed by Jesus on the cross, “my God, my God why have you forsaken me…” is truly felt in our hearts. However, even on this most solemn of days, we cling to hope.
If we were to continue to read the entirety of Psalm 22, we would find these great words of hope, that as we cry out for God to remember us, we also sing God’s praises, for we know and trust that God is able and will answer us. The psalmist praises God by saying: From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
What a wonderful hope that “all the families of the nations shall worship before God. It is a true testament to the faith that we share in this time, it is what gives me hope as prepare messages to preach in front of a camera, that families are coming together, and worshiping God, each in their own home, until God calls us as one big family together again.
May we recount and remember the death of Christ, today, yet, let us continue to look forward to the day of resurrection. Amen.
Grace & Peace,
Sam
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