Call On the Lord

 

[Sunday morning, the 29th of August, 2021, was a fifth Sunday of the month and at Pilgrim Reformed Church we like to celebrate fifth Sundays with music.  So this morning we enjoyed a sing-along of our favorite hymns.  The following is a manuscript of my meditation delivered just before the singing began.  Our YouTube streaming channel is:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

In my Invocation this morning, I read to you from the opening of King David’s 55th Psalm, where he pleads with God to hear his prayer.  In verses 16 and 17, David goes on to say…

16 As for me, I will call upon God,

And the Lord shall save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

--Psalm 55:16-17 (NKJV)

So David declares that not only will he call upon the Lord, asking to be heard, but that he knows God will indeed hear him and save him from whatever he faces at that time.  David is proclaiming his complete trust and faith in God.  His son, wise King Solomon, instructs his own son to do the same.  In Proverbs chapter 3, verses 1 through 8, Solomon gives these words of wisdom…

1 My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;

2 For length of days and long life

And peace they will add to you.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart,

4 And so find favor and high esteem

In the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

8 It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones.

--Proverbs 3:1-8 (NKJV)

Solomon is imparting to his son some of the wisdom God gave him, and the benefits of following that wisdom.  A long and peaceful life, favor and great esteem both in the eyes of God and the sight of his fellow man, guidance and health are just some of these rewards.

“Trust in the Lord”, Solomon says.  We must trust in the Lord with all our heart and acknowledge Him as our Lord, know Him personally, be in a true relationship with Him.  We must trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding.

The tumultuous times of the last year and a half should have shown us just how little we can rely on our own understanding.  What was thought to be understood one day was proven wrong the next.  My favorite example of the fallacy of man’s understanding is the bumblebee.  Scientists can show you with diagrams and equations that it is aerodynamically impossible – not physically possible – for a bumblebee to fly.  I guess they forgot to tell the bumblebees.

Man’s understanding, man’s wisdom, is fallible and subject to change.  God’s wisdom is infallible and constant.

Today and every day, we need to call upon the Lord.  He will hear us and save us.  We just need to trust in Him, know Him, have a good solid relationship with Him.  And we need to follow the guidance He provides through His Holy Spirit within us.

Call on the Lord.  Trust in the Lord.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for hearing our prayers when we call upon You for help.  Thank You for always being here for us.  Too often we think we know what we’re doing when we really don’t.  Too often we stand by our own understanding rather than relying on You and the wisdom You offer.  Please, Father, help us put all our trust and faith in You.  Help us grow into a closer, deeper, more meaningful relationship with You.  Give us the full conviction of our words when we say You are Lord.  All this we pray in the blessed name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.