The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?
I like a list. I keep a to-do list going all the time. It’s great to tick things off. A friend keeps an enormous list, and when she does things that are not on the list she adds them on and ticks them off immediately to make her feel good. This is taking it too far.
The internet loves a list.
- 23 ways to know you are in love
- The top ten films of all time that involve a dog
- 17 things you wish you’d learnt when you were younger
- 12 reasons that London is the best city in the world
Psalm 111 is a pretty good list – a list of some of the wonderful attributes of God:
2 Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. 3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures for ever. 4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
Here’s the full list of 14 charactersitics of God that the psalm mentions:
- Great works
- Glorious and majestic deeds
- Righteousness
- Does wonders
- Gracious
- Compassionate
- Provides food
- Remembers his covenant
- Powerful works
- Faithful & just
- Trustworthy precepts
- Upright
- Provided redemption
- Holy & awesome
It’s quite a list. The psalm has packed a lot in. Can I encourage you to read it through out loud? And take hold of one of these promises for yourself.
So, if God is like this – what should our response be? The final verse is the answer:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise
If God is like the description in this psalm, then the correct response is to fear Him – to honour, respect and follow Him. It is not only the right response to the awesomeness of God – it is the beginning of wisdom and good understanding. Something I need a lot of.
Have a great day.
Love Matt