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?
Travelling across the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, in the middle of the night, on a noisy packed bus. I tried to sleep but didn’t manage much. At 3 in the morning, we pulled into a bus station in a small town, and there were a few staff members to sort out tickets – and a guy selling chai. Why did these folk stay up all night for the odd bus to come through? We were grateful they were there and could show us the toilet.
My guess is that our pilgrims (remember that we are in the Psalms of Ascent) have arrived at their destination – Jerusalem. And it’s night time. They’ve been allowed through the city gates and find their way to the temple on Mount Zion. And there they find priests, even in the night, who are continuing to pray & worship. They are grateful to God that they have arrived, and are grateful to these me who are serving – even in the wee small hours.
Psalm 134:
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 3 May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
The pilgrims are urging these priests to keep praising. To keep serving God. To keep their hands lifted up in worship.
This is the encouragement of these words to us – particularly as the New Testament says that all who know Christ – all Christians – are priests:
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’ (Revelation 5:10)
Keep going. Keep praising. Don’t give up. Keep your hands raised. You do not realise who is being blessed by it, who will be helped by the fact that you are pressing on serving and praising God – even if it’s difficult.
And if you wake in the night – as many of us do. Lift up a prayer of praise to the God who is awake. Offer a prayer for someone else who needs God’s blessing.
May the Lord bless you from Zion.
Love, Matt