Devotion – Thursday, 25 March
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from Psalm 27 verse 9, “You have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation,” (NRSVB). In this psalm David writes of God’s continuous protection that he gives to those who seek him and come and worship in his tabernacle. In the time of David, the temple of the Lord was not yet constructed, and the Ark of Covenant resided in the tent of the Lord. The priests served and kept the lamps burning day and night. The tent of the Lord travelled with the Israelites and God “encamped” with them wherever they went. His tent was a visible pronouncement of his ever-presence with his people. David rejoices in coming to worship God in the tent of assembly. The light shining from the lamps, lit in the tent, is to David the personification of God’s light that shines on the way of his children, guiding them. The Hebrew poets made use of many stylistic devices in their poetry and would describe situations by expressing the negative and positive aspects of matters, as to high-light the importance of the phrases. In verse nine David writes, “Do not forsake me, O God.” In verse ten he describes God’s enduring presence, “Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up and adopt me as His child,” (Amplified Bible.) David was assured through his experiences with God, the studying of God’s word and his answered cries to God, that God was the only source of refuge and salvation. God is trustworthy and true, unlike humans. David encourages the down-hearted and the humble to look up to God and know that God will never cast anyone away who comes to him. God will bring them unto him and restore them to God’s family.
When Jesus was crucified, his mother and his disciple John and some of his mother’s friends were standing close by, mourning, and in shock, witnessing the cruel and unjust death of the perfect human, Jesus Christ. Nothing could prepare them for this agony and the unfairness that had befallen Jesus. Many people mourned his death and were moved by what they saw. True, there were the scoffers who mocked, and couldn’t care less about the fate of Jesus or the two criminals next to him. However, were there people mourning the death of the criminals? Were there people saddened by their lot? Scripture does not tell us, but it would not be unrealistic to think that their families wrote them off, because of their criminal behaviour. Most likely they were forsaken by all humans and died a very lonely and painful death. In this situation, one of the men realized his fallen state. He might have even recalled a verse of scripture, a psalm, as he was facing death. This criminal decided to call on the Lord, for he was sure that this man, hanging next to him, could help him. This man, Jesus, was not hanging on the cross for crimes, but due to a greater design. The criminal said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise,” Luke 23 verse 42 and 43, (NRSVB). While Christ was dying, there on the hill of Calvary, he brought peace to the soul, heart and mind of the dying man, next to him, promising him paradise. This criminal did not die delivered up to spiritual death and condemnation, being cast off from the salvation of the Lord. He died for his criminal activities; he paid the price that was asked of him on earth, crucifixion, but he was restored that day in heaven, because he sought forgiveness. It is never too late to call on Jesus and seek forgiveness. The consolation that Jesus gives is not of the world, it is a deep soul peace. It calms the restless heart and assures one of salvation and reconciliation. One cannot have perfect restoration on earth. I believe there will be perfect restoration one day in heaven.
Father, we thank you that you take us in our most desperate state and heal us, Amen.
