“The famous ‘but’s”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, July 19, 2024
Psalm 31 (Forward, p. 82) CEV p. 572
I once heard a pastor’s sermon where he alleged that the followers of Christ should never use the word ‘but’ when replying to God’s orders, as in ‘yes, but’. He said that only goats ‘but’, whereas sheep simply say ‘yes’ and follow.
However, our psalmist, David, uses the word ‘but’ in a far different sense. He uses it as a way of contrast, of comparing two courses of action:
-others may worship worthless idols, but I trust you, Lord (verse 6).
-enemies are insulting me, rejecting me, and plotting and scheming
against me, but I will trust you anyway (verses 11-14).
-I thought that I was alone and forsaken, but even so, you were there
for me and answered my prayer (verse 22).
-the Lord punishes the proud, but protects those who are faithful, who
trust in the Lord (verse 23).
Indeed, the idea of trusting in God no matter what runs all through this psalm (see verses 5, 6,14, 19, 24). Not only has the psalmist God’s promises that he can fall back on (verse 1), but he also has countless examples from his own past experiences with God. God has never let him down, and so he is confident that God will continue to help him.
So, perhaps a kind of recollection, a kind of harkening back, a remembering, would be a good exercise for all of us: to think back at God’s past dealings in our lives, His past interventions. And then, on that basis, rekindle our faith and trust in Him in the present. It probably would be good for all of us. Thanks be to God for His abundant mercies.
Forward notes: “Blessed be the Lord! For he has shown me the wonders of his love in a besieged city” (verse 21).
“As I look back on my experience with cancer, the entire episode seems like a cloud of chaos: stupefying pain and exhaustion, the stress and loneliness of being in and out of the hospital, the grief of my life seeming to fall apart. Yet, when I look back at the camera roll of pictures I took during that time, I see moments that feel like they couldn’t possibly have taken place then: horseback rides, birthday parties, dinners with friends, baseball games, movies, goat yoga, ukulele playing, vacations, Renaissance Faires, even just normal days at work. It seems unthinkable in the face of so much suffering and death, life—and even joy—could continue. Grief is real, death is real, and suffering is real. But, even in the midst of a besieged city (and maybe especially then), God shows up and shows us love. I can’t imagine what this psalmist must have seen and endured when praying these words, but they have spoken to my heart many times.”
MOVING FORWARD: “Has there been a time when God showed up for you unexpectedly or in the midst of pain?”