Psalm 35:3, ‘Also draw out the spear, and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”’
This Psalm and this verse spoke to me this morning (7 Feb). My heart is overwhelmed by the reports of the devastating earthquake in Turkey, Syria (and the region). This morning, the death toll is well over three thousand and counting, with some reports estimating as much as twenty thousand. (Lord, I hope not.) The war in Ukraine still rages on, the cost of living is literally through the roof, and political instability worldwide still looms daily. Locally and more personally, we receive news of terminal illnesses, debilitating injuries, or the like from loved ones and friends.
Tuneing into the matters of world, 24/7, is both a blessing and a curse. To know about the world’s matters 24/7 is a blessing because relief and resolution are possible contenders in bringing peace. However, to know about the world’s issues, 24/7 is equally a curse because the sheer weight is stressful, leaving us overwhelmed with how to resolve any pain. To know of the world’s problems can be an advantage, and yet, it can be an obstacle. “How could a loving God allow such issues to persist in the world?” – may be a question we have. I don’t want to potentially dismiss the weight of such a question with a simple platitude, but perhaps it’s best we don’t know. Maybe it’s best we, the Church, believe that Jesus’ kingdom is here on earth as it is in heaven, and perhaps it’s best witnessed in our actions amid ongoing strife.
But, this verse, especially, ‘Say to my soul, “I am your salvation,’” is what I’m praying for all the world’s ongoing strife. I’m praying, “Lord, Jesus, YOU are our salvation.” Jesus is our only hope of life today and life to come, so amid rising stress, I’m praying this verse over the world today: That salvation has come to those who are lost.
Zacchaeus, a short-statured Jewish tax collector, reputably known as a sinner to his contemporaries, heard of Jesus and climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of him, hopefully. Like a few of the stories before Zacchaeus’ story in Luke 19, others facedsevere obstacles in life, which only Jesus could overcome. Such is the case for Zacchaeus. His authoritarian status and cunningways of collecting money probably ostracised him from his Jewish counterparts. Yet, when Zacchaeus went looking for Jesus, he found that Jesus had been looking for him and said, “Surely salvation has come to this house because this man is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus seeks and saves the [spiritually] lost. Zacchaeus had obstacles, yet Jesus sought him. Zacchaeus knew of Jesus, but Jesus knew Zacchaeus. Thus, Jesus knows our barriers but seeks us because he is salvation. The Church believes Jesus Christ of Nazareth is salvation from sin and strife, and we believe that Jesus is still seeking and saving today. For all those, near and far, who wonder if the Lord of Creation, Jesus Christ, ever cares for you….
He does.
He is our salvation.
And he will find you before you find him. I hope you experience him looking for you today.
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