Psalm 124
If the LORD had not been on our side -
"If" is such a small word isn't it?
One of my favourite poems - and indeed the UK's favourite when voted on is "IF" by Rudyard Kipling
It is an amazing list of things that if you can do them, "Yours is the earth and everything that's in it and, which is more, you'll be a man my son" - sorry non inclusive language...
The Psalm however is not "If you" but "If God"
IF God had not been on our side when people attacked us - we would have been swallowed alive, engulfed in torrents and floods of raging rivers.
You only have to watch the news for a bit to see tragic tsunamis, floods, landslides, senseless murders.
Speaking of which I write this the day after a local member of parliament was stabbed and shot to death on the street in my county.
My sympathy and prayers are with the family and friends of Jo Cox MP along with those who have lost an advocate and voice.
I also pray for the family of the murderer, and indeed the assailant that they and he would feel the love and forgiveness of the true God, after all the first person Jesus promised a place in heaven was a murderer and terrorist "I tell you the truth, this day you will be with me in paradise"- is one of only 7 sentences recorded by Jesus on the cross. if Jesus can make that offer - I don't want to slam the door of forgiveness on anybody
Anyway, lets finish the Psalm shall we?
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth,
We have escaped their pluts like a bird escaping a broken snare.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
Perhaps there is room for both "If God" and "If you" -
If you can live your life to the fullest within the blessing of God
If God is for us, who can stand against?
Neither poverty, nor riches,, neither height nor depth, neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons can separate us from the love of God - to paraphrase St Paul
If the LORD had not been on our side -
"If" is such a small word isn't it?
One of my favourite poems - and indeed the UK's favourite when voted on is "IF" by Rudyard Kipling
It is an amazing list of things that if you can do them, "Yours is the earth and everything that's in it and, which is more, you'll be a man my son" - sorry non inclusive language...
The Psalm however is not "If you" but "If God"
IF God had not been on our side when people attacked us - we would have been swallowed alive, engulfed in torrents and floods of raging rivers.
You only have to watch the news for a bit to see tragic tsunamis, floods, landslides, senseless murders.
Speaking of which I write this the day after a local member of parliament was stabbed and shot to death on the street in my county.
My sympathy and prayers are with the family and friends of Jo Cox MP along with those who have lost an advocate and voice.
I also pray for the family of the murderer, and indeed the assailant that they and he would feel the love and forgiveness of the true God, after all the first person Jesus promised a place in heaven was a murderer and terrorist "I tell you the truth, this day you will be with me in paradise"- is one of only 7 sentences recorded by Jesus on the cross. if Jesus can make that offer - I don't want to slam the door of forgiveness on anybody
Anyway, lets finish the Psalm shall we?
Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth,
We have escaped their pluts like a bird escaping a broken snare.
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
Perhaps there is room for both "If God" and "If you" -
If you can live your life to the fullest within the blessing of God
If God is for us, who can stand against?
Neither poverty, nor riches,, neither height nor depth, neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons can separate us from the love of God - to paraphrase St Paul
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