The God Who Intervenes
Today after conducting some Bible devotionals at Morning Star Assisted Living, I headed back to the Capitol to testify on a “access to physical therapy bill.” The committee hearing on the bill took about three hours. I was the last to testify. I am pleased the bill passed on a 10-3 vote. Now on to the next step in a long process. Before coming home, I went by Christian and Bridget’s home to pick up the grand kids. They are on Spring Break and will be with us for a few days.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “If the Lord had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.
If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalm 94:17-19 HCSB
In this Holy Week, we find that one of the last great miracles Jesus performed was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. We don’t know for sure the time gap between raising Lazarus and the meal at the home of Martha and Mary, we just know that the meal took place “six days before Passover” and just before the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Lazarus could relate to the words of the psalmist, “If the Lord had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.” Lazarus actually “rested in silence” for four days before he was raised. So great was this miracle people wanted to see him as much as Jesus. This miracle was also the “last straw” for the chief priests. We read of the crowd at the home of Martha and Mary…
“Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead. Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.” (John 12:9-11 HCSB)
As I reflect on my health crisis journey, I’m not sure I can related to Job, but I can related to the words of the psalmist, “If the Lord had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.” I am thankful for the times that the Lord helped me in the midst of my crisis. This is especially true a little over two years ago when I went into septic shock while at home. That was a close to death that I can actually remember; at least some of it.
I can also related to the words , “If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,” Your faithful love will support me, Lord.'” I recall the fear of falling, knowing that I did not have the ability to support myself. This made me as much concerned for the safety of those who were trying to assist me, as myself. When therapists were working on transferring me from the bed to a wheelchair, I would experience the sense of falling, and would express that. We can be confident that just as the therapist were there to reassure me and support me, so is the Lord with us in our times of trouble and instability.
Finally, we read of the Lord’s intervention into the depths of our emotions, “…When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Worries and cares about life, the future, finances, you name it can damper our joy and outlook on life.
However, in the midst of those worries and concerns we can experience the comfort that the Lord alone can bring. In those moments our sorrow, can turn into joy. The psalmist declares, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…” (Psalm 30:11 NIV) The prophetic declaration about the Messiah includes the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3 NLT)
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem and performed miracles and taught His disciples, He was continuing to reveal Himself as the God who intervenes in the affairs of His people. He saves from death, He rescues and supports, He brings joy through the comfort He brings to lift us out of despair. I need a savior just like that.