Faithful Forever

Amanda MacQuarrie December 15, 2025 3 0

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Psalm 146: 5-10 (NIVUK)

5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them –
    he remains faithful for ever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8     the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns for ever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Interestingly in this psalm those in receipt of God’s abundance aren’t those who are already in…
Those who receive the gifts and blessings are those on the outside…
The oppressed,
The hungry,
The prisoners,
The blind,
The downtrodden…
And they are gifted what they lack:
Those kept down are heard,
Those who are hungry are fed,
Those who are imprisoned are given their freedom,
Those who are blind receive sight,
And those who are downtrodden are lifted up.

But that’s not all…
There’s a special word to the “other”…
The stranger, the widow and the fatherless…
Those who wander, those who don’t belong, who rely on the kindness of communities where they seek belonging…
God sustains them!

Think of the different places you find community today…
Your family, your school, your place of work, your choir, your gym, your running group, toddler group, book group… village… town… island… city…
Who are the imprisoned?
Who are the hungry?
Who are the downtrodden and marginalised?
Who is the “other” the stranger, the widow, the fatherless?
How are they being sustained?
What might they need?

Where might you welcome them and answer their needs?

God’s table is big enough,
Has room enough,
Has enough…
More than enough
For everyone!

Where might you extend that welcome today?
What might that welcome and hospitality look like?

Banquet Holder,
Multitude Feeder,
Welcomer, Host!
You open your arms to all,
Making space for everyone.
No one is kept out, or forgotten…
Help us to extend your welcome to all.
Give us eyes to recognize those who are excluded, 
And give us courage to stand up…
To shout out,
And welcome them in…
Filling their hunger, meeting their need…
Sharing your love.
Amen.