The importance of 15 seconds

Jane Denniston June 21, 2021 0 1

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Psalm 9: 9-20 (NIVUK)

9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
    proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
    Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,
    and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
    all the nations that forget God.
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
    let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal.

This is a very topical psalm. When we read words such as, ‘The nations have sunk in the pit that they made,’ it seems to describe our global situation today. As the economic infrastructure crumbles under the weight of the pandemic, as the planet groans under the weight of our exploitation, and as the gap between rich and poor becomes sinfully great, it seems that we are indeed sinking to our own destruction, through our own actions. Yet the psalmist is confident that God is ultimately in control, and it is comforting to read words such as, ‘For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.’

Although we are beginning to see the possibility of emerging from the pandemic, we do not yet know what the results of this time will be, nor who will be most affected. It becomes ever more clear that God is our only hope. Through faith in God we understand our place in creation. Through faith in God we develop healthy attitudes to the world and to one another. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by bad news. I recently discovered that bad news instantly take root in our brain, while good news, or good things, take 15 seconds to become rooted. This explains why it is always easier to see the dark side, and remember the bad things. We need to work at remembering the good things. In this, King David is our tutor. Remembering to thank God, to count our blessings, helps us not to be overwhelmed by negativity.

PRAYER:

Father, our world is broken.

With every crisis we face,

environmental,

financial,

a global pandemic,

it becomes more clear

how far we have departed from your ways.

Yet in the midst of this, you are still God.

Help us to remember and trust in you.

Help us to notice the good things in life

and thank you for them.

Help us to count our blessings

and in so doing

rise above negativity, Amen