Surely he is ready to save those who honour him
Alec Shuttleworth
August 17, 2017
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Psalm 85
1 Lord, you were favourable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation towards us.
5 Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
12 The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.
“This day, much against my Will, I did in Drury-lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and "Lord have mercy upon us" writ there - which was a sad sight to me, being the first of that kind that to my remembrance I ever saw. It put me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so that I was forced to buy some roll tobacco to smell to and chaw - which took away the apprehension” - Samuel Pepys, June 7 1765
The conditions in cities like London made the spread of such deadly infectious diseases as the plague very easy. It was greatly feared. One of the reasons that Christianity flourished in the Roman Empire, according to serious academic study, is the Christian duty to care for the sick. While plague meant for the vast majority of the population banishment, Christians cared for the sick, simple nursing skills to make them more comfortable, had an impact on survival rates. If you want a great book on this read Rodney Stark’s 'The Rise of Christianity’.
But you can fully understand Pepys’s fear and discomfort.
Gracious God
The reality of your promise
Is that you walk with us
Through the valley of the shadow.
You do not steer us away
Do not guide us always to sunny uplands
But invite our faith to confront the challenges of life
Not avoid them
In this is our witness
Our powerful wordless preaching
Change us, heal us, make us brave
That through us in our walk with you
The world may be changed, healed and emboldened
Amen.
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