The Word and the World

Reading Psalm 145:14-16

"The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires
of every living thing."

He upholds, he lifts up, he gives, he opens his hand, he satisfies - He is not a God who just sits by, passively watching to see whether we will sink or swim. He enters into the fabric of our daily lives and takes action on our behalf. We can call on him, count on him and hope in him.

In making these statements in the context of his worship David practices one of the most important tools of faith: Affirmation. By verbally affirming the Word of God, by affirming the truth about God and about how he cares for us the Psalmist gains courage, strength, and confidence. The opposite is also true. If we affirm the negative in our lives, if we affirm our anger or bitterness, if we affirm our disappointments and hurts we will lose strength, become victims and live in emptiness. But when we affirm God and His Word we become full of Him and full of His qualities and attributes. The choice is ours.

The Psalmist shows that God works with us in the context of the broken world. He does not take us out of it (that awaits a future event) but he accompanies us through it and offers practical help to deal with it. God does not prevent us from falling but upholds us, he does not insulate us from becoming bowed down but he lifts us up, he does not keep us from feeling the pangs of hunger but he feeds us, he does not prevent us from feeling the deep needs of life, but he opens his hand and satisfies us.

"The eyes of all look to you."