Matthew Smith
4 . 5 . 2020
The context of Psalm 73 may not be the same as the one we presently find ourselves in with Covid 19 but I was encouraged and a little rebuked this morning as I read verse 17 ‘until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood’, verse 23 ‘nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide by thy counsel, and afterward receive me up into glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee. And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Verse 28 but it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works’.
O to have the heart of the Psalmist.
Here is a nice hymn I found; not sure we have a tune for it (I started ‘the day thou gavest’ but that only has 4 lines).
If thou but suffer God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.
Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
He knows the time for joy
And truly will send it when he sees it meet,
When he has tried and purged thee, duly
And finds thee free from all deceit.
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care
All are alike before the Highest;
‘Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low.
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to naught.
Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.