Lean Times
With the Covid 19 pandemic that just seems to be dragging on and on, many are facing financial ruin and are staring poverty in the face whilst others are psychologically traumatized by fear and uncertainty. How should a believer respond in times like these? Does the Scripture offer us some words of encouragement to strengthen us? I have found some wisdom and counsel in Psalm 146 on how to live in lean times.
Firstly, I believe this Scripture teaches us to practice self-leadership…
Psa 146:1-2 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
The Psalmist is exhorting himself, stirring himself up to praise the Lord – he is practicing what I want to call “self-leadership”. He is bringing his soul into subjection to his spirit which is determined to seek after God no matter what.
Jesus understood that a heart left to itself could become troubled so He urged His disciples saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (Joh 14:1) Troubles can make our hearts fragile and fragmented, that is why we are urged in Proverbs to guard our hearts diligently.
The Psalmist highlights his quality decision, his life’s resolution, to praise God all of his days. The “modus operandi” of some is to gripe and complain, however, believers should cultivate a “gratitude attitude” and our vocabulary should be that of praise and thanksgiving!
Secondly, we should be careful to not misplace our trust…
Psa 146:3-4 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
We should have no delusions about our own abilities, or the expertise and abilities of our government, our employers, our health authorities etc. We and they are mere mortals. No! Our trust must be placed squarely in the LORD himself. We are warned very strongly not to put our trust elsewhere.
Jer 17:5 “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD”.
Thirdly, let us go to the true source of help and hope…
Psa 146:5-6 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
Things didn’t just happen by chance as evolutionists would have us believe. No! God is the maker of heaven and earth – this should give us some assurance and a bit of perspective on life. The One who made it all is not about to abandon His creation. The One who fashioned you in His own image and likeness remains faithful forever – He will sustain you!
Col 1:16-17 ...all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The psalmist contrasts the mortality and temporality of man with the immortality and eternality of God.
Finally, let us revel in the goodness and mercy of God…
Psa 146:7-9 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
I believe that these verses are a Messianic prophecy and were fulfilled in Jesus (See Mat 11:5)
The LORD upholds the cause of the oppressed – He is a just God.
He gives food to the hungry – He is Jehovah jireh our provider. He gives us our daily bread both in ordinary ways or miraculously (e.g. Elijah & ravens, feeding of 5 000).
The LORD sets prisoners free – He is a deliverer.
He gives sight to the blind – He is a healer - Fulfilled in Jesus (See Joh 9:32).
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down – He is the lifter of our heads (See Lk 13:12)
The LORD loves the righteous – He is the lover of our souls.
The LORD is especially mindful of the alien, fatherless and widow – He’s merciful and kind.
In the light of all this, all we can do is exclaim…
Psa 146:10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Lean on the Lord as you learn to live in lean times!
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