Psalm 22:19-28 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 22:19-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Verse 20Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog!
Verse 21Save me from the mouth of the lion! From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
Verse 22I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
Verse 23You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
Verse 24For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
Verse 25From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
Verse 26The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
Verse 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
Verse 28For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
Devotion
A young boy dropped Mom and Dad's hands when he spotted the merry-go-round and dashed through the people in front to get close. When he turned back to his parents, he realized he was alone in the crowd. He shouted, "Mommy! Daddy!" and then started crying, louder and louder. They had never lost sight of him and quickly made their way to him. With heaving gasps he said, "I called and called and you never answered me!" Gently Dad replied, "We could see you and I called your name, but you were making so much noise you couldn't hear me."
We are not alone. God is yearning for us to seek God out. Always. We may have called out with the psalmist for God's help, and thought God remained far away, but God is at hand. Where are you?
Prayer
Dear Lord, renew our faith, so that we remind ourselves that you are near. Whether or not we feel it, we can trust your word, for that is truth. Amen.