Reflection: Eternal Saviour

“… I’ll answer whenever you call. I’ll equip you; rescue you; celebrate you; bless you and eternally satisfy you with my salvation.” (author’s paraphrase of Psalm 91:15-16).  

The concluding big brush flourish of this Mona-Lisa-famous psalm is a confident, cover-all: You trust; I’ll save! 

It’s far from glib, because the psalm’s awash with fearful imagery … as are our lives.  

Then how so confident?  

 Jesus steadied the resolve of his disciples with the same confidence: You’ll be persecuted and put in prison. With my enabling you’ll be my witnesses. Even family and friends will betray or kill some of you. You’ll be hated because of me. But not a hair on your head will be hurt. Persevere and you’ll be saved. (author’s paraphrase of Luke 21:12-19).  

“You trust; I’ll save.” 

How so confident? Because there’s more than this messy, hell-bent present. Something new and imperishable is afoot. There’s an eternal joy worth celebrating: God’s eternal plans are for our good and his good reputation. The psalmist celebrates safety (though in the moment it might not look so) from anything threatening that eternal joy. The psalmist celebrates a trustworthy God. 

Prayer:

Clarify my misplaced fears, Father. (pause and repeat) 

Help me to love and fear the right things. (pause and repeat)  

And above all, ground me in confidence of your absolute trustworthiness. (pause and repeat) 

“Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill:  

God’s truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever!” (A Mighty Fortress, by Martin Luther)