Dwelling in safety
by Rev Terumitsu Hagenoshita
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Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (Psalm 4:1)
This psalm has been called an evening prayer because it says in verse 8, ‘in peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety’.
The psalm writer has been mocked and criticised and seems to carry heavy burdens. He shouts and prays directly to God in his deep suffering because he believes that only God knows the truth and may defend him righteously. And indeed, the merciful God heard his prayer. Trusting that God heard him enabled the psalm writer to rest and sleep in peace.
We also experience times of trials and sleepless nights where we are in great fear and anxiety. Particularly now in the world, I assume many people are spending peaceless nights, as COVID-19 puts thousands of people into hopeless situations.
When we are overcome with distress, let us, too, call upon God and plead for his mercy.
God delivered his beloved Son to die for our sins and always stands by our side. He always listens to our prayers, giving affirmed forgiveness and peace.
‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us’ (Romans 8:31–34).
When in distress, this psalm writer believed in the One who has promised to listen to the cry of his faithful servants, and so he called on him. May you also call on the merciful Lord to hold you in his arms and give you peaceful rest whenever you are restless.
Prayer: Pray for the Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan, that they will continue to call upon God for his mercy whenever they experience trials. Pray God will make you his faithful servant who calls upon him and lives in his loving-kindness every day.
Rev Terumitsu Hagenoshita is from Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan.
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