Have you ever been in a situation where because of anger, depression, or frustration and exhaustion you could not sing? How can we sing the Lord’s song, lament one of the prophets and rightly so. If our inability to sing is a sign of exile, then we must be in it for we are a people who can barely sing.
In times like this one cannot help but resign to hopelessness and fear. We cry for justice, but it seems like a far cry. In a world where the wicked seem to prosper and the haughty scoff at justice, one cannot help but wonder, can we bring about an inversion to the situation? Yes, and indeed!
Inversion may begin with change in the use of language. From the language of despair to hope and a radical song that sings of God’s enthronement and his deliverance. First about the God that we worship.
He does not faint or grow weary,
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength. (Isa 40: 28-29)
And then the promise to all of us who are in exiles and weary;
Even youths grow tired and weary,
And young men stumbles and fall;
But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
Daring to hope and singing of God’s enthronement seems like absurdity and avoiding the reality of the ongoing situation. However, this is exactly what David did when his life was in danger.
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is in his heavenly throne. (Psalm 11:3&4)
It is a common tendency for us, as human beings, to believe that we have control over our circumstances. If the world is out of control, then the world is out of control. The notion that God is ultimately in control may not bring comfort unless we approach it with humility. Two reasons why this perspective can bring solace and guidance during the times of turmoil.
“The Lord is in his holy temple” which means that the presence of the Lord can be felt in his sacred temple, which is embodied by Jesus, our ultimate source of connection and fellowship. Through Jesus selfless sacrifice on the cross, we are granted an extraordinary opportunity to commune with God.
“The Lord is in his heavenly throne” which means that God is fully aware of all occurrences and ultimately orchestrating everything for his magnificent glory.
NB: This was written in the backdrop of the horrendous violence June (June 2023) in the state I love and called home!
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