Pastor Nelda’s Notes: “The Promise”

Rev. Dr. Nelda Barrette Murriane, First United Methodist Church of Kennedale

 

READ : Psalm 147. The Promise says it this way: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (v. 3) {{more: continue}}

Eugene Peterson labels Psalm 147 as one of five “hallelujah” psalms that end the book of Psalms. To him, these psalms remind us that “our prayers are going to end in praise, but that it is also going to take awhile”.

 

The reality is that life brings rough places. Life throws us hard balls. Life is has trials and tribulations that we must face. It often takes time for God to make them smooth (Isa. 42:16).

 

Psalm 147 is full of tributes to God. God “prepares rain for the earth,” “gives snow like wool,” “fills you with the finest of the wheat,” “determines the number of the stars,” and “declares his word . . . [and] his statutes and rules.”

In the midst of all these praises, we find the promise that God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” It is fairly easy to praise God for the provision of rain and wheat and even God’s law. It’s easy to praise God when things are going well. Many of us have been trusting God for all these blessings since childhood. But how do we, the brokenhearted and wounded, trust God as we wait in longing for healing and binding up.

 

How long must we wait. I don’t mind waiting on the Lord because God is faithful and just. New mercies we see everyday. He promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

 

We must continue to train ourselves to live in our experience of the abundance of God’s blessings instead of in our expectations of the scarcity of love and healing. God is the first, and the last, the beginning and the end, whatever we need, just ask!

To God Be The Glory! “I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”

See you on Sunday!

Peace,

Pastor Nelda