Letter to the Congregations: 16th November 2024

Our Dear Brethren,

The king, knees pressing wearily yet comfortably on the floor of his bedroom, reached his hands up into the air, tears welling up in his eyes. “To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your sanctuary” (Psalm 28:1-2). He bowed his head down to the ground and continued his prayer of repentance, essentially asking for God to give him grace when he knew he wasn’t deserving of it.

King David had seen more than his share of battles. He had also sinned plenty of his own sins. David knew that God had promised that the unrepentant, who “do not regard” His works would be set aside for death (see verse 5). But he also knew that if he didn’t also repent then he would be counted with the workers of iniquity himself. So he continued his prayer, asking for God’s justice and forgiveness, but also for His strength.

The king also made sure to acknowledge the fact that God had already answered so many of his prayers. “Blessed by the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him” (verses 6-7).

David’s prayer concluded by mentioning the faithfulness of God as He cares for His people and a further plea to Him to continue caring for His people: “The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever” (Psalm 28:8-9).

Our God shepherds us well, very carefully and gently redirecting us along the right path. He keeps us from harm and corrects us when we are wrong. We are His anointed, those who have answered His calling. We can take David’s prayer as an example for our own prayers. We can and should reach out to God, seeking His forgiveness as well as strength from His hands. And just as He answered the king’s prayers, our God will also be our strength and shield. He will also be our Rock and saving refuge. He will also bear us up forever.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle
Pastor, United Church of God
NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe