Dear friends,
This week I’ve talked to a number of you who are just weary.
Others are sad. Yet more are fed up and needing company. There is no quick fix to these deep-seated emotions, but let me do what a pastor must do. Point you to Jesus who knows what it is to be tired, broken hearted and lonely.
Sometimes other peoples’ songs help us express what we desperately need to say ourselves.
Last week we benefited from the wonderful hymn ‘Your faithfulness endures’ written by our own Karen Jardine, put to music by Jonathan Rea.
This week I want to share with you another song which is called
‘O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’
This hymn points us to the God of Psalm 19; giving him praise for his wonderful, good character and our desperate need for him.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Greatest treasure of my longing soul
My God, like You there is no other
True delight is found in You alone
Your grace, a well too deep to fathom
Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach
Your truth, a fount of perfect wisdom
My highest good and my unending need
Verse two gives us words to claim God’s help to keep going even when life is hard and times are tough.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Strong defender of my weary heart
My sword to fight the cruel deceiver
And my shield against his hateful darts
My song when enemies surround me
My hope when tides of sorrow rise
My joy when trials are abounding
Your faithfulness, my refuge in the night
The final verse brings us to a gospel rich grand conclusion.
God’s love isn’t vague or abstract. Instead, it anchors us in the life,
death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Gracious Saviour of my ruined life
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders
In my place You suffered bled and died
You rose, the grave and death are conquered
You broke my bonds of sin and shame
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
May all my days bring glory to Your Name
So while our weariness may not easily lift, our sadness remain and our loneliness persist, our hearts have none the less been pointed away from ourselves to the God who knows, who cares and who understands.
Three of our young women, Lydia Hamilton, Anna Currie and Ruth Sellar have put this lovely song by Sovereign Grace Worship on tape for you to enjoy. Thankyou to them for doing so and together may we say:-
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”. Ps 19:14.
Most Sincerely, Frank