For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
Psalm 66:10-11 (ESV)
Dear HLPC family,
I realize that COVID-19 has affected us in variety of ways. For some, it has been a great burden of loneliness and depression. For others, it has meant great economic stress. Some may have had to face worries about their health as to catch the virus could mean a very serious, potentially fatal illness. The virus has forced separation and has kept all of us away from relationships and fellowship. It’s been a burden of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.
Psalm 66 speaks of suffering trial that the Lord has ordained. It is described as a time of testing, even a crushing burden. The Psalmist makes the analogy to how silver is tried. In other words, how silver is purified as heat is applied and the impurities, the dross, comes to surface. That is one purpose of God’s testing- purification. He can use our trials to make us more like His Son, the Lord Jesus. It could be a “severe mercy” to borrow a C.S. Lewis expression. We don’t know or understand all of God’s purposes in trials, but this is certainly one of them.
Today you’ll be receiving more information about the outdoor worship service we hope, Lord willing, to have this Sunday at 10AM, weather permitting. Just to warn you, you will be getting lots of reminders in the days ahead. It may be information overload. As I’ve heard it said, “People are down on what they’re not up on.”
Please join us tonight at 7PM on Facebook Live for our MidWeek Bible Study on “Psalms for the Stressed.” We’ll be looking together at Psalm 40.
May God give you grace to see how He is at work in you this Wednesday!
Your Pastor,
Paul