LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY FATE –

There is every reason to believe that King David had a satisfied smile on his face as the final blessing was given to the people after the Ark of the Covenant rested in the Holy Tent he prepared for it. Then this happy and delighted King of Israel encouraged the priests and singers to continue the sacrifices of praise for God’s new abode. So, accompanied by the choir and musicians, they used this Psalm of Thanksgiving in their praise and worship as a satisfied king returned to his own palace where he blesses his family, as the enormity of what just happened impacts his heart and mind.

“May our One True God smile on us and treat us with such dignity and kindness that everyone will see what it means to believe in Him, and how He treats those who do. After they see this, surely they will honor You, O One True God. This will bring joy to many people and put a song in their hearts, because they see that You are just and offer guidance to those who obey. Because of this, they will surely honor You O One True God. May our One True God above all gods let prosperity come and cause us to be admired around the world. Yes, may our One True God smile on us and treat us with such dignity that people in every corner of the earth will then esteem and respect Him.” Psalm 67:1-7

Reflection: One of Chicago’s wealthiest businessmen, Horatio Spafford, stood silent as he saw his worldly possessions go up in flame during the great fire of October 1871. While he attempted to put things back together, he decided to send his wife and four daughters off to Europe for a deserved reprieve from the heartbreak that hit their family. But on the way to Europe their ship collided with another and sank, taking his four young daughters to a watery grave. As soon as his surviving wife reached Europe she sent him a telegram with the horrible news. It was like rubbing salt into his already infected wounds. So Spafford quickly booked passage on the next ship in order to join his wife and comfort her. The ship was scheduled to sail over the same spot where his daughters drowned and now lay at the ocean’s bottom. Out of respect, the captain stopped the ship at the place of this tragic scene. As Spafford stood at the railing looking out teary-eyed over the ocean’s expanse, his tears began to fall into the waves below. This moment moved him so deeply that he decided to write down the feelings that came over him during that instant. The words he wrote went like this: “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.” After all David had been through running from King Saul; the criticism and uncertainly of his friends when they thought all was lost; after his unsuccessful first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem resulted in death; and even after those who expressed disapproval over his complete dedication to getting the Ark back and putting it where it should be, we can hear David say at the close of this day, all is well with my soul. What a wonderful examples these two men leave us on how to best respond in troubled times with an everlasting hope in our hearts; that despite the turmoil and rampant growth of evil in our world today, because of God’s loving hand upon our lives it is truly well with our souls. So the next time you pass through some trying or painful experiences, rather than exploding with complaints and accusations, acknowledge that your complete faith and trust in God will allow you to also say in the most trying circumstances: all is well with my soul.