Inspired by Psalm 102:12-28
“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord: that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die.” Psalm 102:18-20
We are a disbelieving people, wanting to see the proof with our own eyes so that we may make our own judgments. In some matters it is prudent to retain such skepticism. Someone who believes anything anyone tells him is likely to be taken in by falsehood, and fails to use the judgment and discernment that God has given him. But total reliance on one’s own judgment and discernment rejects the notion that others may also have judgment, discernment, and experiences of their own. Especially when those experiences are profound enough to shape the course of history.
God was active in the lives of those who lived in ancient Israel. They knew that their salvation was from God, that it was God who heard their cry and rescued them from their despair. That salvation shaped the course of their lives for centuries, and they taught their children all that God had done for them so that they would know to worship and honor him as well.
Must God prove himself anew to each generation? Or are we willing to accept the testimonies of those who came before us? God is still active in our lives today, though only those who are familiar with his actions in the past are likely to recognize his activity. The bible documents how God has interacted with his people from the very beginning of time; while we did not see it with our own eyes, we have the witness of generations before us who experienced the profound love of God, and who told their stories so that we too may worship and praise the Lord.
Let us pray. God of the ages, you have always been active in your people’s lives. Help us to accept their testimony as true, that we may better comprehend your loving nature. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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