Without Love, Where Would You Be Now?

Palm 124 When I was a child I used to ride my bicycle all over the neighborhood, whether it was to visit friends or go exploring. On one particular day, however, things went dangerously wrong. I don’t remember it, though, as I woke up in my home with my mother at my side. What I do remember is not recognizing her or where I was or how I had gotten there. What I was told later is that a neighbor had found me in the street unconcious, put me in the car, and brought me to my house. It was a pivotal moment in my life. What would have happened if that neighbor had not found me? Would I have died? Years before that I was again riding my bicycle down our street with parked cars on either side of the road and a dump truck in a driveway. I was only 5 at the time. The dump truck backed into the street between those cars, I fell on my bike, and it ran over me. I still remember trying to get the attention of the man standing on the side of the truck as the tires went over my legs. The next thing I knew I was at home without a single broken bone. People said the basket on my bike must have somehow born the weight of the truck. Another pivotal moment in my life. You probably have your own stories to tell. When I consider those moments, and they weren’t the only ones, I can’t help but conclude there must be a God. How else could I have survived? How does any boy who grew up in the 80s survive? There is a God! The writer of this Psalm is reflecting on Israel’s history and coming to the same conclusion. “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side…” It is thoughtful reflection on the help of God that has been present throughout their history. As we continue on the path of the pilgrim, the road of discipleship, we will face many temptations to detour or quit. What keeps us going? Knowing the Lord is our help. The psalmist invites us to reflect upon this central truth. The Lord is our help. The psalmist walks through it with word pictures to bring home this truth.