God's Covenant Commitment

The scripture for today comes from Psalm 107.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Some wander in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in.

Hungry and thirsty, they are so fainted within them.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Some said in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons.

For they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor.

They fell down with none to help.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness in the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.

For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities, suffered affliction.

They loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.

And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy.

Some went down to the sea in ships, during business on the great waters.

They saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.

For he commanded and raised a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.

They mounted up to heaven.

They went down to the depths.

Their courage melted away in their evil plight.

They reeled and staggered like drunken men, and were at their wit's end.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.

Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,

a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of his inhabitants.

He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.

And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in.

They sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.

By his blessing, they multiply greatly, and he does not let the livestock diminish.

When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

he pours contempt on princes, and makes them wander in trackless ways.

But he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.

The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things.

Let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

This is the word of God.

Good morning, everyone.

Brilliant. You know you're meant to respond.

My name is Nsikan.

I co-leader CG called The Messengers with Leo and Henrique.

It's an honor to bring God's word to you this morning.

I'm going to share a quick life experience,

and I think everyone would attest to it that if you've ever been in trouble

or in grave danger and your stomach sinks,

then you start to sweat really bad.

Years ago, I just finished driving school,

and I decided to take my mom's car for a ride.

She sent me on an errand quite alright.

So I went out with the vehicle,

but I didn't go out with my driver's license.

I didn't have the L inscription on the vehicle.

I just thought it's a few blocks away.

It's not too far off.

I could get the petrol and come back home.

I didn't go alone.

I went with the family driver.

He was with us that day.

So I drove to the petrol station,

got the petrol,

and on driving out of the petrol station,

I ran into another vehicle.

There's no need to panic.

No one died.

There wasn't anything drastic or anything.

The only thing bad was

the headlamp of the other vehicle was completely gone.

It was off.

My mom's car was still good,

which was great.

It meant no trouble.

But because our vehicle wasn't damaged at all,

the lady insisted that we had to pay for damages.

So my sister called,

noticing that we're running too late,

and I told her about what happened.

She called my elder brother.

My elder brother came in,

and he saved the day.

No grounding,

no scolding.

It was good.

Thankfully,

that happened.

If that did not happen,

I would surely have been in trouble that day.

And the psalm that we're about considering

is quite similar to my story,

where God redeems his people

from trouble.

And the Bible currently is,

coherently tries to communicate one message.

God's desire to have a relationship with his people.

And it is centered on the people of Israel.

Because I believe God would want to use Israel

as an example for all of humanity to sort of see.

And this is an example for all these people.

And the book of Psalms,

though it is centered on the people of Israel,

it's collected over a period of years.

And we're currently in book five,

one of seven.

And it's written by,

as you've noticed,

it's written by several authors.

There's David,

there's Asaph.

Last week,

we considered one of the psalms by Ethan.

And though this week,

the writer is anonymous,

because it was collated over a period of time,

but it still tells of the people of Israel

and their history.

And the timeline on where we are with Psalm 107

is just before when Israel is leaving exile

and they're on the merry way to Jerusalem.

And I believe Neil sort of touched

in the exile last week.

So I wouldn't want to go over that again today.

But today we would consider God's covenant,

God's covenant commitment to Israel

in light of their redemption

as they leave to exile.

But before we sort of understand

what is in 107,

we would quickly touch base with 106.

And I'll read it quickly

in the concluding verses of 106.

Save us, O Lord, our God,

and gather us from among the nations

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord,

the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

And let all the people say amen.

Praise the Lord.

On hearing this,

you would sense the outcry

of the people of Israel

asking God to save them

because they were in distress,

they were in trouble,

they were in a tight corner.

And shortly after these verses

and jumping to 107 that we just read,

you'd see this outburst of praise and thanksgiving.

It's just an immediate start.

Start.

It wasn't,

the psalm doesn't start off slow

and builds up to the end.

It sort of just starts in between

and there's that outburst of praise

and thanksgiving,

like in verses 1 to 3.

O give thanks to the Lord

for He is good

and His steadfast love

and He is yours forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

whom He has redeemed

and gathered from,

gathered in from the lands,

from the east

and from the west

and from the north

and from the south.

You could sense that joy

and thanksgiving

because there's that transition

from the people of Israel

being in exile

and asking God for help

and them leaving exile

and being thankful

that that has happened.

And maybe for us,

the word exile might be

a bit too abstract.

Our closest experience with exile

would be COVID times

where we had lockdown

and restrictions

and no traveling.

And we would attest

that when there were

no longer restrictions,

there was that jubilation

in our hearts.

I even had colleagues

who were saying

that they're going

on revenge travel.

Like they have all their tickets

planned out.

They're going to Singapore.

as much as many countries

they can afford

at that time.

And we're not any different.

Just like the people of Israel

who were one time in exile

and now we're walking

towards redemption.

And in likewise manner,

in our time and day,

we're still growing.

We're still learning.

And I hope that

as we go through the passage,

we'd see that

there's a parallel

between the people of Israel

and our own journey

and experience.

The introductory verses

sort of set a precedent

for the structure

of the Psalms.

There's that introductory verses

in verse 1 to 3.

And there are two other subsets

that sort of,

that can be summarized

in two points.

God's steadfast love

or God's confident commitment

in the past

and God's confident commitment

in the future.

In the first portions,

which is God's confident commitment

in the past,

which is between

verses 4 to 32,

it can be summarized

into four stories.

The four stories

are more like reflections

of what the people of Israel

had gone through

and God's redemption

in the midst of all of that.

The first story is

between verses 4 to 9,

which reads,

Some wandered in desert waste,

finding no way

to a city to dwell in,

hungry and thirsty.

Their soul fainted within them

then they cried to the Lord

in their trouble

and He delivered them

from their distress.

And I don't think

the desert is one of the best

places to wander.

It is not a fun place.

It is dry,

it's scorching hot,

the weather conditions

are not one of the best.

it is,

they're sandstorms,

and even more,

they're dangerous animals

that you would not even

sort of have a means

of protection.

But if we put this

in the context

of the people of Israel

and we would try

to take it back

and wonder,

like,

when did this happen?

How did this happen?

But it would tell us

that this wandering

in the desert

brings us back

to one time in Exodus

where the people

of Israel,

out of disobedience,

wandered for 40 years.

The second story,

which also starts

from verse 10

and runs through to 16,

I'd read in part,

Some sat in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

prisoners in afflictions

and in irons,

for they had rebelled

against the words of God

and spun the council

of the Most High.

So he bowed their hearts

down in hard labor,

they fell down

with none to help.

Historically,

it is evident

that when nations

conquer another nation,

they take people

off as slaves.

And for the case

of Israel,

this describes

the invasion

that happened to them

that led to their exile.

The people were bound

in chains

and this is a result

of their disobedience.

Not only that slaves

were locked in caves

and dark places,

but they were forced

to do laborer's attacks

and it sort of sounds

like the invasion

that happened

with Assyria

and the Babylonians.

The third story,

which is still

in the first part

that we're considering,

is between verse 17

to 22.

And I'd read it in part,

some were fools

through their sinful ways

and because of their

iniquities suffered affliction.

They looted

any kind of food.

They drew near

to the gates

of death.

And the wilderness

experience

is very likened

to this.

Because if you're

in such a condition,

I'm sure you would

have several

near-death experiences

where you're in trouble.

And finally,

the fourth story,

which starts

from verse 23

to 32.

Read,

some went down

in ships

doing business

in great waters.

Some saw

the deeds

of the Lord,

his wondrous walks

in the deep.

For he commanded

and raised

the stormy wind

which lifted up

the waves

of the sea.

They mounted

up to heaven.

They went up

to the depths.

Their courage

melted

in their evil

plight.

They reeled

and staggered

like drunken men

and were at their

wits end.

Though Israel's

geography

doesn't necessarily

is anywhere

borderline

close to

the river,

but we know

that a key part

of Israel's history

is also

the prophets.

prophets

and

one would

conclude

that this

would be

a typical

story of Jonah

and him

fleeing

from God

and getting

on a ship

to Nineveh.

Though he fled

in disobedience

and he saw

the wonders

of the sea,

but for the sailors

that was

their redemption.

But

if you were

reading it

from afar

you would wonder

why does the writer

have to write

four stories

to say the same

thing all over

and over again?

What would be

the point?

He could just

well read

in just one

story,

say one thing

and conclude

there.

And even

in the structure

there seems

to be a pattern

where there's

an introduction

and a couple

of repeated

statements.

I believe

there's an

importance to

that.

The importance

is in

repetition.

repetition.

This

repetition

leads us

to what

we see

in the interlude

between the

structure.

It's seen

in verses

6,

13,

19,

and 28

which reads

I believe

repetition

is a good

approach

when you

want to

lay emphasis

on what

you're trying

to communicate

in hopes

that if you

missed it

the first

time,

you would

not miss

it in the

second time.

If you

probably missed

it the second

time,

you would

also see

it in the

third time.

And repeatedly,

the writer

just kept

emphasizing

on this

one thing

that the

people cried

out to the

Lord and

the Lord

delivered

them.

Another

key repetition

that is seen

through the

series of

stories that

we just

considered

is in

the

conclusion

which is

seen in

verse 8,

15,

and 21

and he

reads

let them

thank the

Lord for

his steadfast

love,

for his

wondrous

works to

the

children

of

men.

I believe

the writer

is emphasizing

on one

thing,

that God

truly redeems

the people

of Israel

because of

his character,

his steadfast

love,

that the

reason why

they experienced

deliverance and

redemption wasn't

because they

were in trouble

or they were

in a tight

situation,

it wasn't

because they

cried out

either,

it was

ultimately

because of

his character,

his covenant

commitment,

to his

people.

If you

grew up in

church like

me,

this word

might not

be new

to you.

Steadfast

love is

something that

we probably

have even

heard in

songs,

we've had

it with

bumper

stickers,

there'll be

wallpapers

about it,

it's a very

Christianese

word,

if I may,

and the

translation

just reads

that's

chesed,

I know

my Hebrew

and Greek

is not

close to

Nils,

but the

translation

basically means

God is

committed to

the people

of Israel,

there's a

covenant that

doesn't change

irrespective of

Israel's

rebellion.

Thankfully,

Nils

established

what this

means

last week

when we

considered

Psalms 8-9,

but when

we think

of the

character

of God,

we might

want to

assume that

it is

very distinct,

it is

separate.

We would

consider it

to be like

a pie of

pizza or

a pumpkin

pie,

where you'd

have a

slice of

God's

goodness,

a slice

of His

mercy,

a slice

of justice,

a slice

of love,

a slice

of patience,

and any

sort of

excellence

that we

might ascribe

to Him.

But the

character of

God is

not the

characteristics

of God.

The character

of God is

the character

of God.

It is

absolute.

There is

no fraction,

it is in

complete

measure.

The character

of God

is God

by

Himself-ness.

It is

who God

is.

If by

any chance

we take

away the

steadfastness

of God

or His

confident

commitment

of God,

then we

have

ripped Him

off of

His

excellence.

Thus,

He can

be trusted.

If God

cannot be

trusted,

then He

is no

longer

just.

If God

is no

longer

just,

then He

can occupy

the place

as God.

But because

He is

steadfast or

because He

has His

confident

commitment

towards us,

then that

is what makes

Him holy,

different,

distinct from

any other

deity or

any other

celestial being

that we

can think

of.

It is the

steadfastness

of God's

character that

makes Him

loving or

just or

kind or

any other

excellence we

can ascribe to

Him.

It's all

intertwined.

There are no

singularity.

It's absolute

together.

So because

since God is

committed to

us, does that

mean that we

would be

reckless?

Absolutely

not.

I do not

think so.

But if we

choose to be

reckless, it

only means that

maybe we

haven't fully

understood the

character of

God.

If we

choose to be

reckless, we

would surely

bear the

fruits of our

actions.

And just

like this

text has

showed us in

verse 4 to

5, the

people who

wandered in

desert west,

finding no way

to a city to

dwell in,

hungry and

thirsty, and

their soul

fainted within

them, it

was because of

their reckless

actions or

their choices,

they indeed

bore the

repercussions of

the poor

choices they

made.

But when we

understand or

embrace the

reality of

who God is

or how He

is committed

to us,

because He

loves us,

He should

drive us to

worship.

Shouldn't He

drive us to

worship?

shouldn't the

excellent of

God drive us

to worship?

Because how

can an

excellent God

be committed

to us even

when we

rebel, if

it is in

love?

Just like the

children of

Israel, church,

I believe we

have wandered

the desert

waste of

life, looking

for rest for

our souls.

Haven't we

sought in

darkness or the

shadow of

death, becoming

prisoners in

affliction, under

the irons of

our own

addiction?

Haven't we

foolishly, through

our own sinful

ways, suffered

repercussions in

our bodies and

in our souls?

Haven't we, like

Jonah, fled and

as a result of

our disobedience,

experienced the

wonders of God?

Even in the

state of our

rebellion, God

is still committed

to us.

God still

shows us

mercy and

brings us

redemption

through Jesus.

Shouldn't that

drive us to

worship?

Shouldn't his

goodness lead us

to repentance?

That in

looking back, just

like the author

reflecting over

the history of

Israel and

the actions,

that we

see the

consistent

commitment of

God in

loving us,

in redeeming

us, despite

when we

rebel.

God

and in

doing so,

that we

be driven

to worship

the God

of Israel

and bust

out with

thanksgiving,

just like the

introductory

verses.

Oh, give

thanks to the

Lord, for he

is good, for

his steadfast love

endures forever.

Let the

redeemed of the

Lord say so,

whom he has

redeemed from

trouble.

trouble.

I believe God

has indeed

redeemed us

from trouble

and gathered

us in this

beautiful city

of Hong Kong

this Sunday

morning.

And when we

reflect on that,

I believe it

should drive us

to worship.

It should

drive us to

give thanks

and not to

be static

or stoic.

The writer

reflection

points us to

two things.

That when we

consider all

Christ has

done, that we

would surely

attest to the

faithfulness of

God.

Because to be

honest, we

forget too

easily.

We forget

how much

redeeming

God is

towards us.

We forget

too easily

because most

times we are

just narrowed

down to how

we want things

to go or how

we want

things to

pan out.

And secondly,

the writer

writes in

reflection of

the people

of Israel

and their

past, hoping

to point us

to the

future that

is ahead of

us.

Which leads

us to the

second part,

God's

covenant

commitment to

us for the

future.

On the

second part,

it starts

from verses

33 to

43.

Still on

the context

of the people

of Israel,

it's almost

even

repeating

because he

repeats the

same thing

about the

people of

Israel leaving

exile and

returning back

again or

them walking

in rebellion

and God

showing them

redemption.

But this

time, rather

than telling

four stories,

he borrows a

very poetic

style from the

books of the

prophets.

And there's that

juxtaposition

between what

God does that

is almost

impossible,

like bringing

desert to a

fruitful place

or a fruitful

place becoming

a desert.

If we read

from verse

33 to

38,

he turns

rivers into

a desert,

springs of

water into

thirsty ground,

a fruitful

land into

salty waste,

because of the

evil of its

inhabitants.

He turns

a desert into

pool of

water,

a patched

land into

springs of

water,

and there he

lets the

hungry dwell.

He establishes

a city for

them to

live in.

They sow

fields and

plant vineyards

and get a

fruitful yield,

but his

blessing they

multiply greatly

and he does

not let their

livestock diminish.

If we

consider the

people of

Israel,

it relates

so much

to them,

because before

the people

of Israel

inhabited

Canaan,

there were

the Amorites.

The Amorites

were this

pagan nation

that were

the original

inhabitants of

Canaan.

God spoke

to Abraham

in Genesis

15,

telling him

that your

people would

go through

slavery in

Egypt,

but 400

years later

they would

come back

and dwell in

this land

because the

inhabitants of

this land,

their wickedness

had not,

their wickedness

is not yet

full,

or my justice

hasn't gotten

to them yet.

A similar

reference is

also with the

destruction of

Sodom and

Gomorrah,

this fruitful

city that

became completely

ruined because

of the evil

of the

inhabitants.

And we

see that

God's covenant

commitment is

not just only

in bringing

fruitfulness of

blessing,

but it's also

in justice.

It's also in

bringing justice

to the evil

of the land.

But the

writer doesn't

end yet on

the history of

Israel because

Canaan as we

know it,

which was a

desert place,

suddenly becomes

this fruitful

land.

It wasn't

because of the

agricultural

practices of

Israel.

It's not

because they

had the best

technology either.

The reason

why Canaan

became fruitful

was because of

God's covenant

commitment.

It was God's

covenant commitment

that took this

empty land that

is flat to

become fruitful.

It was that

miracle of God.

And almost

towards the

ending from

39 to 42,

we're introduced

to another

period of

Israel's history

when they also

rebelled against

God and God

brought justice

to them.

It reads,

when they were

diminished and

brought low

through oppression,

evil and sorrow,

he pours contempt

on princes and

make them wander

in trackless

wastes.

But he raises

up the needy

of affliction

and make their

families like

flocks,

your pride

see and are

glad and all

wickedness

shut his mouth.

We know

Israel's,

a key part of

Israel's

disobedience was

because they

chose to have

kings.

And because they

chose to have

kings,

the kings let

them astray

and they

started worshipping

other gods.

The choice to

have other

kings led

even to that

great oppression

and exile.

But in the

midst of all of

that, we

still see God's

hand redeeming

the people of

usual.

Why?

It's clear.

It's his

covenant

commitment.

In considering

the writer or

in looking at

the perspective

of the writer,

why does he

do this?

Why does he

go over the

same thing all

over again?

I believe as

the people

live in

exile,

they would

be shattered

with no

hope,

with no

certainty of

what's ahead

of them.

And as

covenant of

Israel,

I'm sure

they are aware

that Jerusalem

is in ruins.

There is no

certainty of

a house

or cattle

or food.

And the

writer reflects

in that past,

hoping that in

looking back,

the people of

Israel will

look forward

and remember

that it is

God who

made Canaan

what it is.

It is not

their best

practices that

made Canaan

fruitful.

It is God

who brought

the miracle of

desert land

becoming fruitful.

Israel.

The writer

also writes

in response

to remind

the people

of Israel

not to

repeat the

same thing

that the

past generation

made in

going in

rebellion and

idol worship,

hoping that

he would

encourage them

not to

forget

quickly the

covenant

commitment of

God and

to remember

that God

is indeed

faithful in

the past,

in the

present,

and even

in the

future that

they are

heading into,

that they

will see

through the

lens of

faith and

not through

despair and

trust in

God.

I know

someone in

the crowd

has already

started

yawning and

saying,

this is not

a history

class in

Sikan,

this is

2023,

there is

no business

between me

and Israel,

I am firing

Hong Kong.

but we

can attest

that though

that we

might not

have gone

through a

political

exile,

but we

are on

the journey

of life

and to

be honest,

each and

every one

of us

have questioned

what's ahead

of us.

We have

looked,

looking across

the crowd

and seeing

whether young

or old,

we have

considered that

question,

like what's

ahead,

be it when

you're just

graduating or

you're just

starting a new

role,

and you're

wondering in

the next

three,

four years,

what's ahead

of me?

And in most

cases,

when we

consider this

question,

we end up

in a rabbit

hole of

despair,

of anxiety,

of worry,

and the

writer in

response to

our own

situation

would be to

point us to

a better

reality,

point us to

remember that

God is indeed

faithful,

faithful,

and his

covenant

commitment

is not

just only

for the

times of

the old,

but it's

also for

the future

that is

ahead of

us that

we do

not know.

The

closest

historical,

how do I

know this

is true?

The closest

historical,

tangible facts

that we can

hold on to

is there

was this

man called

Jesus of

Nazareth,

this random

guy,

born in the

family of the

lineage of

David.

this man

died,

he rose

because of

God's

covenant

commitment.

The greatest

tangible

expression of

God's

covenant

commitment

is in

the presence

of Jesus

because he

speaks of

a greater

redemption,

a greater

provision,

a security

that we

would have

not just

for our

bodies,

but ultimately

for our

souls.

And this

is what

we must

consider.

Even in

looking forward

in what's

ahead of

us,

we can

also reflect

and look

back and

see that

in the

timeline of

historical

events,

there was

this man

Jesus,

and he

is the

most tangible

expression

that we

can hold

on to.

And we

wouldn't,

by God's

grace,

not longer

look into

the future

with despair,

anxiety,

would know

that God

is faithful

and he

is good

because he

brought Christ

from the

dead,

and even

more because

Christ was

even faithful

to the

cross.

Now that

we have

sort of

learned

about this,

how do

we respond?

To be

fair,

when I

studied the

psalm,

and knowing

that this

is what

the psalm

is saying,

the psalm

is saying

God's

covenant

commitment

is unchanging,

and I

question,

how does

this mean,

or what

does this

mean for

me?

Do I

actually

trust God's

covenant

commitment,

or do I

actually

try to

fix things

my way,

get it

done?

And to

be fair,

I think I

have my

moments,

there are

periods where

I trust

completely,

and at

times I'm

like,

God,

I think I

can do

a better

job,

I can

make things

happen.

And maybe

for someone

who is

here that

is not

a Christian,

a practical

application

would be,

a good place

to start

would be just

to acknowledge

that indeed

God has

worked behind

the scenes.

Maybe a

good time

would be to

consider your

life and

reflect on

several events

and see that

indeed God

has been

working behind.

maybe we

would need

to acknowledge

that you

are finite

and God

is infinite.

And even

more,

maybe you

should consider

the cross

and this

man,

Jesus.

The cross

that speaks

of a public

display of

trust and

affection,

that also

speaks of

your own

redemption.

And in

response to

that,

maybe you

would be,

you would

say like the

psalmist,

oh,

give thanks

to the

Lord,

because he

has been

committed to

me all

this while

and I

never knew.

And for

us Christians,

maybe a

good place

to start

would be

in prayer

and

thanksgiving.

Because most

times we

think that

prayer would

sort of

change things

or make

things go

away,

but I'm

learning to

see that

most times

what prayer

first changes

is your

heart.

Prayer would

change your

heart to

see Jesus

and see

that he

is committed,

even though

things are

not necessarily

going how

you panned

it to be.

And I'll

share this

as an

encouragement

because I

don't think

I'm 100%

there yet.

During the

COVID periods,

when COVID

started,

I used to

worry a lot

about my

parents because

they're in

the early

60s,

going to

the 70s,

and one

evening I

remember just

being blunt

and like,

I do not

know what

to do,

Lord.

I worry

about these

people and

I'm miles

away.

And the

question popped

to my head

was,

where would

you rather

have them

be?

Would you

rather keep

them and keep

them safe or

would you

trust them to

me so that

I would keep

them safe?

And I

wrestled with

that for a

moment and

I realized

that maybe

I'm not as

meticulous as

I think that

I am.

Maybe my

parents are

even way

more safer

in his

arms more

than mine.

Because what's

the best I

could give

them?

Health

insurance?

Paying the

hospital bills?

That would,

it's not a

guaranteed safety.

It's not a

guaranteed security.

Maybe,

I came to

a resolution

that day that

maybe they

are rather

safe with

him rather

than with

me.

And I

am trying to

apply that

same resolve

to every

other thing

in prayer

and in

thanksgiving

that even

in the

future,

maybe my

career is

safe in

his arms

rather than

my network

and connections.

Maybe my

security and

provision,

everything that

I worry

over is

safe in

his arms

rather than

my good

AIA

insurance

policy.

And that's

the comfort

I am

resolving to.

That even

though one

day my

parents might

pass on

this life,

I would be

comforted,

not because

I have

everything,

but because

I know

God's

covenant

commitment

is true,

it is

faithful.

And I

would hold

on to

the truth

that if

God said

those who

mourn will

be comforted,

then I'm

sure he

would comfort

me because

he is

committed to

make that

happen.

And for

as a

community,

I think

a good

way would

be to

keep our

eyes on

Jesus.

Keeping our

eyes on

Jesus would

be,

would somewhat

mean that

each and

every one of

us in an

old way,

we would

encourage each

other to

see that

God is

indeed

faithful.

Like this is what happened in my life.

This is the faithfulness of God.

Even in our small community groups or TGs or family groups, we can attest to each other.