The gospel assures us of eternal life while not ignoring the realities of living in the present world. Jesus came preaching – To his disciples, early in his ministry, he said, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mark 1:38) – but he was always aware of the people’s everyday needs. And so, he fed the hungry, he healed the sick, he raised the dead, he delivered from demonic possession, he opened the eyes of the blind, and so much more. Here, David writes, “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land” (41:1-2). To put it in a contemporary paraphrase: The Lord blesses those who bless.”
How blest the man who thoughtfully
the poor and weak befriends;
delivrance in the evil day
to him Jehovah sends.
The Lord will keep him, guard his life,
on earth he shall be blest;
the Lord will not surrender him
by foes to be distressed.
And as for me, in uprightness
Thou dost uphold me well,
and settest me before Thy face
forevermore to dwell.
Blest be Jehovah, Israels God
forevermore. Amen.
Let age to age eternally
repeat His praise. Amen. –The Psalter (1912)
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