What is it that makes one poor? And how does God treat The Poor? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Psalms 34:6 NIV
[6] This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
Distress Signal
Back in the day before telephones and satellite tracking, it wasn’t always easy to know when someone was in danger. This mattered a lot at sea or even on land, and over time a serious of ‘universally’ accepted signals were developed to indicate that one was in trouble. The most popular among them are the SOS and Mayday signals.
There are flares, flags, tap codes, and smoke signals that present different messages to the outside world from the person in danger. These signals, once received and interpreted, are often answered immediately. I suspect that they’ve become less popular with ready access to mobile phones. (Although not used in the same way, these signals are still taught to interest groups like the Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Guides).
In some parts of the world, families have developed distress signals. This has resulted from increased violence, in schools and other public spaces.
Self-Check
Is there a distress code we have for our families and friends? How likely are we to react if we see someone in danger?
Application
Within our spiritual family unit, we also have the assurance that when we send up our distress signal, it will be attended to. I believe that the idea of attending to someone in distress might emanate from God’s attention to us when we are in danger. Whether that is so or not, the psalmist is clear: in times of trouble, the poor can find solace in God.
According to the commentary on the psalm, the word “poor” here – עני ‛ânı̂y – does not mean “poor” in the sense of a want of wealth, but “poor” in the sense of being afflicted, crushed, forsaken, desolate. [Rather, the] … word “miserable” would better express the idea than the word “poor.” (see Barnes Notes on the Bible in a good online concordance for more details). In other words, anyone who finds themselves in a distressing state is ‘this poor man’. And, when we send up our distress signal, the Lord, our God, and the hosts of Heaven are at the ready to come rescue us.
Isn’t it awesome to know that we don’t need to learn tap codes or flag signals to get God’s attention when we’re in distress? We simply need to cry out, an indication that we’re not trying to solve things ourselves. As one who’s cried out on numerous occasions, and received the support needed, I testify that our distress signals are attended to by God. And when God intervenes, it’s always in our best interest.
So whatever we face in this new week, this new season of our lives, I pray we remember that in times of trouble we can cry out, and our God will deliver us.
Point to Ponder
In times of trouble, is God our first port of call? Selah
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May all we seek be found in Christ
