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TITLE: Inclined Towards You
DATE: January 2, 2019 TEXT: Psalm 116: 1, 2 - ESV - I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 9-year-old Simone of Ontario, Canada, has a problem The problem is this: her mother, normally a decent and gentle woman, had shown a side of herself which was not especially likable or pleasing to young Simone. Understandably she was distraught and in her despondent desperation Simone called the police emergency number at 911. The dispatcher was calm and professional when she answered the call of the young lady. Constable Dave Sanchuck, the officer sent out in response to Simone’s call, was also calm and professional as he began his investigation. Sadly, some of that professionalism was set to the side when he found the reason Simone had made her call for emergency assistance. It seems she felt the police were needed to protect her from a cruel mother who had asked her to’ tidy up her room a bit.’ So as not to make the visit a total write-off, Officer Sanchuck gave Simone a talking to and explained how there were only a few police officers who could respond to emergency requests. He told her ‘If an officer was with her, he couldn’t be with someone else who might be in some life and death situation.’ Lastly he told her that “An order to clean up her room was not a real, true emergency.” Apparently that is a lesson which needs to be told more frequently… another story has just crossed my desk… this one telling of a teen who called 911 because she wanted the police to straighten out her parents who had selected the wrong family vacation spot. (Trenton Hills ,Ontario) That youngster also received a talk on resources and only calling when the emergency was real. Officer Sanchuck could be speaking for Police Departments all around the world when he says, because of limited personnel and finances, false alarms can “tie up the phone lines at police communications centers, waste taxpayer money, tie up law enforcement officers, and threaten lives.” In short, “When the call is real, we want to know; when it’s not, leave us alone.” In contrast to these 911 rules dictated and limited by Police Department resources. We have the unlimited invitation and promises of the Triune God,: Take a moment and look at the passage above. Get a sense of what the Psalmist is trying to say. Picture in your mind the word picture he is painting when he wrote, “he inclined his ear to me.” Imagine, the Creator of the Universe; the Originator of all that is ,or ever will be, leans forward on His heavenly throne so He might listen to your prayers and thoughts. The Lord doesn’t say:
On the other hand, He tells us there is no problem too big for Him to handle; too small not to merit His concern. Because of His Son’s life, death and glorious resurrection, this year will be filled with events unexpected and situations unanticipated. All that we can be sure of is this: we have a loving Lord Who is inclined to hear our every thought. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may we take our concerns, our needs, our thanks, our joys, sorrows and gladness to You in prayer., In Jesus’ Name I ask it. Amen. Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by Robb Quinn for Newser on December 11, 2018 . Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.newser.com/story/268426/girl-told-to-clean-room-calls-911-on-parents.html The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html
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