In Crisis Counsels this week we are focusing on a psalm of lament – Psalm 60. The two verses we have considered so far describe a society that is “tottering.” As the Psalm says: You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering. You have made your people suffer hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us reel. (Psalm 60:2-3)

The next verse says, You have set up a banner for those who revere you, to rally to it. (Psalm 60:4)

The image here comes from the battlefield. It is the image of rallying around a battleflag, in order to stand together against whatever threatens. The basic idea in this verse is that in the midst of great trouble, God’s people are called to rally around “God’s banner” or God’s flag. This is what Christians do when we come together in faith to stand against evil. Today multiple churches in Kent resolved to post the exact same message on our signs – “Black Lives Matter because we love our neighbor.” It is an example of rallying around “God’s banner” – the principles of God’s Word – to take a stand today. This is part of the urgent work of the present hour: to stand together for what is right, drawing our inspiration and our strength from God.

Prayer – Empower us, O God, to stand firmly for the values of Your Kingdom. Click To Tweet

If you missed Sunday worship, you can join with the recorded service of either the 9:30 or 10:30 worship hours at live.kentmethodist.org

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.