In his devotionals, Inspirasi Hidup (Life’s Inspiration), A. J. Soenarja, SJ, points out the fact that Moses was a not leader of an army that obeyed and admired him. On the contrary, they never stopped expressing their dissatisfaction and disobedience to him. So, here lies the secret that made Moses great: His patience in dealing with this difficult people and his trust in God that He would help in His time. Moses, who in return to his leadership and great sacrifice, received no thanks but only demands and blames, found comfort and peace in the Tent of God. There alone in the tent, Moses was rejuvenated and re-assured that God was in the midst of His people.

Life does not always treat us rightly; or more specifically, people do not always treat us fairly. Like Moses, we feel so burdened by their constant dissatisfaction and disobedience; instead of thanks, we get blames and demands. If that is our situation, we need to come to the Tent of God. There alone, we will be rejuvenated and reassured that God is in the middle of our lives, directing the traffic of our life.There in the Tent of God, we ask for added patience and trust, that in His time, He will do something. There in the Tent of God, we rest.

Psalm 109 is a psalm of anger; it’s David’s psalm, so it was David’s anger. We do not know the exact situation that he was facing but judging from what he wrote, we can tell that he was enraged. So many wounded him, lied about him and to him, accused him of a lot of wrongs he never committed. The problem was, these were folks he cared about; hence, David said, “In return for my love, they are my accusers.” But listen to what he said next, “But I give myself to prayer” (Verse 4). David went to the Tent of God; he did not push back, he prayed back. No wonder in the end David could say, “Let them curse, but You bless” (Verse 28). In the Tent of God, we see life with God’s heart and perspective: God can and will bless us.

Pastor Paul.