- THE WORD OF THE MAKER THIS MEMORIAL DAY
- By J.C.Cordova, D.Min., LCSW
Today is May 28 a most important national holiday. Once again we pay homage to our fallen heroes of war,
countless men and women who served in the armed forces of our nation, many dying in the battle field to
defend our freedom. We also honor the survivors of these campaigns. And we pray for our soldiers seeing
combat today in the Middle East, as well as those stationed in several parts of the world. There will be
ceremonies in Washington D.C. and throughout the nation, air shows, displays of old and modern military
aircrafts, parades saluting the veterans and the present service men and women, and so on.
This Memorial Day we will be at war fighting an invisible enemy that already has caused much damage and
threatens to do even more. We hear President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, Secretary of State Rice, FBI
director and other police agencies representatives warning us that more terrorist attacks are inevitable.
Exploiting the opportunity to get on radio, television and the written press for self-gain, opposing politicians
add to the confusion with unreasonable demands and contradicting views of how to manage our defenses.
The stage seems to be set for more chaos and destruction.
What will citizens do responding to this major menace? No doubt, some will panic. Others will accept the
condition. Even others will pay no attention to the litany of warnings. But believers will trust God, taking heart
amidst the confusion, hearing the voice of an ancient sacred poet of Israel posing the question during
difficult days in the life of the nation: “From where will my help come?”( Ps. 121:1). With absolute certainty,
the psalmist answers his own question decisively: “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and
earth” (121:2). The psalmist believes and trusts the Eternal, the Maker and Master of creation, the Keeper of
Israel, the Savior of all people trusting Him.
Why is the psalmist so certain and dependent on the goodness of God? In this short poem, the writer draws
from the history of Israel. He recalls the protection of God over the people as they left Egypt under Moses
and traveled through perilous terrain encountering a myriad obstacles and dangers . But always alert, the
LORD sheltered the pilgrims from the rigor of the passage and delivered them unto the Promised Land,
though countless Israelites perished in the process.
Prophet Isaiah also opens a spiritual window for us to see the person of God in His goodness, as he puts
forth the word of the Almighty: “Thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I
dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit” (57:15). It is
uplifting to know that the Lord of the universe is also the God of each individual believer, who remains calm in
spite of severe conflict. In another place, the prophet declares: “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace--
in peace because they trust in you” (26:3). No wonder Isaiah urged believers and non-believers alike thus:
“Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock” (26:4).
Why is God unable to save his people from evil doers? At the root of this problem is human creation itself.
Endowed by their Creator with freedom to act kindly at will toward others, many abuse fellow human beings
while getting their way. And pandemonium develops when the malady reaches national proportions, and
nations turn against nations. So, theologians and Bible scholars look at innate human rebellion against God.
Attempting to finds answers to the question of human aggression, psychologists working from the point of
view of human motivation point to individual responses to the environment. At least three strong motivators
may combine to produce hostile reactions against others: 1) the basic human need of deriving satisfaction
from existence, which frequently is denied by reality: 2) the basic human need of controlling; and 3) the basic
need of associating with others. The sad fact here is that although humans are social beings, who need each
other, they can't stand one another because mutually they try to impose their will.
But the question remains. In a world saturated with evil, is it possible for God to always keep us from harm?
To be sure, many bad things happened to believers through history, including the loss of life in large
numbers. The history of Israel is the classic of classics on the suffering of the people of God at the hands of
evil men and women. So is the history of Christianity.
God’s protection over His people does not consist necessarily in bailing them out of disaster. Rather, God is
present in the lives of those suffering servants at the hands of oppressors, though He might not be able to do
a thing to stop the abuse. Another psalmist puts it this way: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.” When we go through tribulation, even death, God’s presence see us through. This is why
with complete confidence, the psalmist adds: “Therefore, we will not fear” (46:1-2). Come what may, in God
we trust and hope.
May you and yours have a most blessed and enjoyable holiday.
Best wishes in the Lord,
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