When it Rains, it Pours

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 7Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 9Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! (Psalm 27:1, 7-9)

"When it rains, it pours" is an old adage that is used for those who are suffering from some kind of series of afflictions. A bank statement error turns into a couple of bad checks which turns into a minor, or major, purchase gone awry which turns into credit issues/repossessions/loss of more income. You get the idea. 

Often, "when it rains, it pours" leads us to God in prayer. Today's psalm, written by David, doesn't note in the study notes that this is just such an occasion, but it does remind us of a good, proper attitude when we go to God for supplication. David notes exactly who God is at the start, the God of our salvation, from whom we have nothing to fear or be afraid. He continues in this theme and then in verse 7, he begins to set up his reason for turning to God. 

Essentially, God has instructed us to. "Be gracious and answer me Lord because You have said, 'Seek my face.' Well, I'm coming to You now to do just that, so please hear my prayer." Through good and bad, we go to God. Through sun or rain, we turn to God.

The Bible study notes state that this could have been a form of liturgy which fits with our modern-day movement in a church service. We open in the name of God, we go to God on bent knee in confession, and we sing praises to God in hymns just before we hear God's Word read. 

Pray that we never cease to acknowledge God's greatness as the source of our salvation which rescues us from sin, Satan and death. Pray that we turn to God in good and in bad and all points in between. Pray that we turn to God routinely, but that we don't ever allow the routine to be rote.