Pick Up the Phone

Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:6-9 ESV).

I was doing a little research on vintage phones and stumbled on an advertisement from the 60’s. It accompanied the photo I’ve included today and titled “How to Use Your Dial Telephone.” Here were the instructions: “Before dialing look in the directory for the correct number. Lift the receiver and listen for the “dial tone.” The steady humming sound tells you the dial equipment is ready for your call. Place your finger firmly in the opening for the particular letter or figure desired. Pull the dial around until your finger strikes the metal finger stop. Then release the dial and allow it to return without interference. Our reading today is an example of a prayer of personal lament. Many of the psalms may be classified in this category. They were the result of personal suffering and struggle. Somehow the very act of crying out to God is an act of trust, and calling God “my Rock” is a deep affirmation that the God to whom we call out is dependable and responsive. If you will place it into the context of my opening illustration, the psalmist is telling us to pick up the phone and use it. The prayer of Psalm 28 goes on to declare that God is never unavailable. This may be a reference to the gods of other nations surrounding David at that time. Those gods were unable to hear, see, or speak. They were deaf and silent, unresponsive and uncaring, represented only by the carved idols they used in worship. And then, several verses later, he sings with confidence, “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” When we find that our circumstances are overwhelming, or it seems everything is falling to pieces, we can call out to God and find that he hears and protects and helps.