William Bridge: Our Work

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Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

“Now to bring things home to ourselves by way of application. Here we may see what is our work, our great work this day. The day we are fallen into is a dark day; a day of the plague and the pestilence: it is good for us to inquire what our work is; it is good at all times, but now especially, to inquire what our work is. Oh! what is our work this day? Now the work of this day, our work is to trust in the Lord; this is the work that protection and deliverance in the time of a plague is entailed upon. Who is there that does not desire to be protected and delivered from this plague; Oh, that I and my family may be preserved! Behold here your antidote to keep you from the plague; ‘Trust in the Lord, as ever you and your family may be protected now in this evil day. Trust in the Lord, and call upon yours to trust in the Lord!'”

William Bridge in The Refuge: Containing the Righteous Man’s Habitation in the Time of Plague and Pestilence: Being a Brief Exposition of the 91st Psalm (New York: Daniel Appleton and Clinton Hall, 1832) 29.

If you have not meditated on the promises of Psalm 91, I would encourage you to do so. Additionally, act on them. Don’t just let them warm your heart. Allow them to activate your entire being. Our work is to make our dwelling place in the shelter of the Most High.

As many of are coming to a place of knowing people who are battling this plague, let us all take shelter while praying for their recovery. I don’t mean to run from the plague, but to locate ourselves in safe shelter through it. This is bigger than social distancing. It’s about trusting in God.

Why would Bridge consider this as work? And what does it have to do with generosity? In the time of plague, generosity is caring for others and pointing them to promises. It’s inviting them to locate the only safe shelter. It’s teaching them by example that there is only one place to put our trust.

This will take us out of our comfort zone. It’s work. Sure, distribute masks. Pray for health care workers, sick people, the vulnerable and the unemployed. Pray for all in authority, for family, and friends, but don’t stop there. Point them to the shelter of God. Do that work today.