The news of the floods and landslides that have hit various parts of Sumatra and beyond in recent weeks has left deep scars. Thousands of people have been displaced, homes have been washed away, bridges have been cut, and forests that were once home to animals have turned to mud and rolling rocks that swallow anything in their path. But it is becoming increasingly clear that this disaster does not stand alone. Behind it are the traces of human greed: deforestation, illegal logging, and economic practices that only benefit a few, while small communities become victims. As nature screams and people cry, we realize how easily justice is exchanged for profit, and how fragile life is when truth is marginalized.
Such a situation is not much different from that experienced by the psalmist. In verses 121-128, the psalmist cries out from the midst of oppression. The proud and powerful oppress the weak, overturn the order of justice, and undermine social welfare for their own gain. Like the psalmist, we too see how God's laws of justice and care for the vulnerable are perverted. So the cry, "It is time for the LORD to act" (verse 126) is not just an expression of despair, but an acknowledgment that man is unable to save himself. Even those who live in honesty and love for God's word still need His chastening and protection.
The word of God is a guiding light. It gives understanding to the simple, not to those who lean on power. Therefore, the psalmist is described as opening his mouth like a hungry man waiting for food, even though his tears kept flowing seeing people reject God's law. He held on to the word as the only foundation that never crumbles.
Friends of the Bible, faith is the courage to lean on God, when all other supports are crumbling. And so, when we see our brothers and sisters losing their homes and hope because of human greed, His word calls us to keep speaking the truth, to be part of caring for creation, and to refuse to compromise with injustice. Remember, trusting God is not passivity, but the courage to stand by His side when the world chooses a different path.
