January 10 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 25–26; Matthew 8:1–17

"Gary!"

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

READ Psalm 55:12–22

A young Prince William was playing in Buckingham Palace when he tripped and fell over. Palace staff rushed to his aid. “Gary!” he cried. But who was Gary? Much confusion followed. Was Gary on the staff? A friend?

Suddenly the Queen herself appeared. Completely deadpan, she announced, “I’m Gary.” Going to comfort her grandson, she explained, “He hasn’t learnt to say Granny yet.”

That was my favourite Queen Elizabeth II story to circulate after she passed away in 2022. It showed the love and devotion she had for her family.

However, realistically, no earthly ruler can extend this kind of intimate attention and care to every person under their sovereignty. Yet when it comes to the King of kings, no one is ever lost in the crowd. This was certainly King David’s hope as he reeled from the betrayal of a friend (Psalm 55:12). He wrote, “As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice” (vv. 16–17).

Prince William could expect the Queen to answer his cries because she was his grandmother. We too can cry out to the Lord—day or night—and expect His attention: we are more than His subjects; we are each individually loved as His children. So “Cast your cares on the Lord,” David encourages us, “and he will sustain you” (v. 22).

By Chris Wale

How does it encourage you to know the Lord is always attentive to your cries? What does it look like for you to seek His sustenance when life is hard?

Heavenly Father, thank You that I can cry out to You “evening, morning and noon”. Your ears are always attentive to me, Your precious child.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

In Psalm 55, David laments a deeply felt personal betrayal, often speculated to be that of Ahithophel, an advisor who supported David’s son Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:12). However, the psalm withholds identifying details, allowing it to be an expression of the deep pain and difficulty of trusting again after a betrayal (Psalm 55:6–8), especially when it’s disguised as friendship and service to God (vv. 12–15).