Scripture:
Vs 1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
vs 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
Vs 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
Vs 7 … yes, I would wander far away;
Vs 12 it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.
Vs 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
Vs 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
Vs 16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.
Vs 17 … and he hears my voice.
Vs 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage,
Vs 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
Vs 23 But I will trust in you.
Observation:
The Psalmist is deeply despondent over the fractured relationship of a dear loved one.
The Psalmist pleads continuously with God to console him.
The Psalmist shows no confidence in himself … he wants to run away and hide from his trouble.
The Psalmist shows no confidence in his adversary, former friend.
All confidence is in God … “the Lord will save me”!
And not only “save”, but so much more … “hear” and “redeem” and “sustain”.
While people are untrustworthy, the Lord is entirely trustworthy!
Application:
When I am troubled by relationships, particularly close relationships, what is my first response?
Is it to complain to the person directly? … Is it to moan to others around me?
David does, indeed, “complain” and “moan”, but interestingly he takes it directly to God from the beginning.
“Give ear to my prayer, O God! Hide not yourself from my plea!” David takes his complaints and moans to God in the form of prayer.
“How you doing?” is a popular introductory statement. “No complaints!” is a popular response … followed by “Nobody would listen if I had ‘em!”
Listening to David this morning, I think God wants to hear my complaints. I think God wants to know what’s troubling me. I know I always want to know if any of my kids are down about something … I want them to share it with me.
God wants me to share my plea with Him, as well.
God wants everything in my circumstances, particularly troubling circumstances, to draw me closer to Him! Because only He can save and redeem and sustain …. He is the one who provides ultimate mercy!
When I can’t trust others I may be burdened by …
and when I can’t even trust myself because I just want to run a hide from my problems …
I must “cast my burden on the Lord”! In Him I can trust.
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for your word. Help me to trust You even when I can’t trust myself or others. Help me see to you and hear you. Help me to know you hear me. Help me to make my pleas first to You!
In Jesus name
Amen