Scripture:
Vs 1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.
Vs 2 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!
Vs 3 For my soul is full of troubles …
Vs 4 … I am a man who has no strength,
Vs 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me …
vs 9 … Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
Vs 11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
Vs 12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Vs 13 But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Vs 14 O Lord, … Why do you hide your face from me?
Vs 15 … I am helpless.
Observation:
What a desperate plea from such a desperate place.
I am not sure I’ve read more tormented verses.
The author is “full of troubles” and “has no strength” and “helpless”.
But at the same time, the author continuously cries out to God … “day and night” … “every day”
He’s desperate in his condition and circumstances, but he is also anguished and full of questions for God, Himself.
“Your wrath lies upon me” …
Will You, God, declare your steadfast love and faithfulness?
God, can I know Your wonders and righteousness?
Why do you hide from me, God?
Even amid all this, there is a huge key word … “BUT”.
“BUT I, O Lord, cry to you.” … Despite the turmoil, prayers continue.
Application:
The best relationships are those where I feel comfortable saying just about anything that’s truly on my heart and mind.
I can only pour out my deepest concerns, fears, and questions to someone who is particularly close.
It’s also very hard to get close to someone if I feel like I have to “walk on eggshells” around them.
Do I have to caution every word or thought with concern of how they will respond?
The author of this psalm makes me consider my relationship with God.
There is no “walking on eggshells” with the author here.
This is an emotional dumptruck load on to God.
Do I hold anything back in my questions and fears with God? This author certainly does not.
God is bigger than any of them. He can handle them. Do I have to act like they don’t exist?
The author here also inspires me to remember that God is the source of everything thing, the solution to everything, and, especially, my salvation.
His first words, before all his pleading, are to describe who he is pleading to: “O Lord, God of my salvation”!
The author also shows me his faithfulness to keep going back to the very source of the faithfulness.
The author also makes me grateful to live on this side of the cross.
I do not have to wonder when God will how his steadfast love or faithfulness or righteousness.
I do not have to wonder when God will show himself to me.
I can look back to 2,000 years ago and rest in faith, in confidence, that “it is finished”.
Prayer:
Thank you, God, for your love and righteousness and faithfulness
Thank you for your salvation
Help me to know you are open to my cries when I ‘m desperate
Help me to know I am helpless without you
In Jesus name
Amen