1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
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Today’s psalm, like those of the past several days, is a prayer of David for deliverance from his enemies. He is very distressed, in “deep anguish.” It’s affecting him physically: He feels faint, his bones are sore and his sleep is troubled. Verse five even implies that he expects to die. And so he cries out in his agony, “How long, Lord, how long?”
Our distress at the present time may or may not be as deep as David’s, but I think we can relate to some of what he’s going through, especially his cry of “how long?” How long will our lives be disrupted? How long will this illness rage throughout the world? How long must we fear that a vulnerable loved one, or even a healthy one, will contract it? And to continue our theme from the past several day, how long must we contend with the spiritual enemies that steal our joy and peace?
But notice the change in verse eight. His confidence in the Lord is such that once he has cried out, the matter is settled. He knows the Lord has heard him. He knows that the Lord will answer and his enemies will be overcome
My prayer today is for the Lord to bless us with such confidence in prayer. The Lord has given us great promises regarding trusting in His mercy, and relying on Him. I pray that we may take these to heart, and find the peace that Paul describes in Philippians 4:6-7. ”6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
NOTE:
Worship Sunday at 9:30 AM. Not in our sanctuary, but in your home. The streaming will begin at 9:25 AM. You can join the live stream here https://www.youtube.com/user/stjohnsnapaca/live
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Donna Gillette
Pastor Mike,
Thanks for being so relevant!
God Bless,
Donna
Debra Harrison
Thank you Pastor Mike.
Judi
I have missed the E-Vine! Looking forward to tomorrow, Sunday! Praying tonight for our church…❤️