1 I will exalt you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
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What stands out to me in these verses is David’s confidence that the Lord’s help isn’t an isolated occurrence, but rather a reflection of His character. It’s not just that the Lord answered David’s prayer and delivered him, but as he says in verse 5, this is always what the Lord does. We can be confident, David would tell us, that the hardships and struggles do not have the last word. Rejoicing will come “in the morning.”
This is hardest to hold on to when the struggle is long, and when the answer seems delayed. Numerous other psalms give voice to that frustration and struggle. “How long, O Lord.” But God is always about the business of calling us to faith and blessing us to grow in faith. He calls us to trust that His answer will come.
So my prayer today is one of praise to the Lord as I reflect on blessing in my life and prayers answered. I also am praying for those who are experiencing the “depths” right now, who feel near to the “realm of the dead.” I pray for their deliverance, but also for their faith, to trust that God is with them, and His answer is coming.
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