Bible Reading: Genesis 31: 17–32: 12 Matthew 10: 24–11: 6 Psalm 13: 1-6 Proverbs 3: 16-18
How long o Lord.? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?--Psalm 13:1-2
When we are waiting and cast down how slowly time passes. Sadness and grief can at times seem to make time stand still. David cries out here. You can hear his despair, his grief and sadness are overwhelming him. He cries out to God in His distress...feeling abandoned and forgotten. I am so thankful that the Bible is replete with reminders that our God does not forget us. We are His beloved child. A mom may forget her nursing infant, but God does not forget us...we are inscribed on the palms of His hand. His love and presence abide with us always. Even in our darkest moment, He is with us...working it all together for our good and His glory.
Sorrow is a heavy burden. The Lord Jesus has surely borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He knows what we are going through...in a very personal way. He understands your sorrow even better than you do. He has borne it.
David's sorrow is made worse because he is bowed down and sad and yet his enemy laughs at him. It doesn't get much worse than that...unless, of course, that enemy is a family member or trusted friend. Someone who held your heart. This was often the case with David. His own son betrayed Him and sought to kill him. His trusted counselor also. David understood deep, deep sorrow and grief.
The next verses begin to turn David's despair. He goes to the right place..to God His exceeding joy. His hope and his help!
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed against him;" Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.--Psalm 13:3-4
Coming to God and crying out to Him in our weakness, our hopelessness and our despair changes everything. I cannot imagine...I shudder to think of what my life would be like if I could not do this. Spurgeon says that the mercy seat is the life of hope and the death of despair.
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