Thousands of years ago, the children of Israel would lift the words of Psalm 143 to the Lord, a song begging for guidance and deliverance.
The words were written by David, who first garnered attention in the courts of King Saul for the soothing songs he would play on his harp—but Saul’s adoration would soon turn to jealousy and rage.
David felt the crushing weight of persecution. He describes feeling overwhelmed and distressed-like dwelling in the darkness of the dead:
“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed. (Psalm 143:1-4)
The Bible is honest. God’s Word doesn’t sugarcoat what life can sometimes feel like for His children.
The Psalms are famously said to go from wailing to dancing, but before the dancing, comes the middle of most of the psalms— the pausing and remembering—
“I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah (143:5-6)
And it is in the REMEMBERING that our hearts are turned to the truth that our help comes from the LORD.
THE LORD.
The capital—L-O-R-D!
The God of promise.
He is the God who hears us. He makes His will known—to know the way we should walk. He is trustworthy:
“Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.” (143:7-8)
He is our shelter, our deliverer, the One who leads us to uprightness.
He revives us and delivers us from trouble AS WE LIFT OUR SOULS TO HIM and SEEK TO DO HIS WILL:
“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;” (143:9-12)
…..”For I am Your servant.” (143:12)
And with that, like David, like the children of Israel, may our hearts also be prayerfully turned from wailing— to trusting and seeking to continue to do our LORD’s will even (and especially) in our hardest of days.
God’s Word. It’s so good.
May our souls be refreshed by His Word in this day. May we know He sees us and hears our prayers and is at work in all that causes our hearts to fear. (Written and shared originally 2 years ago)
Join us tomorrow on my Facebook page or at kimjaggers.com. I’ll be back in Philippians. Prayers needed and appreciated.
Kim Jaggers Ministry 