This Is The Pits!

OPENING PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, your life revealed what life could be. Thank you that life can be a reality for me.

READ: Psalm 6

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

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.

Footnotes

[a] Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.

[b] Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term

REFLECT:

Ponder the idea of ‘unfailing love’ (v 4). Give thanks for ways in which you experience it.

Who do you unload on? Elvis sang: ‘Where could I go but to the Lord?’ David agrees! We meet him, not unlike Job, in the depth of our distress. His ‘go- to’ is the Lord. He tells him exactly how this feels. He is attacked on every front – physically sick, in spiritual anguish, worn out by sleepless nights and endless tears. And he sees the Lord’s hand in this, putting at least some of this down to the Lord’s discipline (v 1). But he knows the Lord. He still trusts that God is merciful (v 2), shows unfailing love (v 4) and listens (v 9). He can sing with William Cowper: ‘Behind a frowning providence / He hides a smiling face’.* It’s like tailing a friend in the car in front up a mountain road, through dark woods, on a snowy night. ‘Where are they taking us?’ We keep trusting.

Rebuke and discipline are part of Christian life (Hebrews 12:1-13) – although thankfully, not often this extreme. Only through discipline can we be renewed so that we think like God thinks, and feel like he feels. There is so much junk to clear from our lives. David has the added trouble that enemies seem on the brink of victory. But he holds on, reminding himself that God will break through to establish his victory (vs 9,10).

*’God Moves in a Mysterious Way,’ William Cowper 1744

APPLY:

Who do you know who is nearest to David’s experience? How can you pray for them now?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Loving Lord, you hear me when I struggle. Thank you for your touch that assures me of your presence.

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