Death was pursuing David. An enemy was on the verge of destroying him. Those who enjoyed seeing him suffer looked forward to celebrating his demise.
The lyrics of “God Almighty” a song by Matthew Ward came to my mind...
“Overwhelmed with sorrow
Broken by the pain
I could hear the doubt
Falling like the rain
This time it is over
This time you won’t win
While the voice of doubt was calling
I barely heard the truth within
Loneliness would cry out
Keeping my heart bound
I would ache inside
To hear heaven sound
Just the smallest whisper
Just a word or two
Could let me know
There’s nothing my God can’t do”
In Psalm 13:1-4, David prayed in a similar fashion as our Lord Jesus Christ did upon the cross. Mark 15:34 says, “At three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”
In Psalm 13:1-4, David was a man of sorrows like unto our Lord. Isaiah 53:3 says of Jesus, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.”
David asked how long four times. “How long – will You forget me?” “How long – will You hide Your face from me?” How long – shall my heart sorrow? How long – will my enemy be exalted over me?
Where did David find hope in a time like this?
“But I have trusted in Your mercy. My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Psalms 13:5-6
“I have trusted in Your mercy!” The best place to express grief is at God’s throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
“My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” Sometimes we need to look back to go forward. Remember all the times that God delivered us and His people in the past! We, in this New Testament era can think of Jesus nailed to the cross... giving His life blood to atone for our sins. We can think of His resurrection from the dead.
“I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
In Acts 16:16-34, Paul and company were going to a place of prayer. A female slave had been following and shouting about them for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he rebuked the spirit out of her in the Name of Jesus Christ. Her owners seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities. A crowd of people joined with the owners against Paul and Silas. The city’s authorities ordered Paul and Silas to be stripped and beaten with rods. They were severely flogged, imprisoned, and their feet were fastened in stocks. What did Paul and Silas do? They prayed and sang hymns to God, and their fellow prisoners listened to them.
As Paul and Silas worshipped and prayed, God sent an earthquake to open the prison doors. They were liberated. Their jailer invited them to his house. They shared the Gospel with him and with everyone there. They all believed in Jesus Christ and were baptized that day.
“Enlighten my eyes.” Reveal to me what otherwise I will not see.
A large coin directly in front of the eye, can block the sun from view. A tiny item can hide a mighty one. In a similar way, when trouble fills our mind, it is difficult to see God. The Word of God removes the blinder and reinstills faith in His power.
David needed the Lord to help him look beyond his present troubles.
In 1 Peter 1:8, Peter wrote of Jesus filling believers with inexpressible and glorious joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 says that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
In Romans 15:13, Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
As David turned from thoughts about his persecutors to thoughts about his Provider, he began to rejoice and sing. His faith in God’s mercy filled his heart with joy in his salvation.
Matthew Ward’s song, “God Almighty” includes the following bridge and conclusion lyrics:
“I am watching
Watching over you
I am for you
And I will lead you on
God Almighty
God Almighty
God Almighty
Raised me from the dead”
Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. No matter how far you seem from help, know that He is near. He who resurrected from His tomb on the third day, can resurrect you.
Isaiah 61:3 testifies that the Lord bestows beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Praise the Lord!
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