Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
–Andrew Murray
Psalm 30:4
1 “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”
Nothing is as stretching and painful as the belief that God has given up on you. I have personally experienced this misbelief. It was like my entire nervous system was ripped out of my body. Suicide seemed a logical thing to do.
Sometimes, the struggle to remain a believer is difficult. It is a war, often accentuated by depression and sadness. It’s relentless and its arena of conflict is in our hearts. David asks five questions. They are the questions of the besieged heart when our abandonment seems possible.
3 “Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.”
David recognizes that he needs God’s answer. He also needs meaning to be restored to him. The “sparkle”, or that joy of having a purpose is what gives life meaning. Once you taste it, nothing else will satisfy. Verse 3 tells us that David saw this as a “life or death” matter.
Furthermore, David could see that the enemies of his soul had gathered. They spoke with a common voice, reflecting a unified purpose, “We have defeated him!” We must be cognizant of the reality of evil around us. God has a will for your life, but so does Satan. It involves your corruption and destruction.
5 “But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.” ~~New Living Translation
We fast-forward ahead to David’s deliverance. He has an uncommon confidence in the character of God. David’s declaration, He rescued me and He is good to me! Both verses 5-6 illustrate that worship finds its root in times of personal emancipation.
Written to bless God’s people, Psalm 136 takes on the issues of life, and the grind of the day. I hope it encourages you to give thanks and praises to God. If you feel like it, add your own verses. His love endures forever.
9 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
11 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
8″ I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.
9 Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do wrong.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me escape.”
Psalms 141:8-10, NLT
Spoken like a man who knows and has experienced a whole lot of trouble. David speaks from the matrix of his heart. In this day of cool indifference and sterile objectivity, you rarely see a passionate life being lived.
Perhaps we need a baptism of trouble and woe. I like softness, and love comfort. I am easily taken in by a menu at my favorite diner, and I adore Starbucks. I seem to have an “instant Christian” mentality. I want patience, and I want it now!
V. 8, “I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord.
You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me.”
This is one of those deep, “rock-bottom” prayers. There is no flowery elegance in this verse. I can smell the sweat, and see the grime. There is dirt under the fingernails of David. It is a cry of somebody in trouble.
But David’s vision is full of God. He chooses to call on the Lord for the help he must have. People want to kill him, and David needs a temporary restraining order desperately.
As I read these verses, there is an absence of anxiety. This man has taken his refuge in the cave of God’s heart. David will be kept securely and safely in that place. He is aware, but he also trusts.
V. 9, “Keep me from the traps they have set for me,
from the snares of those who do wrong.”
The nature of traps and snares is that they must be hidden. A snare only works by surprise. They must be stealthy. The psalmist doesn’t rely on his own abilities to detect and escape these traps. Rather he reaches out to his Father, and he relies on God’s abilities.
V. 10, “Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me escape.”
What we see around us must be (and will be) reversed. The righteous and the wicked will switch places. We need to believe this. Those who have buried themselves in darkness are the ones caught. We must understand this transforming “swap.” It happens when embattled hearts seek the Lord, just like David has done.
Broken Believers 