Happy Memorial Day! Despite it being weird to think that staying home isn’t as joyful this year as it normally is, I’m grateful to have time to remember and be grateful to live in a country where people have given their lives for us to celebrate the freedom we have.
Today we’ll be looking at Psalm 6:
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,nor discipline me in your wrath.Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.My soul also is greatly troubled.But you, O Lord—how long?Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;save me for the sake of your steadfast love.For in death there is no remembrance of you;in Sheol who will give you praise?I am weary with my moaning;every night I flood my bed with tears;I drench my couch with my weeping.My eye wastes away because of grief;it grows weak because of all my foes.Depart from me, all you workers of evil,for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.The Lord has heard my plea;the Lord accepts my prayer.All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
David in this Psalm is dealing with discipline. It’s reminiscent of Proverbs 3:12, “the lord disciplines those he loves.” God wants us to so be like Christ, that He will allow us to be tested often beyond what we think we can handle. In the midst of his despair, David cries out to God. When you’re frustrated, upset, stretched beyond what you can handle, where do you turn? Do you look to earthly things to satisfy? Those things will numb the pain for a little while, but then what? See the only thing that can handle our frustration, endure it, and provide an end to it is God. Charles Spurgeon said “I have learned to kiss the wave that threw me against the rock of ages.” No matter what difficulty we face we can choose to use it to cling closer to God. But notice how David complains to God. He appeals to his covenant faithfulness, his steadfast love. Now I don’t think God forgot that he was steadfast in his love. God doesn’t forget anything! David was the one who needed to be reminded that God would never abandon him. That’s why we need to sing songs that remind us of the truth of who God is! Think of the song ‘Your Grace Is Enough’ where the pre-chorus says, “So remember Your people, remember Your children, remember Your promise, oh God.” Do you think God needs to remember? No! We do! That’s why we sing these truths: to remind ourselves the truth of who God is!
The second half of this Psalm reminds us that even when God doesn’t test us, we have our own issues to deal with! Our emotions can make us a wreck, we can wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or we could even have other people tormenting us! Even in the midst of those difficulties we can still cry out to God who will hear us. We can also have confidence that at some point all our enemies will be put to shame. That may not be during our time on earth, but at some point we can be guaranteed that God will triumph over them! So put your hope and trust in God!
SONG:
Pastor Mike's Musings 