Psalm 35:11-18 – Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth. How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng, I will praise you.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE POWER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING. David, the author of today’s scripture, is in deep trouble. It is external and internal. He is facing people who are plotting his harm. Hate-filled individuals are seeking to slander him as false witnesses. They want to do him great harm, and not just emotionally, possibly physical. And that is not all. Notice his prayer posture – with head bowed on his chest. Try it. How much audible prayer are we are able to accomplish? None. Yet, this makes sense in David’s case. He is not only feeling oppressive danger from outside forces of hurtful people, but he is feeling inward attacks both spiritually and emotionally. His soul is in anguish. He is hurting and feels the Lord is slow coming to his rescue. When he is able to utter words in prayer, he cries out of his pain and impatience, “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!”
All Christians may look at David and say “Amen, brother. I know that pressure. I feel some of the same harm from people. And, I too, cry out in prayer “Lord, where are you?” Yes, every believer will encounter some level of suffering for being God’s child. And yes, sometimes God in His wise counsel and the working out of His purposes in us will seem distant and detached from what we are experiencing. So, in the midst of our walks with the Lord, we will be “David-like” as described in today’s scripture, but are we “David-like” in his response to such pressure and suffering?
During intense suffering, David uses two of the most powerful “spiritual weapons” we may also use to help us. These are of significant assistance to keep us from complaining in our suffering, and enable us to spiritually prosper in our suffering. At the end of his stating his suffering case to the Lord and pleading for His help, he abruptly shifts from agonizing to adoring. He offers God thanksgiving and worship – “I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.”
The reason why thanksgiving and praise is so powerful in fighting successful spiritual warfare is because both draw our attention off our pain and circumstances and on to the Lord of our circumstances. Often, we enter a season of suffering mixed with spiritual dryness, and instead of responding in a God-honoring way, we complain. We focus on ourselves and either try to change the circumstances, or change the people in the circumstances that are causing our suffering. But not David. He made a conscious decision to get off himself, and onto the Lord by worshipping Him with thanksgiving and praise. If we want to avoid a self-centered and joyless Christian experience, when God allows suffering and pain to come into our lives to make us like His Son, respond with worship. Make a conscious effort to give Him thanks and praise for the very thing we are experiencing. Both will be powerful spiritual weapons to defeat the God-displeasing and sinful attitude of complaining.
PRAYER: “Father, teach me the power of praising and giving thanks in all things.”
QUOTE: “Instead of worrying and complaining, praise God and give Him thanks. It will change your heart”