PSALM 31:9-18 – “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.”
THEME OF THE DAY: OUR TIMES ARE IN HIS HANDS. The author of today’s Psalm, David, is in serious trouble from many sides. Go back and read it again looking for all the difficulties he faces.
First, he feels the weight of his sin. It has drained him physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and not for just a short period of time . . .
“I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away”
This happens to some degree to every believer. When we stop and listen to the Spirit of God bring to our hearts and minds the gravity of our sin, we do feel like David. Now I am not saying God wants us to live in regrets and remorse. It is a good thing to see the seriousness of sin. It causes us to appreciate saving grace even more, but when Christians are awakened to sin, it is painful.
Next, David has real adversaries scheming against him with threats and slander.
“Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side! — as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.”
We, too, have adversaries, but ours are spiritual with the forces of evil, even the devil himself as the great accuser seeking to rob us our joy and peace in the Lord (Revelation 12:10).
However, the story of David doesn’t end with these negative notes. He would proclaim two great truths that bring us comfort and strength in our battles – his commitment to the Lord, and the Lord’s sovereignty over His life.
“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”
No matter where we find ourselves in our spiritual journey and its associated battles, let’s follow David’s example; renew our commitment to trust the Lord right now, regardless of the circumstance, and remember, He is in control, even of our current situation; our times are in His Hands. Such submission to His sovereignty, knowing our times are in His Hands, brings peace and comfort to our hearts and minds.
PRAYER: Father, may the truth of Your Sovereign control in my life be a great comfort to me all my days.
REFLECTION: Since our times are in God’s Hands, and He is love, only doing good, we are a blessed people.