Post by Woody Williams on Nov 18, 2006 4:51:45 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Psalm 13
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How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed";
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Devotional
----------
Notice the movement from verse one to verse six -"How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?" "I will sing to the Lord because he has
dealt bountifully with me." The litany of "how longs" puts emphasis
on the severity of complaint and opens the door to David's request
for help. Even so, David makes a profession of trust in God's love
and makes a commitment to praise God when his help is completed. To
complain to God and to express trust in God can happen at the same
time. David complains for what he sees by sight, but praises for what
he can also see by faith.
Prayer
----------------
Gracious God, give me courage to express my pain and give me faith to
trust you in the midst of it. Amen
----------
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, "I have prevailed";
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Devotional
----------
Notice the movement from verse one to verse six -"How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?" "I will sing to the Lord because he has
dealt bountifully with me." The litany of "how longs" puts emphasis
on the severity of complaint and opens the door to David's request
for help. Even so, David makes a profession of trust in God's love
and makes a commitment to praise God when his help is completed. To
complain to God and to express trust in God can happen at the same
time. David complains for what he sees by sight, but praises for what
he can also see by faith.
Prayer
----------------
Gracious God, give me courage to express my pain and give me faith to
trust you in the midst of it. Amen