8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. 9 For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink, 12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations. 13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come. Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away; 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. 28 The children of your servants shall live secure; their offspring shall be established in your presence. Psalm 102: 25-28 NRSV King David faced some difficult times throughout his life. He talks about how his enemies taunt him-continually! At one point, he is also clothed in ashes, symbolic of grief. David talks about weeping continually, so much so that his tears are frequently mixed with his drink. If the only Psalms you read are the ones about this subject, you might believe things are looking pretty mean, based on his dire circumstances. Yet David doesn’t abandon his faith, and the final stanza of the Psalm is a testament to his enduring faith, which is continually renewed. He believes that the Lord can save Him to the point that David speaks of thanking God in public, and wants to praise the Lord. When we face challenges, let us remember the words of hope which come through this Psalm. David knows the Lord is present and that he is not alone. David is speaking directly to God. God is always present. He has been so since the beginning of time. The Almighty was there when the foundations of the heavens were laid! The Lord was there when the world was created. David knew and believed this, and thus His prayer was not directed aimlessly into the air, but directly to God. Be prepared to give praise to God when you have walked through a dark time. David didn’t just kind of hope and cross his fingers. He already had a relationship with God. Yes, this was a dark time in David’s life, but He had an established faith in the Lord. Through the relationship, he had already bonded with God, he knew God was listening. Reading through the Psalms, we know that God deeply loved David. However, this didn’t mean that David would have a perfect life without times of fear, sin or grief. This is the same for all of us. The Lord loves us dearly. Yet in our lives, we may have times when we feel quite low, or alone, or abandoned, or full of grief. Nowhere in the scripture does it say that God abandoned David. What we do know is that David felt abandoned. When we feel like we are not close to God, who moved? The amazing rescue plan we always have is that God is with us, even when we may not feel like He is. God is consistent. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Whatever changes we face in this world, we can always count on the Lord to be faithful. Prayer God of every season of life, When I am discouraged, remind me that You were present at the creation of the world and I praise You for all of creation! Help me to remember that as fast as things go awry, so things may turn around. Amid all the changing words of our generation, help me to hear Your eternal word, which never changes. I pray this prayer in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
- faithpreseco