Psalm 22: 22-25 - I will
declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will
praise you. You who fear
the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or
disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden
his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of
my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
This psalm must have been written when David was at his
lowest. He felt abandoned…even forsaken by
God…yet he speaks in faith that he had not been completely abandoned…he was
just having to wait. He knew deep in his
heart that God was listening….so he turned his questions of why into shouts of
praise for what God would do when the timing was right.
He shouted to his family…all in the congregation that
assembled….to everyone that would listen….that God was holy…and deserved their
honor…reverence…and respect. David’s
realization of God’s presence in his life becomes a public testimony of his
faith in God….no matter how long he had to wait for answers to his why
questions.
David’s inward reflection on the great things God had done
for him relieved him of the great pain he had felt just moments before. David’s
trust that God would answer his cries for deliverance released the feelings of
abandonment he felt from having to wait.
David’s praise reminded him of the joy God had placed in his heart…and
brought it back to the surface of his soul.
It gave him the strength he needed to place the negative underneath the positive
in his life…and complete the vow he had taken when he was anointed king.
Fear….negativity….pain…they multiply fast. They take root quickly in our heart and mask
us from seeing the truth that God will take us through any storm he has allowed
in our lives. Satan wants us to run away…to believe that God has left us…isn’t
real…and let the negative feelings of depression rule everything we do. He
wants the pain to control us….grip us…hold us back from the truth that
salvation is just a shout of praise away.
I have to admit…I have been tricked before. It is so easy to fall into satan’s trap of
negativity. And once the pity party begins…it is hard to stop. The negative in our lives…the physical pain
we feel takes over…and hides the joy that God placed in our hearts when things
were good. It make us feel abandoned….alone…worms in a world where success is
usually measured by the good …the successes in our path.
The next time I feel a pity party coming my way…I need to remember
to shout a praise to the God who saved me when I was just 14. I need to call him holy…and tell him how
thankful I am for the many good things he has given…and for the lessons he has
taught me with the pain from the past. I
need to let my song of deliverance from the
many trials in my life be a testimony of praise to others around me…so
God can turn my mourning into even more joy!
Father…thank you for the reminder that the cure for
depression and sadness is to praise you for your great holiness and power. The
next time satan tries to trick me into feeling sorry for myself…help me to remember
all that you have done…and shout praises from wherever I am. Thank you for the
truth that you will never leave or
forsake me…because your sweet son paid the full price for any sin I will ever
commit. Reveal to me the places where you would have me give a public testimony
of the joy you sustain in my heart…because you have carried me through some
really hard times. Amen.
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