January 23, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Psalm? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalm 88 (ESV)
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 O Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.......Continue Reading
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In times of suffering there can come a sense of abandonment by God and those around us. The author of this Psalm goes to the one source of consolation, seeking some solace from his suffering. In verses 6 and 14 there is implicit confidence that it is God who will bring relief from these times. Indeed he cries out to God (verse 13).
One wonders the circumstances behind this Psalm and what brought them about. Certainly we can understand how challenging it would be to be in the position the writer is in and to go through what He describes. But there is an honesty in the expression and in its being included in Scripture. God still wants to hear this level of despair, and for those who face similar circumstances they have a place to turn and realize others have been where they are. God is still the reference point as well as a refuge even if for nothing else but a sounding board for this level of rejection and tragedy. But we also know that He seeks to be our comforter in all circumstances and bring His wisdom, power and provisions to bear on any circumstances we face. And nothing this life deals us is beyond God’s capacity to handle.
1 O Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.