SCRIPTURE: Psalm 5, Psalm 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As a Jesus follower, I look for pictures of Jesus everywhere, in daily life and also in my daily bible reading. Today I see Jesus, the perfect human (offspring of God and humanity), wrestling with God like David did. In Psalm 5 David wrestles with God about those who use deception and treachery to oppose him. In Psalm 6 David battles anguish and despair as his enemies circle in for the kill. Jesus, Son of David, also wrestles with the deception and treachery of the religious leaders as He stands in the temple; He cries out in anguish in the garden of Gethsemane, battling anguish and fear and despair. But Jesus, like David, stands firm. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping [Psalm 6:8].
Total, painful honesty, not sanitized prayers. Though Jesus remained silent before His accusers, He was not silent before God. He prayed, He cried, He pleaded with God for another cup, another way. In the end He cried out, my God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [Matthew 27:46] Why has God failed me, why has God let me down, why has God turned away from me in my moment of great need.
The good news in Jesus is that God becomes what we are (sinful, broken, needy, despairing humans) so that we can become what He is (pure, holy, clean, right, good, free). No, Jesus did not sin, but He became ‘sinful’, He took our sin, as well as the resulting suffering, and was cursed for it on our behalf. Because of Jesus, God looks beyond our sin and guilt and sees us as His much-loved, forgiven and restored children.
Like David, like Jesus, we can come in total, painful honesty. We come just as we are, He welcomes us just as we are, but He does not leave us just as we are. As we wrestle with the Lord in prayer, morning, through the day, even through the night, He sends His Spirit and His angels to sustain and renew us, giving us strength to stand firm against the new battles each day brings. Like David, like Jesus, I will make a point of coming to the Lord as often as I think of it (and may that be often!) and I will pour out my soul to the Lord – just as I am – so that by His grace He can make me just as He is!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the gift and example of total, painful honesty. Here is my heart, warts and all, make me what You want me to be!
Once again I am reminded to start the day with the Lord my God. Today, God Is First. That must be true every day no matter the challenges of the day, He is with me in all I do and say. Today I need to walk in the path of righteousness and speak the very words Christ Jesus would want me to speak, since the tongue is such a powerful weapon. Thank You for Your promises that I may enter each day in the joy of my Lord.
Living for Jesus may also bring misery and pain. But the Psalmist reminds us in all circumstances, walk with God. Cry unto Him. Talk with Him. God is listening as a father listens to his child. Be a prayer walker. Prayer talker. Prayer warrior. My confidence is not on earthly things, but on God. He is my Way and my Light and my Salvation. May others see that in me and through me. He is my All in all.
Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy Name to sing, help us to praise!
Father all glorious, over all victorious,
Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!
Jesus, our Lord, arise,
Scatter our enemies, and make them fall;
Let Thine almighty aid our sure defense be made,
Souls on Thee be stayed; Lord, hear our call.
Come, Thou incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword, our prayer attend!
Come, and Thy people bless, and give Thy Word success,
Spirit of holiness, on us descend!
Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.
Thou Who almighty art, now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power!