Tuesday 3 November, 2020

Of David. 1 To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. 4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve. 5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again. 6 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone “turning a deaf ear” on you? Certain members of my family are sometimes accused of this…Perhaps it has been because they were distracted or preoccupied. Or perhaps because they were not interested in what I was saying, and they were filtering out my words. Either way it is disconcerting and off-putting.

This psalm reminds us that our God is never like that. He leans an ear to hear from me – my praise, my despair, my need. His ear is tuned to hear from me, not to filter out my prayers. His heart is to care, to know us. It is two-way communication. What a blessing to hear from him!

V 1 suggests God had been silent in the face of David’s prayer. He was still waiting for God to answer. This is my experience too. The answers are often a gradual dawning of the reality of God working in my circumstances, but there are always answers to my pleas for his help.

This is because God is merciful – v 6. In my life his mercy has shown me forgiveness, has taught me, has restored me when I felt lifeless, and rebuilt my trust and faith. It is hard to adequately describe his mercy over my life, but my heart is so thankful.

Dear Lord God, by faith I will always have you as my strength and shield. This isn’t what I have achieved or earnt; it is by your faithfulness. I am so humbled to be yours dear Lord.

Written by Claire Moore