Sunday 15 November, 2020

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. 2 The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. 3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. 4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” 5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” 6 When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around. 7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, 8 “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.” 9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. 10 But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them. 11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. 12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. 13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

A few things strike me as important truths for me to digest out of this Psalm:

First, throughout the Psalm David (the writer of the Psalm) keeps looking back to God to help him. He persistently insists that God alone can save him, that it is only God who he needs. This reminds me of the attitude little children often have towards their parents – sometimes only mummy or daddy will do.

Second, David knows that God is not so interested in ceremony, ultimately God wants him to trust and obey him. David has this sense that God’s way is the best. Again, there is a childlike trust and realisation that life is simplified if I trust God like a child trusting their parent. Ultimately God wants me to express my love and trust of him as obedience to his will.

Lord, you truly are a perfect Father towards me. May I never forget that I do not ‘grow out’ of dependence on you, your wisdom will be forever worth obeying. Amen

Written by Andrew Mellor