 | CLM-0-061 b Psalms on Sundays: 6 - From Death to Life |
From: "Clergy Mail List"
Sun, 26 Mar 2000
Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 0-061 (Bible Reading Notes)
PSALM 6 (From 'Encounter with God' - Sunday 26 Mar 2000)
From Death to Life
Death is a fearsome enemy. Look at death squarely, confessing
fear, but enter into peace claiming the triumph of the Lord
Jesus Christ over sin and death.
Agony and anguish, tears and terror overwhelmed David. For some
reason, death seemed imminent because of his enemies, and he traced
it to God's discipline. Rarely do we see such a powerfully intimate
picture of the depth of a person's soul. However, David's
supplication touches us keenly because we are often compelled to
cry out to God in our distressing circumstances. We weep before God
not just in the face of death, but in the face of uncertainties and
events we cannot control. It's better to follow David's example
than to turn against God in bitterness and unbelief.
Like David, God's people have cried, 'How long, O Lord, how long?
down through the ages. Certainly the Israelite slaves in Egypt must
have uttered something like this during their four hundred years of
bondage, and the jewish exiles during their seventy years in
Babylon. In our culture, accustomed as we are to demanding
immediate relief and comfort for all our physical and emotional
ills, we find it hard to be patient with God. When God does not
respond immediately to our prayers, we wonder why and are tempted
to give up on him.
Not so with David. He persisted in faith because he knew God was
his healer and saviour (vs 2,4). He knew God saw his tears and
heard his cries for mercy. He was convinced of God's unfailing
love. God disciplines because he loves. David sought deliverance so
that he could praise the Lord. He would be delivered from torment
and anxiety. his enemies would be vanquished. Finally, the
assurance came (vs 8-10).
We all face threatening circumstances, not just to our physical
health but also to our emotional and spiritual well-being. How
can we learn to persist in faith till we find God's peace and
deliverance?
- James Reapsome
Copyright Scripture Union, 2000
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