It’s a “will worship” morning! (Colossians 2:23). I’ll use Psalm 6 for Temple worship today:
Psalms 6:1 ¶ O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Psalms 6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
Psalms 6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
Psalms 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
My Shepherd met me seeking His face with a troubled heart. I happened upon Psalm 13 and noticed that, in the first two verses, four times David cried, “How long!” (Psalm 13:1-2). David’s words connected his heart to mine:
“How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?” The word forget speaks of something mindlessly set aside, or mislaid, something neglected, ignored, in oblivion.
“How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” This is different from forgetting; this is avoiding. It sets up the picture of one seeking another who is intentionally evading contact.
“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?” This is to have only oneself to consult, left to bear one’s sorrow daily alone.
“How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” The word that is translated as enemy is an active participle. It’s a verb acting as an adjective to describe a noun. The reason this interests me is the active verb feature of this word. These are not passive haters of our souls; these are people who are aggressively pursuing us—they want to hurt us. These enemies are always there! But when God has forsaken us, we are subordinated to them, and left under their power. It is exceedingly painful, almost more from the shame and reproach of their gloat than the affliction they inflict.
“How long?” The circumstance is acknowledged, and even accepted. The question is not why, but how long.
Along the still waters, the Spirit came alongside to help. One particular question I had, He answered in an indirect manner, through a circumstance so providential, I could not miss the gentle favor. This small mercy from Heaven encouraged me to ask: “Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved” (Psalm 13:3-4: moved means to waver, to slip, to shake, or to fall).
Then I read verse five, and that’s when it hit me. Suddenly, the Mind of the Spirit reached out and touched the spirit of my mind: “But I have trusted in thy mercy.” It’s His mercy that I needed to remember. It’s not about what I deserve. My greatest need is mercy. Emboldened, I went to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find His sufficient grace to help (Hebrews 4:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9).
In the valley, I knelt in the shadow of His Cross. The Heavenly Dove perched on my shoulder and cooed in my ear: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I did! Then I saw the face I sought. My heart rejoiced in His salvation (Psalm 13:5b); freed from the shackles of self-pity, my heart soared toward Heaven on the wings of David’s words by the Spirit: “I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6).
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us as we entered the harvest (Psalm 23:5-6).
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap.
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