Tuesday 31st December
Read Psalm 69:13-18
“But I pray to you, Lord,
in the time of your favour;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
18 Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.” (NIVUK)
Lots of people cry out to God when they are in serious trouble. God is the appeal of last resort, even for those who don’t really believe He exists! When those who do not have an existing relationship with God cry out to Him, on what basis do you think they do so? Mercy? Power? Desperation?
This is not the case for David. David is certainly in trouble. He feels like he is gasping for breath and about to drown. But when he makes his appeal it is based entirely on God’s character – His love (v13) and His goodness and mercy (v16). And for those reasons he expects a different response.
David’s experience guides Paul’s expectations when trouble befalls us too. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he wrote from experience also and a deep knowledge of God’s character.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) (NIVUK)
