And in Your righteousness.
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
Like those who have long been dead.
My heart within me is distressed.
I muse on the work of Your hands.
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
David was called a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), and his psalms will forever be a foundation for both messianic prophecy, and an inspiration for those in need of God's grace. David was not afraid to lay bare his soul in his psalms, and in this psalm no less than any other. Have you ever felt like David? I know I have. Paul once said:
(I know it's long, but it's worth the read!)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected
it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only
that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for
it with perseverance.
(Romans 8)
Like David, our hope should be in the rock of our salvation, and the trials and sufferings of the present should strengthen our endurance and be fuel for the hope we have in Christ. Sometimes the acknowledgment of our frailty is enough to give strength and credence to our mutual calling in Christ, and the strength of Christ which is made perfect in our weakness;
7 Answer me speedily, O LORD;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.
10 Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11 Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.
(Psalm 143)
1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the LORD,
who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
(Psalm 18)
39 But the salvation of the righteous
is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
(Psalm 37)
David's hope was not in himself, as can plainly be seen - his hope was in His God. When he was weak and cried out to God, his hope was strengthened - when you have so little to hang onto that God is your only refuge from the troubles of your life, your hope can do nothing other than grow. As Paul said, "But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."
A Psalm of David
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