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| My Devotional For June 2003 (Psalm Ch. 22 (Click Here to read the chapter) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me so far from the words of my groaning ?".............................................................. This Psalm by David and on reading it is clear that he must have been suffering terribly. However the irony of his words come back to us when we hear Jesus say the exact same words at the time of his crucifixion (Matthew 27: 46). David was feeling abandoned by God just as Jesus was feeling abandoned by God in his final hour. In verse 18 there is another statement made by David that is similar in context - Matthew 27: 35 after Jesus had died on the cross - "they divide my garments among them among them and cast lots for my clothing". Despite all the suffering that David is experiencing not once does he seem to lose his trust in God to deliver him. He doesn't even blame God for his suffering or turn away from God. He constantly recalls all the people that God has delivered in the past and that the Lord is holy and righteous. From David's words it sounds as if he had reached the lowest point in his suffering yet he still never once sought self-pity or someone to blame or to seek revenge. David just continued to persevere in his plea to God to deliver him from his enemies and he recalls how, from the moment he was born, God had taken care of him. Then suddenly his manner changes from desperation to praise and hope and he is now in no doubt whatsoever that God will deliver him from these tribulations. David, in turn, wanted to testify to others in order to show his praise to how God had mercy on him in his time of suffering and that he would have mercy on them too if they repented of their sins. We, ourselves, may not necessarily suffer as severely as David did although there are many Christians all over the world who do and are suffering to this extent and some are even prepared to lose their lives for their faith in Christ. It can be so difficult when we are suffering in any way and quite often we can't always thing rationally when it is actually happening to us and , although deep down we know God will see us through any situation, and has done in the past, it doesn't stop us wondering why God is allowing us to suffer in this way, instead of turning to Him as David did in this and many other of his Psalms. There is no magical solution to this and it is something we may all have to come to terms with at some time during our spiritual journey. I personally have experienced many situations whereby I have suffered in one way or another and my initial reaction will depend on the severity of my suffering. I have so many times had situations where I have felt unable to cope with what has been happening in my life and it is not until I admit to myself that I need to turn to God for assistance that I begin to get my life back in order again. This will happen, I find, time and time again but each time I do seem to be taught a lesson through it and no doubt the next time will be no different. We can look at in one way and that is if everything was perfect in this world including us then we would have no need to seek God in our lives but as we all know this is not the case then we need to realise that we do need God in our life and that when we are suffering trials we should learn to come off our high horse and open our heart totally to Him and tell Him exactly how we are feeling. God loves us so much that I am sure that it upsets Him when he sees us hurting and we don't turn to Him for assistance. For those of us who have children I know we would be most upset and devastated if they didn't feel they could come to us when they were having problems and this is how it should be with God in theory but all too often we let Him down by our being too stubborn and independent for our own good. In verse 30 David is talking about future generations. Our children and our children's children are that future generation and it is our place to at least teach them about Christ and the repentance of sins. We can sow the seed but we will then have to stand back to leave it up to God to water that seed in our children and in our grandchildren in order that it will spiritually grow in their lives and they will come to know Christ as their Saviour in time. Finally we have to continually remind ourselves that God would never forsake us and that even though He may seem so very far away from us at times, He is, in fact, always near - if we ever feel apart from God then it is us that is keeping our distance from God and not the other way round. My next devotion will be in July. Regards Chris |