Closer Day 20 – Psalm 31:9-18

Read: Psalm 31:9-18

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! 17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.

Reflect

One thing that makes the book of Psalms so powerful is the accurate reflection of the human experience. To be human is to experience the mountaintops as well as the valleys. In this psalm, we see David on a mountaintop celebrating his trust and resolve to find comfort in God. Then picking up in verse 9, we see David stuck in the valley, lamenting the oppression that he finds himself in. From his enemies to his neighbors, they despise and reject him as they plan to take David’s life. We might have never felt this acute aggression from our community, but we all wrestled with opposition and rejection, even from the people we thought loved us. The temptation can be to build walls and harbor frustration and anger toward individuals who have harmed us. However, God calls us to respond differently. A way that gives freedom from the chains that anger and resentment can put on our hearts and mind. David does not simply dwell on his situation; he trusts God. David states, “my times are in your hand.” He knows that God is sovereign and controls all things in this world. This recognition of God’s character results in David trusting in God that he will deliver and protect him from the people that oppose him. Knowing and trusting in God can give us the same confidence it gave David. Is there anger or resentment in your heart? Today, God wants to provide the same freedom and confidence He gave David.

Prayer

Lord, please bring to mind anyone who I might feel is an enemy. Would you free me from the frustration, anger, and resentment I might be feeling toward these people? I am thankful that your love and grace were poured out on me when I did not deserve it. Help me do the same to those people who oppose. And in all things, help me trust and surrender everything to you, knowing that you and you alone bring everyone under your perfect justice and judgment. Thank you for who you are.