In this fallen world it is inevitable that we will experience pain. The pain me be physical, emotional, or spiritual and sometimes all three at once. We can look at David as our example of someone who throughout his life experienced and endured physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.
David, was anointed by Samuel as the king of Israel, at God's command; he defeated the giant Goliath and became a military hero, and became the son-in-law of the king;all this as a young man. That's the upside.
Here’s the downside; The king, Saul becomes paranoid because of David’s popularity and David has to run for his life for years; another man marries his wife (the king’s daughter); he marries several women creating a very dysfunctional family; one of his sons rapes his sister (David’s daughter); one of his other sons murders the rapist; he has an affair with a married women who becomes pregnant; he conspires to have the pregnant women’s husband killed; the child dies; one of his son’s leads a rebellion,qand that son dies in battle That’s enough to drive even the strongest person off the deep end and into deep depression.
However, with all these things happening around him, some of which is his fault by the choices that he made, David was able to, and he shows us how to walk through times of suffering while remaining in God’s love.
Many commentators believe that David wrote Psalm 143 at the time he was on the run when his son rebelled and led a coup to depose him.
This psalm gives us a template for those times that we are in pain.
Psalms 143:1-12 NIV [1] Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. [2] Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. [3] The enemy purues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. [4] So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. [5] I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works ;and consider what your hands have done. [6] I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. [7] Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. [8] Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. [9] Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. [10] Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. [11] For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. [12] In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
David begins his prayer by crying out to God. His crying out is based on his confidence lies in the very character of the faithful and righteous God. Next, David acknowledges his own failure at being righteous and he appeal for mercy.
Then, David talks about his pain and how it makes him feel. We need to come clean with God and tell him how we really feel while going through pain. Admit being weak and devastated. Be honest with God.
Then David remembers the times that God has delivered him and worked in the past. Remembering what God did in the past causes him to thirst for His presence. David cries out for God’s help and companionship.
This psalm is a perfect example of intermingling desperate requests with declarations of trust. David ends the psalm by asking God to mature him and show him how to do His will.
What a Savior. God is with us like he was with David, when we’re in pain. When we feel crushed by trials He lifts us up. He brings light into darkness.
David, was anointed by Samuel as the king of Israel, at God's command; he defeated the giant Goliath and became a military hero, and became the son-in-law of the king;all this as a young man. That's the upside.
Here’s the downside; The king, Saul becomes paranoid because of David’s popularity and David has to run for his life for years; another man marries his wife (the king’s daughter); he marries several women creating a very dysfunctional family; one of his sons rapes his sister (David’s daughter); one of his other sons murders the rapist; he has an affair with a married women who becomes pregnant; he conspires to have the pregnant women’s husband killed; the child dies; one of his son’s leads a rebellion,qand that son dies in battle That’s enough to drive even the strongest person off the deep end and into deep depression.
However, with all these things happening around him, some of which is his fault by the choices that he made, David was able to, and he shows us how to walk through times of suffering while remaining in God’s love.
Many commentators believe that David wrote Psalm 143 at the time he was on the run when his son rebelled and led a coup to depose him.
This psalm gives us a template for those times that we are in pain.
Psalms 143:1-12 NIV [1] Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. [2] Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. [3] The enemy purues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. [4] So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. [5] I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works ;and consider what your hands have done. [6] I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. [7] Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. [8] Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. [9] Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. [10] Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. [11] For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. [12] In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
David begins his prayer by crying out to God. His crying out is based on his confidence lies in the very character of the faithful and righteous God. Next, David acknowledges his own failure at being righteous and he appeal for mercy.
Then, David talks about his pain and how it makes him feel. We need to come clean with God and tell him how we really feel while going through pain. Admit being weak and devastated. Be honest with God.
Then David remembers the times that God has delivered him and worked in the past. Remembering what God did in the past causes him to thirst for His presence. David cries out for God’s help and companionship.
This psalm is a perfect example of intermingling desperate requests with declarations of trust. David ends the psalm by asking God to mature him and show him how to do His will.
What a Savior. God is with us like he was with David, when we’re in pain. When we feel crushed by trials He lifts us up. He brings light into darkness.
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