Nov 5 - Psalm 10:12

Rise up, O Lord;

O God, lift up your hand;

do not forget the oppressed.

Psalm 10:12

 

I remember when we had our first little baby. Along with much excitement, we were often exhausted and overwhelmed. Something magnificent had taken place in our household … something profound and overwhelming was washing over us … and yet the rest of the world was going on as if nothing had changed.

 

The same is true with grief and death. Our hearts are breaking. We feel like we’re falling into a canyon of despair. A tidal wave has swept over our family and we wonder if we’ll ever breathe again … yet … the rest of the world is going on as if nothing has changed.

 

And then there’s evil that sometimes nips at our heels. For example, in today’s Psalm, David was crying about …

 

·         ² wicked people viciously oppress[ing]

·         ³ too much "brag[ging] about ... evil desires"

·         ⁷ foul "mouths ... full of cursing, lies, and threats"

·         ⁹ people like "lions [who] crouch silently, waiting to pounce on [David himself and] the helpless.

 

Sometimes the world carelessly (and uncaringly) passes us by in the midst of the most monumental events in our lives. And we wonder if we’re forgotten.

 

Sometimes the world even attacks us. And we wonder if we’re forgotten by God.

 

"Why?!" we cry. "13 Why do the wicked get away with cursing God?” Why am I, you servant, so apparently forgotten and oppressed?

 

That’s a human cry.

 

But unlike too many of us humans, David didn’t cry as one without hope. As we talked about in yesterday’s devotion, David was accustomed to hearing God in the midst of the ordinary everyday situations. He knew God's voice and presence intimately, so that when he fell into the valleys, he could say with confidence, "14 But you do see the trouble and grief they cause. 17 Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless."

 

Therefore, he was bold enough to cry to his friend, “Rise up.” And he was confident that his Lord would answer.

 

In Christ's Love,

a very confident man

(precisely because I’m not

confident in myself!)