Keep me From Your Anger

-

 

Scripture 38 (NIV)

A psalm of David. A petition. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me. Because of your wrath, there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long, I go about mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie. I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good. Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.

Devotion:

Psalm 38 is a heartfelt prayer of repentance and plea for mercy. David's anguish and physical suffering reveal the heavy burden of sin. He feels isolated, afflicted, and abandoned, yet he turns to God with sincere confession and a call for divine intervention. David's humble petition reminds us that we can seek God's forgiveness and aid in our moments of pain and guilt. This psalm teaches us the importance of acknowledging our sins, expressing our sorrow, and trusting in God's steadfast love and salvation. We find hope and restoration through faith, even in our darkest hours.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more

Jesus Said Share the Gospel

-
Scripture: Acts 1:6-9 (NIV) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Devotion: In Acts 1:6-9, we witness a pivotal moment in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. The eager and hopeful disciples ask Jesus if he will restore the kingdom to Israel. This question reflects their anticipation for a political and earthly kingdom, reminiscent of Israel's past glory under kings like David and Solomon. However, Jesus redirects their focus from the temporal to the eternal, from the immediate to God's divine plan...
Read more

A Fourth King?

-
Scripture: Matthew 26:55-56 (NIV) At that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then, all the disciples left him and fled. Meditation:             A group at my church has been studying Gene Edwards's “A Tale of Three Kings.” This book has caused many in the group to reflect more deeply about power and what different kings do to attain and hold onto power. It examines the careers of three kings of ancient Israel: Saul, David, and Absolom. The book highlights how these men acted when presented with the opportunity to gain and hold onto power.             The central thesis of the book is that there are really just two types of kings: those who ...
Read more