31:9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from
grief, my soul and body also.
31:10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails
because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
31:11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of
dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
31:12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken
vessel.
31:13 For I hear the whispering of many-- terror all around!-- as they scheme together
against me, as they plot to take my life.
31:14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
31:15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and
persecutors.
31:16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Why is it so few of us reflect on the Psalm each week? Is
it because it is so--how shall we say--Un-American? It's so-
not do-it-yourself? It's so counter-culture?
May we live the blessing of the Psalms.
SinNEr
Perhaps we need the perspective ofthe Psalms even more today than ever before.
We are not self-suficient, we are totally dependent on God and on His grace and mercy ALWAYS!
God help us to make this known - especially by our example.
Marty@cfmc
What are the essetial elements for preaching this text? How can we make this text preach
REVKEV
JG in WI to REVKEV
I don't know if I'm preaching it, but I do see three points.
1. The Psalmist's Pain (9-13)
2. The Psalmist's Peace (14-15)
3. The Psalmist's Petition (16)
The word "BUT" beginning v. 14 is, of course, the turning point. After that, he affirms his trust in God and makes a request in v. 16.
Hope this helps, friend.
Hi all.
A few thoughts on the Psalms, and this one...
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested that we cannot pray these Psalms as our prayer. We must pray them as Jesus' prayer. Only Jesus was innocent / persecuted / obedient / honest enough to truly have these words be his prayer to the God he called "daddy" (Abba).
- This Psalm is an interesting one to follow the Isaiah reading. To quote, "The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near." Seems like the Psalmist's experience of being a chosen spokesperson for the Lord is not quite as certain as Isaiah's. What does this do to our supposition that Jesus went willingly, and even gladly (as some have put it occasionally) to the cross?
The comment above re: the Psalms are counter-cultural, is right on! The Psalms are too honest for us who are attempting to live the lie that we are in charge, that we control our destiny, that our feelings are either the only thing that matter or don't matter at all.
The Church needs to rediscover the treasure that the Psalms can be for us.
Nuff said!
Rick in Canada, eh?
