#DailyDevotion It Gets So Bad Sometimes, We Feel We Are At The Gates Of Death
Psalm 9 12He cares for those who mourn, remembers them, and doesn’t forget the cries of those who suffer.
Our translation goes very dynamic here as most translations follow something like, “For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.” (ESV) Now the LORD is the one who avenges blood. He sees what violent men and nations do to people. He does care for their victims and remembers them. The Torah had rules about men who were avengers of blood, those who were allowed to pursue murderers. Sometimes they were successful and perhaps, sometimes not. But they stood in the place of the LORD who always succeeds. He does not forget those who mourn. He doesn’t forget the cries of those who suffer. When you are suffering do not think God your Father does not hear your cries. It says elsewhere He saves all your tears in a bottle.
13O LORD, be kind to me; see how those who hate me make me suffer; pick me up from the gates of death 14so I can proclaim Your praise. In the gates of Zion’s people I will delight in Your salvation.
David most certainly had enemies who caused him suffering. Unfortunately, we too have people in our lives who for whatever reason go after us. Perhaps we are seen as an easy target. Maybe they just want what we have and because they cannot stand someone else being happy, they make our lives miserable. We can cry out with David to the LORD to be kind to us. We may feel like dying. It is so bad. We can cry out with David our LORD Jesus Christ to pick us up from the gates of death. For some of us this is closer to the truth than others. No matter the level of the reality of this situation, you can call upon the LORD to be kind to you and pick you up.
I do believe eventually the tides will turn. When they do we can proclaim the LORD’s praise. We will be able to tell others of our dire straights and how God eventually delivered us from our trials and tribulations. We will be able to delight in our LORD Jesus Christ salvation.
It is important we do not give up. It seems helpless at the time. It seems like our situation will go on forever. In some circumstances where it is a disease that afflicts us, it may be unto death. If it is people who are causing our distress I do believe as we put our trust in the LORD He has His ways of dealing with them. Yes, even David’s enemies eventually met their fate because of their afflicting David. You are a child of God through baptism into Jesus Christ. You have been anointed with his blood. You have been destined to rule with Christ even sitting upon his throne if you endure.
So keep turning to God your Savior. Seek his face continually. Bring your complaint to him. God has not forgotten you. He hears your cries. He will act.
Heavenly Father, hear our cries in the midst of all our trials and tribulations, particularly those brought on by those who have made us their enemies. Be our avenger of blood and cause them to cease their hostilities and call them to repentance. Strengthen our hearts until such time as you give us relief. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.