#DailyDevotion Praying When Our Whole Being Is Troubled
Psalm 35 9I delight in the LORD; I am glad He saves me. 10My whole being says, “Who is like You, O LORD? You rescue a poor man from one who is stronger, a poor and needy person from one who robs him.”
After pouring out his complaint and invectives against his enemies to the LORD, which affected him bodily, trusting the LORD has heard him, David can now delight in the LORD. He delights in the LORD with his whole being. He can do this because he believes the LORD has heard his prayer and will save him. I know that when I am troubled to the point my body responds negatively, when I turn to the LORD in prayer and lay myself bare before him as David does here, I also can rejoice and my body is also relieved as I trust the LORD has heard and answered my prayer. I don’t know how yet, but I know the LORD will work things out the way they should be. Prayers to the LORD lightens our load.
David rejoices because the LORD rescues a poor man from those who are stronger. Indeed, the LORD draws near to the humble of heart. He ultimately exalts those who humble themselves before Him, who trust in His salvation alone.
11Men get up and accuse me of crime; they ask me questions I can’t answer. 12They pay me back evil for good, making me feel as if I had lost my children.
David’s problems here direct us to Christ Jesus and His suffering at the hands of His enemies. The Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes accused Jesus of crimes. While Jesus could answer questions, He refused to do so. Instead, He trusted Himself in the hands of the Father. The Jews paid by Jesus’ good towards them, His preaching the Good News and the healings of many, with evil and seeking His death. As the crowds are turned against Him on Good Friday we can see how it could make Jesus feel as if He lost His children. Yet, Jesus suffered these things to win them from the world once He was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. We too, may come to feel this way as we follow our LORD Jesus Christ when we are paid back evil for the good we do for others. It is just part of our cross in following Jesus.
13When they were sick, I wore sackcloth and denied myself by fasting. (May my prayer come back to my bosom.) 14I walked around as if it were my friend or my brother; as if it were for my mother, I bowed down in mourning.
Jesus during His visible ministry certainly spent hours in prayer for the people of Judah. We know Jesus was often exhausted from ministering to all the sick, lame, blind, deaf, and who know whatever troubles Jesus ministered to during His ministry. Certainly, He even concerned Himself with those who hated Him, praying for their good.
15But when I stumble they gather with glee; they band together against me, striking me when I least expect it. They tear me apart and never stop. 16With ungodly mocking while they’re eating, they grind their teeth at me.
Such was the last day of our LORD Jesus Christ as He went to the cross. We who put our trust in Him can expect to suffer like Him. It should not surprise us when we suffer the same fate. Like Christ, we entrust ourselves to God our Father.
Heavenly Father, when we find ourselves suffering unjustly, help us to look to Christ Jesus and find our strength in Him and His cross. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.