There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 22
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. [John 16:20].
In this world, we experience sorrow and joy, struggle and hope, weakness and strength.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? [Psalm 22:1]
Jesus Himself experienced this, and told His disciples to expect it.
Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm, with a number of clear allusions to Jesus’ suffering and death, including the opening verse, cried out by Jesus from the cross.
Yes, in this world people who trust in God will experience sorrow and joy… but the last word will be joy!
Look at the contrast between the first verses of this Psalm, and Psalm 21.
From great joy to great sorrow.
These are not contradictory, they are reality.
In this world, we experience sorrow and joy, struggle and hope, weakness and strength.
The beauty and richness of the Psalms is that they reflect life in this world so well, so honestly.
Deep down hope and joy within, even when outward circumstances are hard.
This has been the experience of Jesus-followers through the ages.
The well known words of the hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” are taken from the deep-down hope of Jeremiah in the midst of lamentation (Lamentations 3:19-24].
And the hope and joy of Habakkuk is still inspiring for us today: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. [Habakkuk 3:17-18]
I think the psalms provide a clue to how we can experience this joy.
David expressed what was in his heart, the good, the bad and the ugly.
His open expression of his fears and hopes allowed the Spirit of God to strengthen him within.
Keeping these emotions bottled up within only makes things worse.
They take over our thoughts, they overwhelm us, they immobilize us.
Satan delights when we do not process (i.e. pray) these things with God, he keeps us defeated when we do not express them.
But hope and joy come to those who talk these things through with God, who articulate and even write out their struggles.
God’s Spirit gives us deep-down hope and joy. With His help, our grief will turn to joy!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for allowing me to open my heart to You. And thank You for Your Spirit, Who gives me hope and joy within!
This Psalm is certainly a cry from the heart.
In his distress he cries to the Lord his God but there seems to be a gulf between them. In his suffering, he doesn’t feel the presence of his Saviour. And yet . . . he continues his talk with God for he knows that his power and strength are in Him alone. Deliverance is from God alone.
Seek the Lord. He rules. Proclaim His righteousness. Walk in His way always. He is God and He is present with His people. He is the Source of LIFE and all His need to proclaim His righteousness from generation to generation -HIStory.
God IS with us. Always and forever.
It is the cry of my heart
To follow You
It is the cry of my heart
To be close to You
It is the cry of my heart
To follow all of the days of my life
Teach me Your holy ways oh Lord
So I can walk in Your truth
Teach me Your holy ways oh Lord
And make me wholly devoted to You
Open my eyes so I can see
The wonderful things that You do
Open my heart up more and more
And make it wholly devoted to You