I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice I made my supplication unto the Lord.
2 I poured out my complaint before Him; I declared to Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way where I walk, they have laid a snare for me.
4 I looked on my right and noticed, but there was no one who would care for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
5 I cried unto You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than me.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 142 [mev]
Have you ever been ‘low’?
Sure, we all have those occasional moments where ‘low’ is present, but I am not talking about that kind of ‘low’.
I mean really low…where emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually your spirit groans from its depths, so beyond yourself, that you find yourself numbed? When spiritual warfare found your doorstep, took its grip and released its ammunition at you.
David found himself at his core; and it was just overwhelming.
I have felt like David in time past. As I read David’s words they fly off the pages of Scripture and I find my soul pricked. I hear his cry. I feel his pain, sorrow, discouragement, isolation, loneliness, and agonizing soul; I have lived his prayer cries.
How about you?
- Maybe you have experienced the very things David speaks of, or maybe you will in the future.
- Maybe you are experiencing these very soul–cries right now.
My friend, like David, you have hope. That hope is found only in Jesus Christ. David poured out his soul before God. He laid it all down on the table. He was honest with himself. He was honest with God.
- David didn’t hold back.
- God didn’t hold back.
God heard every word David spoke, even the silent ones. God hears your every word.
David did something else.
Something that, at times, we forget to do ourselves because we end up allowing “it” to become bigger than God himself.
1. David recognized who God was — David knew God was God. Sounds simple, yet our actions do display whether we live like He is or not. David knew God had him in the palm of His hand. Nothing could change God, not even his circumstance.
2. David recognized who he was before God. Even though David was anointed king, David knew his place before a righteous and holy God. This is not self degradation, but rather placing oneself under ones authority; in this case, God’s. David believed God without reservation. To submit to God brought salvation, hope, and empowerment. He was safe, loved, and provided for; he was more than conquerors.
3. David recognized who his enemies were. David kept his eyes on God so that the opposition, people, or circumstances he found himself in didn’t look bigger than his God was. He knew his flesh would fail, but not with God by his side.
4. David recognized that in the end, God’s glory was the end prize. Giving praise, rightful recognition to God was his place, was God’s place. David believed God was good! God could never be anything but good.
Though David was hunted by men, wanted as an fugitive by King Saul, and was a king in waiting, David saw God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was a lover of his soul.
1. God loved David.
2. God cared for David.
3. God fought for David.
4. God provided for David.
5. God lead David.
6. God blessed David.
God changes not.
1. God loves you.
2. God cares for you.
3. God fights for you.
4. God provides for you.
5. God leads you.
6. God blesses you.
This psalm is not the only psalm we find David pouring out his soul to God. We read other psalms where David cried out to God or when David was filled with praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship. His visual encounters displayed only one link…GOD!
🎯 David believed God regardless what his circumstance or situation looked like. God was always good.
🎯 David trusted God regardless what his circumstance or situation looked like because God could never violate himself.
🎯 David committed himself to God regardless of what his circumstance or situation was or would become because God was faithful.
How are you being changed?
1. Do you find yourself drawing closer to God? Growing in godliness through faith because you believe in the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13)?
2. Or do you find yourself being lured away by the weight or temptation of your situation? Is your life consumed by “it” rather than being sheltered, saved and provided for by the very One who could?
- Change will happen.
- What will your change look like?
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
In Christ I am SHE 