Tag Archives: Suffering

The Conclusion of Solomon’s Prayer

08 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalm 72, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 72

Verses 12-20

For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
May grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
and thrive like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.

This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse (NIV).

IMG_20140616_102225

More glorious than Solomon — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This is the concluding portion of Solomon’s prayer. Many scholars view this as David’s prayer for Solomon, rather than a prayer written by Solomon. In either case, it is a prayer calling for God’s blessing on the king and the nation. This brings us to a question. What is the purpose of God’s blessing? Is it only for personal benefit?

The answer can be found in the first few lines above. The righteous king is blessed and given wealth and authority so that he can be a blessing to others. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

The great danger for any of us is that when blessings come, we accumulate these blessings for ourselves alone. Along with God’s blessings comes a responsibility to share and identify with those in need within our borders and beyond. We serve a God with a big heart. His love extends far beyond our narrow interests. God blesses His people abundantly, so that we can in turn bless others.

What a privilege we have to reflect the LORD’s character in a hurting world!

Response: LORD God, help me to see my many blessings as a gift from you. Show me today how I can be a blessing to others. You are my source. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you tempted to keep all of God’s blessings for yourself?

The God of Nerve Endings

07 Monday Mar 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help (Psalm 10:17, CEV).

Eric E. Wright 6

Photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is suffering.

We all suffer or have suffered in various ways, whether it’s physical, psychological or emotional pain. To be human is to suffer.

Our God is the God of nerve endings. We were designed to feel both pain and pleasure. The same nerve endings that give us joy and pleasure can scream out in pain and agony.

Have you heard an atheist railing against God because He allows humans to experience joy and pleasant sensations? Of course not, but God is blamed for allowing suffering. The God of nerve endings allows us to experience both pleasure and pain, and I’m so glad He does.

But beyond all this God hears us when we suffer.

You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help (Psalm 10:17, CEV).

God understands our pleasure and our pain because in the body of Jesus, He fully became one of us.

Response: Lord Jesus, I thank you for identifying with our problems, suffering and weakness. I determine in my heart to thank and praise you both in times of joy and in times of pain. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you respond to suffering? Why is it difficult to praise God in hard times?

You Offer Hope

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help (Psalm 10:17 CEV).

Yellow Cones 2015-08-26

Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is hope.

There are two words that stand in sharp contrast in today’s passage from the Psalms. The words are suffer and hope. Without hope suffering becomes unbearable. But where there is hope there is endurance. We have hope in our suffering because we have a God who listens to our cries.

Response: LORD God, you understand our suffering because Jesus, your son, suffered greatly. Hear me when I call. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord brought you hope in times of suffering?

Does Christ’s Suffering Help You During Times of Suffering and Loss?

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Psalm 22, Psalms

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Reading:                                       Psalm 22

Verses 22-26

I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear youI will fulfill my vows.
 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever! (NIV)

 Reflection

In this ongoing discussion of Psalm 22 we hit a critical turning point with yesterday’s scripture reading. The humiliated, pierced and tortured Christ prays, “But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen” (Psalm 22:19-21).

God the Father answered the prayer of his suffering Son, not immediately, but three days later Jesus arose from the dead. Now he reigns triumphant over death, hell and the grave. The opening words recorded here are the resurrected Christ’s song of triumph: I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

And why should we praise the LORD? Here is the answer: For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

In the context of this psalm, Christ is the afflict one. The prophet Isaiah declares, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Yes, praise Him! We have a Savior who can fully identify with every aspect of our humanity because he was fully human. He suffered even as we suffer. But in all this He is the victor. May your hearts live forever because of Jesus.

Response: Father, thank you for victory over death, hell and the grave through Your Son Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Does the knowledge of Christ’s suffering help you in times of personal pain or loss?