Times are tough. On a daily basis we hear tales of people going through some really difficult situations, being diagnosed with cancer, financial stress, or the death of loved ones earlier than expected. The writer of Psalm 118 would so easily relate to many of life's modern struggles. At the beginning of this new year, let us see what we can learn from the Psalmist who penned these words over three thousand years ago.
Context
In verse five we learn that the writer was going through some form of distress. As we read on, we then learn that this distress is to the extent that he is hated (v7), and not merely by an individual, but by the nations that are surrounding him (vv 10-12). It is generally accepted that the writer was David, and from the writer talking about the nations surrounding him like a swarm of bees, this seems to be a logical conclusion. Whoever it was, the writer was being pushed violently to the extent that he was on the verge of falling (v13).
There are three lessons for us here:
We Need God
God uses trials in our lives to show us our need for Him, so much so that we will turn to prayer. Most, if not all of us, turn to prayer when we go through severe trials. When things are going well, we tend to forget prayer, even though we know we should. Whether it be merely thanksgiving, or praying for others, we tend to neglect our prayer lives when life is good.
But when we go through trials, we tend to pray more fervently with more focus. These prayers are to be offered in faith that God will deliver. Like the writer, we should see God as our refuge (vv 8-9), our help (v13), and our strength and salvation (v14). Out of great need the writer prayed, and so should we.
Do Not Doubt
When trials hit, the devil is quick to try and have us doubt God. He tells us that God is not going to come through, or that God does not truly love us, that is why we are going through what we are. However, the words of the Psalmist tell us something quite different, "The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" We read similar words in Psalm 56:4 & 11 and Hebrews 13:6. Of course, we can experience bad things at the hands of man which cause us emotional and physical pain, but the point it that they cannot do anything that is ultimately harmful to us, in other words, they cannot take away God's salvation. Paul states this so beautifully in Romans 8:31-32, "If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
Trust God Alone
Verses 8 and 9 show us the extent of the Psalmist's trust in God, he trusts no-one other than God. He sees God alone as his strength (v14) and he trusts God to protect him and save him from his enemies.
Trusting in God alone, turning to Him in prayer, and not doubting Him, are not necessarily automatic responses when trials hit. Maybe when all else fails we may do, but not initially. But as we learn in Psalm 118, prayer and faith should be our first response before we do anything else.
We also need to remember that we must not trust in the method of prayer itself, or even in particular words or phrases, but in the person we are calling out to. From the simplest, seemingly silly prayer, to the most elaborate, Bible-quoting prayer, we are to call on God in times of trial right from the beginning. Let us make this a year where we turn to Jesus first, no matter how big or small the problem.
Just a Thought!
© 2013
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