Day 160

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David's Fretful Cry onto the Lord

Scripture

June 8—Psalms 37-41: Cry of a Fretful Follower

Observation

The five psalms you will read today, all authored by King David, provide a many-sided look at David's walk with God. While Israel's king often expressed praise to God, he also wrestled with fretfulness (37), failing strength (38, 39), and the unfaithfulness of trusted friends (40). But for every situation of life, David found a Source of support and strength that was unchanging and inexhaustible: the faithfulness of his covenant-keeping God.

Application

One of the greatest riddles facing Christians today is the seeming prosperity of the wicked. David struggled with this question, and in Psalm 37 suggested a course of action to deal with it. We could summarize his advice this way: "Look at the wicked in the light of eternity; live your life in the strength of today."

Begin by understanding the fate that awaits the ungodly: "They fade away like grass and disappear" (37:2); "the wicked shall be destroyed" (37:9); "evil men shall perish and disappear like smoke" (37:20). Their judgment  is sure. In the light of eternity, what does it matter if for a short time the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper? God will settle all accounts justly. And so David exhorts, "Never envy the wicked" (37:1).

Instead of worrying about things we cannot change, David exhorts us to concentrate on attitudes we can change. "Trust in the Lord. Be delighted with the Lord. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him." Pick one of those five commands and write out in your own words a way you can develop the attitude in your life today.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, that you fill us with your Holy Spirit if we rest our expectations on your promises while we pray and wait on you. We don't have to be anxious about anything. We just trust in you. In Jesus name! Amen!

Pray and Wait!


© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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