Happy and Blessed - Pt. 4

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:17-24 ESV).

 

According to Wikipedia, a “lament” is “a passionate expression of grief, often in music, poetry, or song form. The grief is most often born of regret, or mourning.” Most of us have times of lament. We may complain, groan, mourn, or sometimes weep. Lamentation comes with the sting of our fallen world. The Bible contains many laments. In our continuing look through Psalm 119, our reading today brings the first of many laments in which the psalmist cries out for God’s deliverance.

 

The psalmist calls himself God’s “servant,” and that’s all we know about him. Some suggest that the writer is King David of Israel, who wrote several psalms of lament. Others have suggested Ezra or Nehemiah, who also had to deal with leadership struggles when they returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. Here the author cries out in anguish to God for deliverance, even while complaining that God treats him like a stranger.

 

We have all felt those painful moments, days, and, perhaps seasons of lament. The reality and depth of pain cannot be denied. We can learn so much from the psalmist’s prayer. Even in desperation, the writer shows that he wants to know God’s Word and live by it: My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times (v. 19). Adversity doesn’t drive the psalmist away from God. It drives him closer as he waits for the One who reveals himself in his Word.

 

That’s the key to finding hope, peace, and happiness in the midst of the difficult times of our lives. I have often heard people who have found this truth in their lives say, “I’m leaning in to God.” There’s a wonderful image in that expression. Leaning in to God suggest the pose of drawing closer and closer to His ever present Spirit. There are only two ways of accomplishing this. First, we pray and meditate; and, then we turn our attention to the Scripture. I hope that in your times of trouble, your prayers for deliverance will lead you deeper into God’s presence as you love and obey him. This makes the waiting for relief so much more easily endured. Lament, but do not fail to hope!