Draw Me Nearer, Precious Lord Psalm 69:5-18 Psalm 69 is called an imprecatory psalm. An imprecatory psalm is a psalm of lament over accusations and unjust attacks. In verse 5 the Psalmist appeals to God for help. God knows us and our wrongdoing. God invites us to go before Him with a contrite heart to ask for forgiveness. 5 God, you know my foolishness; my wrongdoings aren’t hidden from you. The Psalmist asks forgiveness for being a stumbling block to another person. To be a bad example of what it means to be a child of God is truly sad and disgraceful. 6 LORD God of heavenly forces!— don’t let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me. God of Israel!— don’t let those who seek you be disgraced because of me. Not only does the psalmist lament over being an embarrassment to his family because of insults brought on because of his faith in God. 7 I am insulted because of you. Shame covers my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my own brothers, an immigrant to my mother’s children. 9 Because passion for your house has consumed me, the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me! 10 I wept while I fasted— even for that I was insulted. 11 When I wore funeral clothes, people made fun of me. 12 Those who sit at the city gate muttered things about me; drunkards made up rude songs. 13 But me? My prayer reaches you, LORD, at just the right time. God, in your great and faithful love, answer me with your certain salvation! 14 Save me from the mud! Don’t let me drown! Let me be saved from those who hate me and from these watery depths! 15 Don’t let me be swept away by the floodwaters! Don’t let the abyss swallow me up! Don’t let the pit close its mouth over me! 16 Answer me, LORD, for your faithful love is good! Turn to me in your great compassion! 17 Don’t hide your face from me, your servant, because I’m in deep trouble. Answer me quickly! 18 Come close to me! Redeem me! Save me because of my enemies! Information from Ilumina regarding Jesus’ suffering alluded to in Psalm 69: from Ilumina: Psalms69 gives a clear explanation of why so often good people are unjustly attacked. The attackers are really reproaching God by hating his faithful followers (69:9). David experienced hatred (69:4), but Jesus endured hatred in a more complete measure (see John 15:25; cf. Psalms69:8 with John 7:3-5). The disciples linked Psalms69:9 with Jesus’ temple cleansing (see John 2:17). Matthew linked Psalms69:21 with Jesus’ suffering at Golgotha (Matthew 27:34). Jesus may have been alluding to Psalms69:25 in Matthew 23:38. Peter quoted it with reference to Judas (Acts 1:20). The “Book of Life” (Psalms69:28) refers to the registry of the living. David was praying for the premature death of the wicked so that they might be distinguished from the righteous. My prayer for you today is that you stand firm in faith even if there are times when you feel alone. I pray that you are drawn near to God. Love in Christ, Pat From Ilumina: NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD Cleland Boyd McAfee (1866–1944) WHERE DO YOU TURN when unexpected tragedy strikes? Cleland McAfee, a Presbyterian minister in Chicago, had just received word that his brother and sister-in-law had lost both of their daughters to diphtheria within twenty-four hours. Grief-stricken, McAfee couldn’t think of deep theological issues; he could only think of verses in the book of Psalms that brought comfort and rest to those who sought refuge in the Lord. As he meditated on God’s Word, he wrote the words and music to this simple hymn. At the double funeral, outside the darkened, quarantined house of his brother, Cleland McAfee with a choking voice sang this hymn publicly for the first time. The following Sunday, his church choir sang it from their pastor’s handwritten copy. McAfee went on to become a well-known theologian, writing books and scholarly articles, but today he is perhaps best known for the words of comfort he was able to offer in a family crisis. https://youtube/watch?v=2UnFNHWJ0tA Near to the Heart of God Love in Christ, Pat
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:22:58 +0000
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