FRIDAY, JULY 6
Psalm 6:1-10
Hebrews 4:16

… to keep it holy unto the Lord.

SWIMMING IN MY BED OF TEARS

This is one of David’s seven penitential psalms. In Psalm 6:3-4 he is spiritually downcast. In verses 2 and 5 he seems to be struck down by sickness. In verses 7 and 10 he talks of confrontation with his enemies. When troubles come, they come not alone.

Those who persist to be “masters of their own fate and captains of their own souls” (William E. Henley) perish in their own strength. This is sterile stoicism, a fatalism to suffering and pain. O how sad and how lonely, and sadder and lonelier still, as one advances in age, without God!

Christians have David for an example. When misfortunes come David would take them to be chastenings from the Lord. He would quickly run to the Heavenly Father for help. He casts himself before One whom he could trust would do him good. He implores, first of all, His mercies, for there is nothing good in him he could rely upon to offer before God. He keeps on pleading and in the heat of his emotions he bursts into tears. His weeping from mixed strong emotions sends torrents of tears onto his bed, so much so that it almost becomes a swimming pool! This hyperbole vividly describes how strong his tearful pleadings with God are. It is good medicine to let go the pent-up emotions of the heart. To keep them and hem them makes the heavy burden heavier. Our strained emotions can harm the mind and body, eg. causing us to stammer. A Christian in communication with a loving Heavenly Father is like a child of a mother’s love. He can run to Mother’s bosom and sob it out in Mother’s embrace. Read Hebrews 4:16.

When we empty our miserable selves before Him, then He will fill us with gladness (Ps 30:5). After a night of soaking-wet weeping for Him, David wakes up in the first rays of a new day with a light heart! He feels his oppression is removed, particularly the “workers of iniquity,” his personal enemies. His prayers have been answered.

THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 27:14.)
PRAYER: May I always be found waiting on Thee, O Lord.