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Through the Desert on a Horse with No Name Psalms Reflection

Read

(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

1When you are angry, Lord,

please don't punish me

or even correct me.

2You shot me with your arrows,

and you struck me

with your hand.

3My body hurts all over

because of your anger.

Even my bones are in pain,

and my sins 4are so heavy

that I am crushed.

5Because of my foolishness,

I am covered with sores

that stink and spread.

6My body is twisted and bent,

and I groan all day long.

7Fever has my back in flames,

and I hurt everywhere.

8I am worn out and weak,

moaning and in distress.

9You, Lord, know every one

of my deepest desires,

and my noisy groans

are no secret to you.

10My heart is beating fast.

I feel weak all over,

and my eyes are red.

11Because of my sickness,

no friends or neighbors

will come near me.

12All who want me dead

set traps to catch me,

and those who want

to harm and destroy me

plan and plot all day.

13I am not able to hear

or speak a word;

14I am completely deaf

and can't make a sound.

15I trust you, Lord God,

and you will do something.

16I said, “Don't let them laugh

or brag when I slip and fall.”

17I am about to collapse

from constant pain.

18I told you my sins,

and I am sorry for them.

19Many deadly and powerful

enemies hate me,

20and they repay evil for good

because I try to do right.

21You are the Lord God!

Stay nearby

and don't desert me.

22You are the one who saves me.

Please hurry and help.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
See this passage in other languages or Bible versions

Reflect

I’ve been in a dry place, a desert of testing for some years now and I’ve often had pause to question God and wonder why, why, why must this continue and for what purpose? Then as I reflect back over this time and recall the journey, especially as I’ve reread my prayer journals, I see that through this I’ve been brought face to face with my sin; a true recognition of how dark my heart is and how deserving of punishment I am. But, and this is the wonderful thing, I’ve also seen that it’s been this very testing and time of discipline that has brought me so close to the heart of Father God. That being in this desert is what’s given me the desire to cry out to him in desperation, very audibly at times, and seek to be closer to him than I could have ever imagined needing or wanting to be if I had not been going through this.

David’s only hope in this psalm is his faith that God will come through for him, that he will be present. The tipping point is verse 15, “I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God.”

He doesn’t actually get an answer to his problems or relief from God’s discipline in this psalm but David affirms his trust that God will not be far off and will come quickly. That is what I’ve held on to during my time of discipline while I too wait and this is why David, regardless of his circumstances, affirmed “… apart from you I have no good thing.” (Ps. 16:2).

Respond

God of the dry places, I long for you. Come quickly and be near me today; show me your mercy, not your wrath. In Jesus’ name I come to you alone. Help.

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James Paterson

James works as a visual artist. His current body of work is a series of metal wire sculptures called Prayer Machines which are whimsically ambiguous machine-like objects that give expression to mystery. “I love to share the gospel message, using art as a bridge, to encourage people in their relationship with Jesus.” He and Lynn have four young adult children. Publications Jim’s Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book (Bastian Books ,2007)

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faith, waiting, desert places, cry, desperation


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