Read
(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)
A Prayer in Times
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.
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.
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)