Today’s Scripture readings: Psalm 40,54, Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Hebrews 4:11-16, John 3:22-36
Today’s Writer: Andy McGowan
Throughout the Psalm 40, David is praising God for deliverance. But David finds himself
in yet another situation/season where he needs God’s protective love and mercy (40:11-
13). David recognizes that God has acted on David’s behalf. However, David is feeling
the pressure of darkness once again.
We have all experienced God’s saving grace when we first turned to him in faith.
However, there are times when we feel as if God is distant and darkness is all around.
We feel the weight and anxiety our own sin and the sin of this world and we feel like
David, “I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me…you are my God do not delay.”
(40:17) Easter may be coming according to the Liturgical Calendar, but the season of
Lent may continue to be a realty for some of us. We can only hope that Easter will
come.
David reminds himself to wait. Waiting on the Lord in difficult times is often the most
difficult act of obedience. But it is through obedience that we will enter His rest. God
will often keep us in the dark places to cut away the sin that hinders our maturity.
Moses reminds the people, “Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy
in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the
sky.”(Deut. 10:22) It was in Egypt, that place of slavery, bondage, and oppression that
God paradoxically grew His people. May we remember that God is using the times of
trial to deliver us into places of greater joy. We are called to be obedient and wait for
Him.
