The Devotional - 016 - LORD, do you hear me?

A Thought for the Day – 016 – LORD, do you hear me?

Psalm 55:1-2 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily.

 

Comments and challenges

Of course David the writer of this Psalm goes on to explain the discomfort in his soul as a contemplation concerning treachery. A treachery not from enemies but from friends! Now do friends find ways to bring trouble, anguish and sleepless nights into our lives? Well not all the time, but it does happen. Take the time read down through verse 14 of Psalm 55.

If you have been a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ for any length of time you may have run into a friend; a brother or sister in the LORD who has simply turned on you an became the enemy. These are tough periods of time in our walk. Crushing our faith even redirecting our walk and in most cases the aftershock of these battles leads an individual to thoughts of death, either against someone or self.

In verse 3, these promoters of evil toward David are causing him to think of revenge, in verse 4, fear grips him and his heart aches for a moment of hope; either sweet revenge or death for himself. These are tough moments in the heart of anyone going through these times. Of course the answer is always to seek the LORD, but it seems that the LORD is not listening to the complaint. We may even feel that the LORD is on the wrong side of the battle.

The LORD uses moments like these to build up our dependence on HIM, so what is dependence? It is FAITH! Here is the rub; if we take the matter into our own hands and become so angry as to destroy the life of the one who is seeking harm, or if we choose to end our personal life, whether it be physical or just to fly away like a bird in the sky, there would be a temporary “Selah” in this peace we could hide our self from the tempest and storm being produced.

This is not FAITH, it is a work that destroys rather than builds and it takes a long time to recover and return to the LORD. Now it may be that we never drift far from the LORD, we may do churchy things, even pray and seek the LORD. we may even involve ourselves in ministry and be sincere. But our active FAITH (our original walk) in Christ was harmed when we turn our back and ran away. There are many examples of this in scripture, the best example is that of the disciples of the LORD when He was taken captive, rejected and murdered by the religion of His day.

But, please note… did this religious crowd, while thinking victory, did they swallow up these men and the women who were following Jesus while He was alive. No! All but one returned to FAITH when Jesus ROSE from the grave. And the one that did not return; but hung himself, he had no FAITH to begin with even though he was a disciple and friend of Jesus. Read the gospels and see for yourself. These troubling moments in time for the SAINTS of God are events that are FAITH builders. When the saints of God go through the “fire” God does not leave their side, He is in the thick of it with them.

Isaiah 43:1-3a – Speaking to Israel God says: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine””. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you; for I am the LORD your God.

Again, notice Psalm 55: 20-21 – the words of the religious are pious even peaceful in sound, but these men and women have not broken a covenant with you or me personally, they have broken it with God before they took the left over pieces and wrecked your day! David responds correctly in verse 22 – Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Literally “shaken” this is the same thing the Apostle Peter tells us. God promise is “Not Slack”, 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Peter 5:7. “Roll your cares onto the LORD as He cares for you