June 5 Daily Devotional

Does God Neglect Us?: A Meditation on Psalm Thirteen

Psalm 13

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Devotional

It may sound strange to us to hear a man say in the pages of Holy Writ that God had neglected him. But David was a man of like passions with ourselves, and the Holy Spirit has accurately preserved for us this man's opinion and feeling in his troubles.

Is it not true that when we are beset with adversities for a long time, there comes the thought that God has forgotten us? It is natural for man so to think, for the capacity of man's reason extends not beyond his senses and Ithe things of this world. Man grovels in the dust, and in himself he can never attain unto the grace of God. The judgment of the carnal mind excludes God from its affairs.

Yet it was not on a bare natural plane that the Psalmist stood, for he cried out to God for help. There must be faith when a man sincerely cries to God in his woes. How can one see his safety in God, without trust in Him? The very cry of helplessness and dependence upon God raises the soul to Him. God hears not those who seek help in their own resources. God is a mighty Saviour, and those who believe themselves humanly strong and self-sufficient will not sense their need of such a One.

The Arm of Flesh

There is always the temptation and danger of leaning on the arm of flesh in our troubles. This will always fail us. What is it that makes people more miserable than the casting of their eyes on human powers and trusting to worldly counsel! Certain it is that in this way no relief can ever come. Cares and trials will never be borne with fortitude and with quiet minds when the eyes are away from the Lord. He keeps only those whose winds are stayed on Him, in perfect Peace. Yes, there is a peace that passeth all understanding, but it comes not apart from the possession of the Lord Himself.

How Long Will Saints Suffer?

David did not think of the suffering of the saints as for a day. He knew that to be called into the family of God meant tribulation continually. There will never be a path of ease for the children of God. Knowing that they are called to suffer and to perpetual warfare, they should not count it strange when they enter into divers temptations. It is because many forget that as disciples of the Lord Jesus they are to take up their cross and follow Him in His sufferings, that they are not able to take their hardships patiently. Because they expect what the Lord has not promised, many are ready to forsake Him at the first sign of struggle.

It is better to cry to God in our troubles than not to cry at all to Him because we have no troubles. If through our troubles God gives grace to implore His mercy, we shall have cause to thank God for our griefs some day.

The heavy laden need to look into God's plan for His people. There they shall see their ultimate victory. Shortsightedness leads to much misery. To comprehend God's glorious purpose for His elect will lighten the burden so that it will be easy to bear.

(to be continued)