Daily Reading: Hosea 1, Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107 & 137, Proverbs 17
Psalm 77:1-3 “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. (2) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. (3) I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Who knows the troubles that others face? What each man or woman encounters in life, what causes pain for some, what is the sore that runs in the night and ceases not? We each think at times that our lives are painful beyond comparison, but how do we know? I have heard plights of some and thought…I do not want to go through that, but then realized…they probably wouldn’t want to go through what I’ve gone through either. We all have pain…we all carry burdens, we all have reason to complain. The difference that brings a smile or a tear is in how we handle our broken pieces. It’s not just a matter of seeking the Lord. If it were, we would have a lot more smiles. It’s a matter of knowing the Lord. Do we seek the Lord so that he will swoop down and carry us away from our pain and suffering, or do we seek the Lord to recognize His ways, know His thoughts, and understand His heart? The Lord is always present…we do not need Him to come crashing through the wall on a white horse. Our souls refuse to be comforted because we don’t worship Him. “I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Indeed. Complaining will do that. God is our father…we don’t come to him as such.
Psalm 107:20&21 “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (21) Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
This is a part of that “knowing His ways” that I mentioned earlier. It doesn’t say he healed them and delivered them. It says, “He sent his word” to do the work. His word is powerful…do we know His Word? Not well enough, I can tell you. This verse is followed by a statement that is repeated throughout the chapter. Oh that men would praise the Lord. Not because He wants it, not because He’s egotistical and needs to be affirmed. Because it makes His ways work in our lives. Worship draws the goodness of God to the surface and complaining causes it to sink to the bottom every time.
Psalm 107:41-43 “Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. (42) The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. (43) Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”
Proverbs 17:9 “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.”
This verse reiterates the same principle as above. The words we speak are what causes us to rise up or fall down. The words we speak can cause others to rise up or fall down. Do we rejoice when God exalts others? Do we hold our tongue when we know something bad about someone else? Do we think that God doesn’t know the thoughts and ways of every man? He will put down those who need to be brought down and he will exalt those who are worthy of being lifted up. It may not be when we want it to happen and it may not be the way we want it to happen but our worship will cause us to have peace about all of it. If we are faithful to praise the Lord…we will see the joy, the peace and the contentment of the Lord in our own lives. If we complain, if we stir up strife, if we repeat matters, we cause pain, destroy friendships and our souls will never be comforted.