Psalm 88
1O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
8Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
This was a prayer of David; yet, it is a prayer that I could have prayed so many times and I daresay many Christians if they are honest have also been there. Holly is a lady and friend whom I met during the jail ministry. She has struggled against all odds to overcome her past. Lack of education and even social skills have stood in the way of her moving forward very fast. Last year I spent a lot of time and even some money to help; yet, in December with mom’s illness I had to withdraw my help. Yet, in the end she saw as did I that she had been relying too heavily on me and that was standing in God’s way. She went on to complete a course in how to be an employee and against the odds had a job she loved. Hating to ride the bus, she was so excited when her scooter had been finally repaired. I had gotten her the scooter a little over a year ago; but there had been problems with an oil leak preventing her from using it for several months. Yesterday, she left for work on the scooter singing and praising God—as Holly does so well in spite of everything—usually putting me to shame. The front began to shake and before she could bring it to a halt she awakened on the ground with the paramedics over her. Late yesterday she had surgery. I feel so hopeless and helpless deep inside. I wish I could have time to go help her; but I am on day 15 of a 19 day stretch at work with 10 to 12 hour days. I am strapped with cash and unable to reach out financially to help which cuts deep within my heart for her and all the others who bleed. In fact, after helping so many and paying for mom’s sitter; I am now strapped and waiting on grace to supply. Always quoting and standing on Christ’s promise in Luke 6 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Yet, it is this same God whom I know is in control and is the only hope I have and the only hope Holly has. So that we both can like David in His response say; Psalm 89:
1I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,
4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.
5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? …..
13Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.
14Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
16In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
Such an amazing heavenly Father who by no mistake placed chapter 89 to follow chapter 88 in the Psalm. He is the answer to all our questions; He is our only hope when we do not understand. We can rejoice in the knowledge that Almighty God who loves us unconditionally is sovereign over all and His plan is one of love, of joy and hope. Only then can we like the apostle Paul say, Romans 12:
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality
And then with fullness of His Spirit to abide, we must go forth with a triumphant call that Romans 16:
26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen
He is all I need or will ever need. As you have figured out by now, I always know a song that explains it better than I—music is such a wonderful gift of God.
Thank you Lord for blessing me with Your hope today through these Your words. May Your words go forth to help someone else in despair today. Love Your daughter, Effie Darlene Barba