JOURNAL ~ PsalmsSample

NOTHING BUT DARKNESS - Day 4

Today and tomorrow, I want to focus on Heman, the Ezrahite author of this Psalm. Not many people have ever heard of him, but we are told he was the father of 17 children and one of the choir directors appointed by David to lead the congregation of Israel in praise and worship (see 1 Chronicles 6:31-33; 15:16-17; 16:41-42; 25:5-7).

As we read, he is as troubled at the close of this Psalm as he was at the opening. His anguish is unrelenting. His distress is unrelieved. Despite the dark language of the Psalm, he does at least acknowledge God as the source of his “salvation” (v. 1) and is persistent in his petitions both day and night: Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! (vv. 1-2) even when his prayers go unanswered, or so it seems and his cry for help falls on deaf ears.

Here’s how he puts it: I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. (vv. 3-7).

What Heman is praying spoke truth about Israel then, and God's people today. Just like them, we too live in a world in which, sometimes, there is no obvious answer. But the greatest truth about what Heman showed us through this Psalm is he did not stop calling out to God. And neither should we!