SWHW Bible Reading Plan: September 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Caren Fehr:

I have experienced and learned so much more than I ever expected about the attributes of God through the Psalms.  It has shown me how we can have a real and intimate friendship with God. It's reminded me of God's constant presence, steadfast love, greatness, goodness, unending grace, perfect peace, and holy purpose.

There is so much that I could unpack from the 5 psalms we read today, but Psalm 88 stood out to me because it doesn't end on a high note. This Psalm was written by Heman the Ezrahite. In it, he expresses his great troubles to the Lord.

Heman begins by acknowledging that God is the One Who saves. A solid start! As we continue reading, however, we see Heman is overwhelmed with troubles (vs. 3). His life draws near to death (vs. 3). He is one without strength (vs. 4). This doesn't just seem to be an external "dark valley" but an internal one as well. His soul is aching. His spirit is weary.

Heman's despair and discouragement lead to him putting God on trial in verses 9-12. Not only so, but he ends the Psalm with this verse: "You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend."

Wow. Anyone else surprised God left this Psalm in His Word? I mean, Heman is angry, has the audacity to call God out, and ends his prayer basically telling God that darkness is a closer friend than He is.

Maybe you've been there. I think sometimes as Christians we assume that we will never go through dark times. But Scripture has never made that promise. Instead, God is clear that in this world there will be trouble (John 16:33). In Psalm 23, David didn't say "If I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" but "When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

Expectations have so much to do with how we process what comes to us. It's important to then get clear expectations from God's Word, never forgetting the hope-filled promises God gives us, too.

With all that said, I would like to share two things that are encouraging and beautiful about this Psalm:

1. We see Heman praying his emotions rather than bowing down to them or denying them. In our darkest times, may we too pray our pain to the Lord, asking Him to meet us with His love, compassion, and truth.

2. We see God's grace. God could have censored these kinds of prayers and taken them out, but He didn't. Derek Kidner wrote a commentary on the psalms and when commenting on both Psalm 39 and 88 where the psalm ends on a dark, lonely and even despair-filled note, he says, “The very presence of these prayers in scripture are a witness to God’s understanding. He knows how men speak when they are desperate.” Let's never forget His kind of grace. Amen?

Father, thank You for being an ever-present and all-knowing God. Even in my darkest moments, You don't leave me. When I speak desperately, You understand. Help me to pray my emotions to You, believing that You listen, You care, You love me, and You want to speak to me personally. I am listening. Amen.