WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘Lord, comfort me with your presence today. You know my needs and my fears. As I turn to you, may your face shine on me.’

Personal difficulties
Habakkuk and Obadiah were struggling with national difficulties. Here the psalmist was facing similar dangers – idolatry, sickness, enmity, pride, arrogance, dishonesty and fear – but they were affecting him on a more personal level.

The one thing he wasn’t prepared to do was put a brave face on things, ignore the difficulties and hope that everything would turn out all right in the end. He made sure that he told the Lord exactly what his situation was and how he was feeling about it.

The God who saves
He also made it abundantly clear what he expected God to do – the psalm is chock-full of specific requests: ‘deliver me’ (v 1), ‘turn your ear to me, come quickly’ (v 2), ‘lead and guide me’ (v 3), ‘free me’ (v 4), ‘redeem me’ (v 5).

Finally, like the two prophets, the psalmist spoke out his faith in the God who saves. He understood that at all times, and especially in times of difficulty and danger, the only safe place to be was in God’s hands. That knowledge in its turn built up his faith and gave him hope.

Respond: ‘Since you are…’ (v 3). Notice some of the names that the psalmist gives God – for instance ‘rock of refuge’, ‘strong fortress to save’. Use them as a starting point for your own prayers of worship and thanksgiving.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-26