Psalms of Honesty and Truth

A David Psalm

1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.

4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.

6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
7-8 So I answered, “I’m coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.

9-10 I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.

11-12 Now God, don’t hold out on me,
don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn’t see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.

16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you’re all about
tell the world you’re great and not quitting.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
but God, don’t put it off.

David could have written this while in exile or later in life. It seems to me that the words are a lamentation of a life with God, trusting God through all circumstances and realizing that God and God alone is the most important, the most cherished relationship we could possible have in our lifetimes. No other relationship compares to the relationship we have with God! All other relationships begin with God first…then with others.

David laments over waiting for God. I lament over how long God had to wait for me to finally be filled with His Truth and behave accordingly! I lament over wasting time thinking about how others perceive of me. I lament over time wasted worrying about money. I lament over times of people pleasing when all that time could have been spent pleasing God alone. David says, “Blessed are you who turn yourselves over to Yahweh, turning your backs on the world’s “sure thing”. IGNORE what the world worships!”

Yes, I lament over wasted hours, days and weeks that led to years of worrying and despair without realizing God, our Maker who knows and loves me, was working 24/7 in me and through me. Like David, God drove me, a seeker of God’s best, to His Word. Now, it is a part of my being. I’m still a mess at times, but I know Who to quickly run to for forgiveness and restoration. When chaos ensues and tries to distract me, I’m quicker to turn my focus back to the One and Only who overwhelms me with His peace and protection right in the middle of the storm. The older you get the LESS time you want to waste!

Yes, Lord, I’m listening. Yes, Lord, I’m coming to the party you have planned for all who believe, belong and behave as You intended from the beginning of time.

I love you with all my heart, mind and soul. I’m redeemed and I now realize the deeper meaning of being redeemed and I cannot be silent. I will hold nothing back. I know You are not finished with us yet. I don’t know what is next here, that’s in Your hands, and I’m expectantly waiting for what I know is beyond this world…a place you have prepared for me there with You. Make something of me, while there is still time left, but be gentle.

Thank you, dear Lord for your loving patience and graciousness to us. In Jesus Name, Amen