As for me, I am poor and needy,But the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer, do not delay, O my God!
Psalm 40:17
It’s the diversity of the psalms that I like best. They shine a spotlight on the rise and fall of human emotion clearly and effectively. As a little girl I memorized Psalm 23 which, as psalms go, is very consistent. It provided comfort in its consistency, because that is what I needed. Growing years brought new awareness into my well being and consistency wasn’t part of it. Instead, I was a crew member on the Starship Enterprise—I never really knew where I was going to land.
The whole of Psalm 40 is wonderful, but recently, the spotlight bounced off verse 17. The psalm shifts back and forth - a recognition that within a short period of time we can feel down, then up, make a turn for the better, then feel desperate. I find comfort in this verse for its truth, because even as I write, I have to admit that the psalmist has perfectly described my Enterprise ride for today.
It’s on the center of the verse that I rest. God doesn’t just have a thought “of” me when I am feeling poor and needy. No, instead, here is the voice that echoes in Jeremiah 29:11. The Lord takes thought “for” me. There is a plan, a purpose, a working out “for” my life which works in concert with the poor and needy side.
The psalms are good reminders that our up and down lives aren’t that unusual and in the middle of it all is our Help and our Deliverer.
It’s the diversity of the psalms that I like best. They shine a spotlight on the rise and fall of human emotion clearly and effectively. As a little girl I memorized Psalm 23 which, as psalms go, is very consistent. It provided comfort in its consistency, because that is what I needed. Growing years brought new awareness into my well being and consistency wasn’t part of it. Instead, I was a crew member on the Starship Enterprise—I never really knew where I was going to land.
The whole of Psalm 40 is wonderful, but recently, the spotlight bounced off verse 17. The psalm shifts back and forth - a recognition that within a short period of time we can feel down, then up, make a turn for the better, then feel desperate. I find comfort in this verse for its truth, because even as I write, I have to admit that the psalmist has perfectly described my Enterprise ride for today.
It’s on the center of the verse that I rest. God doesn’t just have a thought “of” me when I am feeling poor and needy. No, instead, here is the voice that echoes in Jeremiah 29:11. The Lord takes thought “for” me. There is a plan, a purpose, a working out “for” my life which works in concert with the poor and needy side.
The psalms are good reminders that our up and down lives aren’t that unusual and in the middle of it all is our Help and our Deliverer.
Jesus, there isn’t much more to say.
You are my help. You are my deliverer.
But, if, at all possible, you could help me sooner,
rather than later I would appreciate it!Amen.
You are my help. You are my deliverer.
But, if, at all possible, you could help me sooner,
rather than later I would appreciate it!Amen.
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