Friday, January 15, 2010
Psalm 40:11b-12a ... may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me ...
TROUBLES WITHOUT NUMBER
I think I know how David felt. You probably do too. Troubles without number! At times that sure describes my life and yours. We could all make a list. We could even have a contest. "I'll see your troubles and raise you two!" Sometimes it's really hard to keep going. It can get overwhelming. Troubles without number!
Our main problem, as David points out, is sin. We bring many troubles upon ourselves for failing to listen to our Heavenly Father. We see the sad results inside our hearts as guilt eats away at us. We see the unhappy effects that sin has on our relationships and other aspects of our lives. We know the death and hell we deserve because of our sin. And so we cry out, "Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD, may your love and your truth always protect me."
God hears! He's there to lift us out of th pit of our despair! He shows us Jesus, Who was overtaken with the world's sin. Talk about troubles without number! Jesus carried the world's sorrows and sins all the way to the cross! God gave up His best for the likes of us. God cares. He really cares about me and you. How can we doubt it! Look at Jesus' cross!
When our troubles and sins are beyond counting we can be confident that God's love and truth will be there to protect us! The arms of Jesus' cross surround God's child in all of his troubles. That's love. That's the truth.
Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
Oh, spread Thy wings above me
And shield me from alarm!
Though evil would assail me,
Thy mercy will not fail me:
I rest in Thy protecting arm.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 554)
