(Today’s readings.. (Exodus 15), (Psalm 69), (Mark 3)

Today’s Psalm (69) of David is very heart stirring.  Some of its verses are prophetic of events in the life on earth of his greater son.  David is conscious that God’s all seeing ‘eyes’ means he is fully aware of the problems surrounding him – and some of these prefigured situations that would occur in the life of Jesus.

David built up his faith in his Creator, setting us an example, “my prayer is to you, O LORD,  At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” [v.13]  He pleads, “Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.” [v.17]  The Gospels show the times of urgency in the life of Jesus, times when he sought deep communion with his father. In Luke 6 v.12 we read, “he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”

We can only surmise the situations that caused David to write, “Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.   They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” [v.20,21] Some of his experiences pre-figured events in the life of his greater Son!  Have there been experiences in our life which are to some degree a little parallel?  Has our faith increased as a result of finding strength (from our Saviour) to overcome them and then to become stronger to more boldly face any future situations?

There are verses in this Psalm that will inspire and lift up our hearts as they must have lifted up the heart of Jesus. “I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!”  David then added, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” [v.29,30]  When we “magnify” what God is, he becomes large in our thoughts and dominates our mind.  How significant that David next prays, “you who seek God, let your hearts revive.”[v.32]

Our world threatens to overwhelm our minds with its godlessness, – so how urgent should be our spirit of seeking a revival of our hearts so as to have a fully heart-felt relationship with God day after day.  Our Psalm ends by declaring, “For God will save Zion … and those who love his name shall dwell in it.”