Today’s reading continues with the Psalms of David. These eloquently speak to the core of our humanity. All but one of the Psalms follow the usual format: David starts by addressing God, then laments his situation in raw and honest terms, and ends on pleasant notes of faith and praise. It’s amazing what happens when we pour our hearts out to God—He lifts our burdens! David would go from feeling overwhelmed to overcoming his situation through trusting God. So, what were some of the things that caused David to feel overwhelmed?
The constant slander and the twisting of his words overwhelmed David. It was a war of words! No matter what David said, no matter how he tried to defend himself, his words were twisted and used against him (Psalm 56:2, 5; Psalm 120:3; Psalm 140:3). No matter how much David tried to explain that he was not out to kill Saul, they twisted his words against him.
The constant scheming of David’s enemies, their plotting to kill him, overwhelmed him. David was up against some cunning and ruthless people! In Psalm 56:4, they watched his every step. In Psalm 140:4-5 and Psalm 142:3, they set traps for David’s every move through their evil plotting.
The perception that no one cared about his situation overwhelmed David. This is a tough one! David speaks of feeling alone amid his trouble in Psalm 120:6 and Psalm 142:4. No one would rescue him. No one stood with him.
Evil people, who appeared to be getting their way, overwhelmed David. The feeling that there was no justice was hard for him to swallow! In Psalm 56:7, Psalm 120:3, and Psalm 140:8-11, David pleads with God not to overlook their evil but to bring them down, to punish their tongues, and to frustrate their plans of evil.
How did David overcome his sense of being overwhelmed? He went to God to plead, to make his case, to spill his heart’s emotions, to remember what God had done in the past, and to remind himself of who God is and what God will do! Inevitably, when David did this, his messy prayers turned into praise choruses! Going to God relieved his heaviness of heart, turning his sorrow into rejoicing, his pain into praise, his trouble into triumph. Notice David’s resolve…
Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:9–11, ESV)
As David did, you and I will experience what it means to be overwhelmed. How do we overcome this? Where will we find comfort? There is only one place to go—go to God! Get it all out before God! He can handle it! Talk to God through the rawness of your emotions. Let Him lift your heaviness and burdens. Let Him quell the storm inside. Let Him turn overwhelming feelings into overcoming victories!
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Psalm 56; 120; 140; 141; 142.
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