The psalmist is obviously sinking (v2). It is either he is not a swimmer or the water condition is too harsh, even for good swimmer. And he calls for help; he calls for God to save him (v1).
I am currently reading 3 books at the same time: Grace Walk by Steve McVey which is about understanding how the grace of God is working in our life and ministry (I read this for weekly Pastoral devotion); The Race by Robert Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church of Singapore, which is about life being a race and the book encourages us to train well and focus on the true goal of the race (I read this when I am on my “throne”); and When The Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In The Box by John Ortberg which also talks about what is the most important thing in life is at the end of it (I read this when I am on my way to the office).
All these three books have a common thing being mentioned; life out there in the world is tough, and it will only get tougher as it goes. I cannot help, but to agree as I observe my friends and church members around me. We are all struggling with life, and I am not spared. We are all looking for answer to all these struggles, and we are trying to make sense out of our suffering. But many a times, our struggles and sufferings make no sense at all.
There was a saying I have learn yesterday: Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived. I haven’t found out who say this, but this statement is so true. The challenge is to live our lives with the mystery. There are many things we cannot comprehend, and even if we have an answer, we might not like the answer.
This psalm is really about the reality of life. I can hear the struggles, the pains, the complaints and even the hatred (v28) of this psalmist. I can identify with him. I have my struggles of sins, I have my pains of the past, I have many complaints as you know, and I have even harbored hatred! But there seems to be only one thing the psalmist is yearning for; the Presence of God. He wants to see the face of God, he is fearful that the face of God might be hidden from him (v17). The only buoy he desires in his drowning moment is God.
I don’t know if you are a good swimmer of life or not, but I am quite a good swimmer. I can swim in this value-deteriorating water quite well, I can stay above the look-good-religiously water for quite a long time, and I can surely know how to dive into the messy-problems water to help some other to stay afloat. But I know I cannot stay in the water forever in this manner, I need a buoy, I need Someone to save me, and I know that God can.
I know God hears the needy and will not despise those who are prisoners of life (v33). He will rescue me; He will help me to get out of the water. And He will help you too. Maybe you are drowning in the midst of your office politics, maybe you are drowning by the deteriorating condition of your health, maybe you are drowning in the pressure and stress of you studies, and maybe you are drowning in the confusion and frustration of the relationship you are in. Call out for the Buoy, call out for God to save me.
You don’t have to threat water by yourself, you don’t have to swim longer than you should, and you don’t even have to try to be useful by trying to save others while you are struggling. You need to call out: Save me.
It is a posture of humility, it is a sign of being weak, and it is definitely opening up to be vulnerable. But we are to humble before the Almighty God, we can only be weak in order to experience the perfection of God’s strength (2 Cor. 12:9), and we can be healed and saved only if we are vulnerable to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I can’t save you, but God can. I need to be saved too, and I am calling out: Save me!
HHS…
Abel…
No comments:
Post a Comment