READ: Psalms 141-143
Psalm 141:5 is a prayer to God for correction. The Psalmist has been
lied to and mistreated by evildoers. He knows they have nothing good to offer
him. So he asks the Lord to give him correction through righteous or godly
people. He understands that correction coming from a righteous person will give
him guidance to draw near to God in humility. Sin will be exposed so he can
confess it. His errant ways can be realigned with the ways of God. He speaks
about being hit in the head as if it was a kindness. It is not that he really
wants to be hit, or that he has a weird idea of kindness. He understands the
purpose of the rebuke of a godly person is for his long-term growth and
prosperity. To be corrected by someone who is living in line with God’s will is
better than to live separate from God in sin, along with the wicked. For this
reason, he welcomes rebuke and instruction.
In Psalm 142 the Psalmist is again weak, worn out and in trouble. He
says in verse 3 his spirit is fainting within him. He can hardly carry on. Yet
God, he tells us, knows the way to go. God can see the enemies hiding, about to
ambush him. God can see the traps set for him. He would trust in people and
perhaps friends or allies, but there are none left so he must trust the Lord.
It is the best thing after all, because God sees what is hidden and can direct
his path safely through.
Psalm 143 is the prayer of a desperate man. He is at his wits’ end and
needs to hear from God. He sits and recounts the things God has done, willing
himself to remember stories of God’s power, might and salvation. He says his
spirit is failing. He needs his very soul to be refreshed. This is why he longs
for the voice of the Lord. He needs to hear from God Himself how much he is
loved, as well as the direction he should go. He needs wisdom and relationship.
This characteristic of God is confirmed in James 1:5: we can and should ask God
for wisdom because He gives generously to all who ask.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
Reflect on your past experiences of being corrected
by godly people. Even if they “smacked you in the face” did you accept it as a
gift of kindness like the Psalmist? Ask the Lord to bring to mind words of
godly people who bravely spoke correction into your life. Ask Him to reveal to
you from His perspective how loving and kind those words were, even if they
hurt. Ask God to grow your heart to long for righteousness so much that you
would eagerly ask for correction of godly people. Thank Him for those who have
and ask Him to continue gently correcting you and purifying you.
2.
God knows what lies ahead. That’s why the Psalmist
waited to hear from Him. What kind of decision or plans or questions about the
future do you have? Ask the Lord to speak to you regarding which way to go. Journal
the words, thoughts or pictures He gives you. Ask Him to grow your confidence
in the truth that He sees all the traps and ambushes, mountains and valleys,
and wants to direct your path safely through.
3.
Spend a few minutes recounting specific things God
has done for you in the past 2-3 days. Thank Him for His direct involvement in
your life. Ask Him to refresh your soul for today with words of love while you
respond with words of praise and thanks.
