November 15
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DO NOT BE FAR FROM ME O LORD
Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is no one to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide at me, as a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax; it is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery,
And my tongue clings to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing. – Psalm 22:9-18
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According to a commentary, David seemed to believe that he could endure anything if he enjoyed the conscious presence of God. His plea is not focused on the change of his situation, but on the presence of God in the crisis. Hasten to help Me…. Deliver Me…. Save Me: Picturing his adversaries as vicious animals (the dog…the lion’s mouth…the horns of the wild oxen), David pleaded for the help and deliverance from all these trials.
These lines reflect not only the great danger and misery of both David and his Only Begotten Son, but especially their trust in the LORD God as their deliverer. He and He alone is their hope.
What do we usually do when we are beset by troubles and conflicts? Don’t we become discouraged and hopeless? That is our human nature. In this psalm, we witness again how David, just like Jesus automatically run to God for defense. They do not defend themselves automatically. Instead, like little children, they go to God and rely on Him to get protection. We, humans, rely so much on our own strength especially in times of trouble and danger because we have been so corrupted by the world’s system.
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REFLECTION
• How can we learn to depend more on God for deliverance and protection?