Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.

Come to our aid, rescue us, redeem us, not because of any sacrifice we have made.Not because of anything we have done, but because of one thing that never changes.  Redeem us, Lord, because of your unfailing love.

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold….Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

With his enemies pressing him, and struggling with feelings of abandonment, David still seeks God for rescue and hope.  Walking God’s way in a world that has chosen life that is anti-God, can be exhausting.  Christians often struggle with serving and loving each other.  But…where do we turn for help, for relief, for hope?  We put our hope in God and we praise Him.  He may not take the struggle away, but He will provide peace therein.

Why are you downcast, o my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you…

Why are you downcast, o my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

vs.5…downcast?  Put your hope in God.  vs. 6 My soul downcast within me – remember God.  vs.11 downcast o my soul?…put your hope in God.  These are practical reminders.  When the things of this world get to us, remember God.  When the struggles of living in a fallen world with broken people threaten to drag us down, remember God – His attributes, His kindness, His love – and put our hope in Him.

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. (NIV)

Blessed(happy, fortunate, to be envied)is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble. (Amplified Bible)

Throughout Scripture we read of God’s concern and care for the weak and the poor.  In this wealthy country in which we live, who are the poor?  I have always thought widows and single parents fall into that category.

Think about this for today:  who are the poor and weak in your circle of friends, your neighborhood, your county?  As a born-again believer, how can you regard, or have consideration for, those people in your life?

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.  For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.  They are more than the hairs of my head and my heart fails within me.

Surrounded by troubles and trials, suffering and sorrow?  Don’t let yourself feel overtaken.  God’s love, His mercy and truth,  always protect us.  Picture it:  a fortress, a castle, a strong tower –  built of God’s love and truth,  which never fail.  We are safe within those walls.

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro; he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.

Looking for affection, acceptance, personal value or wealth, many of us bustle about trying in vain to make a place for ourselves in the world.  Our sin is abundant, and our pride is obvious.  After we meet Jesus and claim Him as our Saviour,  we find our value in Christ and in His love for us.  We are busy, but not busy with empty, vain bustling about for show. Instead, we seek how we may serve the One Who Saved us.  Our hope of life, godliness and peace rests in walking daily in His Presence.

My guilt has ovetrwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

For David, this overwhelming burden of guilt is conviction of sin.  Because of the cross, our Saviour, Jesus has relieved us from this burden. It is no longer overwhelming.  There will be other burdens to carry in this life, but He will not forsake us.  Whether the burden that overwhelms is dibilitating disease, a struggle with life and godliness, or emotional and mental fatigue,  He is always with us to give hope, help and comfort.

Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

There are times in our lives when we are tempted not to do good.  When circumstances overwhelm us with frustration, anger, even helplessness, Scripture says, TRUST and do good.  I believe Micah 6:8 gives us instruction on the good we are to do.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

ACT JUSTLY.

LOVE MERCY.

Walk humbly with our God.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

In a world darkened by sin, Jesus steps in and brings light.  In this pure light of God we see clearly for the first time.  We see what sin is.  We see what real love looks like, and we experience forgiveness.