Psalm
70 reminds me of text messaging. We don’t always need to
communicate detailed information. Sometimes we just need to give a
quick status update. This psalm is a very short call for help, an
urgent text message to God. Even in this very quick call, there is
reverence. It begins, “Lord,
come quickly to help me“.
I find that rather than have a marathon prayer session, I often send
multiple messages throughout the day. The psalm continues, “May…
all
who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. But may all who seek
You rejoice and be glad in You“.
He adds, “Let
God be exalted!“.
Certainly there are public prayers and private prayers. Those
prayers of immediacy do not need to be formal; God already knows your
heart. The psalm ends, “You
are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay“.
Do you have an urgent issue? What are you waiting for? Let your
need be known to God.
Psalm
71 reminds me that we live in a “what have you done for me lately”
world. Success is soon forgotten and notoriety quickly fades.
Records are broken, new names are added to the roster and books go
out of print. Far too many “religious people” live in a
performance based relationship with God. Spiritual checklists can
make us feel entitled to God’s love; but sadly they can also lead
us to believe we have underperformed. Never forget that God’s
standard is perfection
and no one can meet that standard. Every one of us has fallen short.
The psalm begins, “In
You, O Lord, I have taken refuge… deliver me in Your righteousness…
my rock of refuge“.
He explains that God has been “my
hope… my confidence since my youth…
From
birth I have relied on You“.
It seems to me very young children are comfortable trusting that mom
and dad will provide for their needs. I think this is what Jesus
meant in Matthew 19:14 “Let
the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these“.
We get into trouble when we think we are providing something for
God! The psalmist prays, “Do
not cast me away when I am old…
when
my strength is gone“.
Do you fear you will not be able to meet God’s righteous
requirements when your strength fails? Don’t be fooled, salvation
comes by faith, not works. He has it right when he declares, “But
as for me, I will always have hope“.
Our joy comes from knowing that God
is faithful.
We
really have only one responsibility,
“My
mouth will
tell
of Your righteousness… Your salvation…
You
have taught me“.
The reason we remain on earth after we receive God’s forgiveness
is to tell others!
“I
will…
proclaim
your mighty acts… I declare your power to the next generation“.
He ponders out loud, “Who,
O God, is like You?“.
We toss the seasoned citizens aside, but God is never finished
working in us. The psalmist desires to be useful to God every day of
his life, “when
I am old and gray, do not forsake me…
restore
my life again“.
The psalm ends with a flurry of activity that could describe anyone
that has personally experienced unity with God, “I
will praise You with the harp…
I,
whom You have redeemed…
will
tell of Your righteous acts all day long“.
What have I done for God lately? Nothing but trust Him. What has
God done for me? Everything! It has been said there are really only
two religions. “Do” and “Done”. Those who tell you all you
must do to earn God’s favor, and those who believe all that is
required for my salvation was done on the cross of Christ. If you
are weary of trying to earn God’s favor, please know that Jesus was
speaking to you when He declared, “It
is finished”
(John 19:30). TBTG!