April 12th - Reading 10: Psalms 35,38

“For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.”       (Psalm 38:15)

In today’s two Psalms, David complains about the painful circumstances in his life, some due to the actions of others and some due to his own sin. In both Psalms, however, we find David leading us back from  a focus on himself to a focus on our God.

In Psalm 35, David is extremely upset about other people wanting to harm him. He pleads with God to bring pain, destruction and judgment on his enemies. After 27 verses of complaining about his enemies, he changes his focus and says “My tongue will speak of Your righteousness and of Your praises all the day long” (Psalm 35:28).

Then in Psalm 38, David details the painful circumstances he is suffering as a result of his own actions, which he labels as “my sinful folly” (Psalm 38:5). Instead of pain from other people, he is experiencing the judgment of God because of his sin: “Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is nothing soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin” (Psalm 38:2-3). But once again, David brings his focus back to the Lord. “For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15).

As we turn our focus to Him again today in reading His Word and intercession, let’s remember that in spite of any circumstance, we will find peace when we turn our focus back to our Almighty God. No matter what we face, whether a result of the actions of others, or our own foolishness and sin, the remedy cannot be found in ourselves. It can only be found in the Lord. Only He can right the wrongs; only He can bring forgiveness and healing; only He can restore the joy of our salvation. Because we know He hears and answers, let’s take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there.