May 20 - Reading 48: Psalms 140-143

“Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.”

(Psalm 143:8)

Reading Psalms 140-143, it’s impossible not to feel David’s anger and fear. He is being hunted down just because he stepped out in faith, slew a giant, and became an overnight sensation. As he cries out to God, his words reflect his anxiety. But, after all his pleading for God to change his circumstances — as well as rain down destruction on his enemies — he says “Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life” (Psalm 143:8). He has finally come to that joyous point of surrender.

Joy in surrender? Isn’t surrender just a sign of weakness and admission of failure? How could there possibly be joy in surrender? Joy actually can most often only be found on the other side of surrender. Let’s consider that thought for a moment.

Proverbs 3:5 says we should trust Him wholeheartedly instead of our own understanding, our own way of doing things. Here’s an example: Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). That makes no sense to us. “They don’t deserve it!” They don’t. But when we surrender to His way, we find hatred, bitterness and anger can be washed away with a flood of peace and joy.

His way gives us a different perspective. As we release our enemies to Him, we remember this life is just temporary. He may have a greater purpose in this situation than we could ever see with our own eyes. Choosing to do it His way allows us to find rest, joy and peace in Him, our sovereign Redeemer and Lord.

As we read through David’s complaints and pleas today, let us follow his example and, in the end, lift up our soul to Him in prayer, surrendering all to His way and His will. With Jesus, may we pray “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), and then rest in the joy of surrender to Him and His ways.