We’re getting to the end of David’s psalms, presumably words he would have written toward the end of his life. Psalm 131 is precious to me: at a time in my life when I faced a great and perplexing need, I first found this gem: “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O…hope in the Lord.” Can you imagine in a time of profoundly felt, overwhelming need, the resolution of which you felt helpless to work out, being freed from the burden of working it out yourself? Can you imagine instead, resting as if cradled in God’s arms, as one fully satisfied? It’s not the most “sensible” response to such need, but then, “God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise….” Finding gems like this that feed our souls in time of great need, are one of the reasons people treasure the psalms so much.
Psalm 143 finds David crushed to the ground by the pursuit of the enemy, sitting in deep darkness in a hopeless state, faint of spirit. Do you ever feel that way? If you don’t presently, you may. If the man after God’s own heart can feel that way, how can we expect to be immune from such afflictions ourselves? Note all the things David did, all the things he requested from God, to address the problem. Do you need to do any of these things, request any of these things from God? There are some great prayer prompts in these verses.
In Psalm 145 David says that “One generation shall commend your works to another.” How are you doing in that regard? Note all the things he is going to share with the next generation to commend God’s works. Notice also that he isn’t just going to list the works, but also he meditates on them. What is the purpose of meditating on God’s works, do you suppose? What do you find worth meditating on in the list of things you noted that David intends to share with the next generation? Why not spend some time meditating on them today?