I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel… Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.” vss. 12, 16
Psalm 31:9-16
As our lives continue through their varied stages, we are aware of death’s presence. Friends and family members pass away along with many acquaintances. If we live long enough we will have the opportunity to attend a significant number of funerals and memorial services. And sooner or later we discover that some of those folks have completely disappeared from our memories. Sometimes we’re hard-pressed even to remember names. The psalmist knew this, and believes in his despair that he is already numbered among the forgotten ones, that he no longer has any significance or worth in the land of the living. Some of us can identify with that feeling and may believe that we are as good as dead in the eyes of the world. That kind of existential loneliness is difficult to combat because in our hearts we know that it’s essentially true. How good it is when we have solid faith and good friends who can assure us of their steadfast love until we breathe our last. The psalmist relied on God’s love in his time of misery–it’s what kept him going when he felt alone. We need that too. There is consolation in the knowledge that God’s eye is on the sparrow, and God always watches over us.
Thought for the Day: When do I get discouraged?
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