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BETWEEN ME AND ME, AND ME AND GOD

Psalm 69:1-18

No honesty is as brutal as honesty with self about self.  Before I can be honest with God, I must be honest with me.  I can lie to myself—easily!  I can justify myself—easily!  I can excuse my behavior—easily!  Honesty about me to me is challenging!  To be bluntly honest with God about me is difficult!  Honesty with God must begin with honesty about self!

My voice of desperation cried out to God.  “I am up to my neck in flood waters, and I cannot find solid footing.  I have cried out for help until my exhausted throat is raw!  My eyes are swollen shut as I cry and wait for Your deliverance.

“Those who hate me want me to die.  My many enemies have no pity on me—they would not help me if they could!  They do all in their power to make my situation worse by misrepresenting me!

“God, You accurately know sinful, stupid me!  Do not let me damage Your relationship with other righteous people.  Do not allow them to be subjected to humiliation and insult because of me.  May I not cause them shame and humiliation.  (Even my own family pretend they do not know me!)

“The more I show commitment to You, the greater the contempt I encounter.  All attempts to be humble before You encounter ridicule and mockery.  I am the subject of derision and laughter among the least respected!

“Please know, God, I am never ashamed of You.  Please rescue undeserving me!”

Honesty with self about self is hard but necessary!

David Chadwell
May 7, 2013  *  Fort Smith, AR

EVEN IN YOUR TIMES OF MISERY, TRUST THE LORD!

Psalm 69:19-36

Humans tend to be excessive.  They find pleasure in administering injustice to the defeated.  It is as though the humiliated deserve anguish and pain.  Consider how human injustice affected the psalmist.  Especially note the difference he observed between the actions of God and humans.  (Never blame God for human injustice!)

“I know and acknowledge my failures!  I also know what my enemies did to me!  Their insults broke my heart.  They gave me no pity, no comfort.  They purposefully and knowingly intensified my suffering!

“Blind them and make them constantly afraid!  Consume them with Your fury and anger!  Your punishment of me was just!  Their injurious hurts were uncalled for and needless!  Therefore stack their sins, remember all they did, and never consider them righteous!

“God, rescue me!  Accept my singing and praise!  My tribute to You goes beyond mere sacrifice.  The humble rejoice in Your works.  They find their encouragement in You.  I know You are not ashamed even of the needy and imprisoned.

“May the whole Creation praise You.  Jerusalem’s God will achieve His intensions!  He will bless His people with peace and prosperity in their own land.  Their descendents will inherit a land of safety.”

When God administers punishment to those who do evil, He does not need our help!  What he does is just!  What we do is excessive and unjust!

Never forget that Satan delights in encouraging the administration of unjust sufferings!  He delights in causing the righteous to suffer!

Human justice is filled with ungodly feelings that rarely satisfy the desires of human vengeance.

David Chadwell
May 8, 2013 *  Fort Smith, AR