10
May
Psalm 31:7 —“ I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou has known my soul in adversities.”
David wrote this Psalm in troubled times. There are three parts to this scripture:
- His soul – David gave his soul to God. Though in distress and trouble, his concern was for his soul. When we are in trouble, God looks at our soul to see if it is humbled, repentant for sin, and made better by affliction. Every Believer goes through such dangers and deliverances until they are delivered from their last enemy – death. We may think it is ok to neglect our soul in testing times, but we ought to pay particular attention to our souls then. Though our body perishes, the soul should suffer no damage. The redemption of our soul is very precious; if Christ had not undertaken it, it would have been lost forever.
- God’s mercy – God mercy always showed up: David was grateful for mercy past with abundant proofs and hoped for mercy future. David was truly joyful and grateful to God and not in what idols could give. God considers our troubles that arise from indwelling sin (within us): doubts and fears, desertions and darkness, and Satan’s temptations; and from bodily afflictions (from the world). The Lord looks on our troubles and on us with pity and compassion; He sympathizes with us. He considers the nature of our troubles, our weakness to bear it, and the best way and time to deliver us out of it. God works all things after the counsel of His own will in His lovingkindness.
- God’s knowledge of Him – God didn’t stand aloof or act like a stranger. God was with David, loving him, and caring about him; words of knowledge commonly imply affection. God saw and knew the feelings of his heart in his time of adversity; his sorrow and anxiety; his hope and trust; his uncomplaining spirit; his feeling of entire dependence on God, and David’s belief that God would intervene to save him. God had not turned away, but showed interest in all his feelings, his desires, his hopes. God knows all our feelings and understands them. He sees all our sorrows and considers them. No one can fully understand our soul in adversities but God; no one can entirely meet the needs of our soul in these seasons entirely, but God.
In times past and now, David felt assured that his prayer would be heard and that God would relieve and deliver him. In our unrelenting intercessions, we must find time to bless the Lord: praise is never a hindrance to prayer, but rather a lively refreshment within. Faith and prayer must go together, for the prayer of faith is the prevailing prayer.
