Hope For The Sinking…

"Save me, O God!

For the waters have come up to my neck."

Psalm 69:1 ESV

Recently we have been exploring Psalm 69 together. This psalm sees David sinking ‘up to his neck’ in trouble and wondering when (and if…) God might turn up and help! When reading the psalm, it is not difficult to imagine the pain David must have been feeling. Standing up for what is good and true has resulted in betrayal, ruin and ridicule from near and far. Where is God in all this?

One thing we appreciated while discussing this psalm is its honesty. It, and many other psalms like it, does not hide away from the stark fact that life will have its problems and catastrophes. God never promises a trouble-free existence. Psalmists crying out to God, wrestling with Him for wisdom in dark situations, have spoken to and given reassurance to many of us in YouBelong, and doubtlessly to many people throughout the centuries. In YouBelong we strive to be a community who can sit with and comfort each other in bad times (however long they last), as well as celebrate the good times together. We also can take comfort from and celebrate Jesus, our risen saviour. Through his Spirit he walks, sits and rests alongside us, through all of life’s ups and downs.

David’s words in this psalm actually can give us some ‘future echoes’ of Jesus, the ‘Man of Sorrows’. Verse 9 which talks about zeal for God’s house is quoted in John’s Gospel account of Jesus cleansing the Temple, throwing out those making a healthy profit for themselves in what should have been a House of Prayer for all nations. He knew what it was like to be ridiculed, lied about, mis-quoted, and betrayed and abandoned. David’s mentioning of sour wine in verse 21 made us think of the crucifixion scene, when the mocked and abused Jesus, being shown no pity and receiving no comfort, was offered sour wine (some translations say vinegar) to drink.

The Spirit of the same Jesus, now risen from the dead, is who sits with us in our troubles now. He  comforts, supports and empowers us to follow him, whatever may be coming our way.