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Day 38 Psalm 38 Psalm 38:1 < O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presses me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart pants, my strength fails me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that opens not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that hears not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. As Christians, the one thing we don’t want is to feel God’s wrath on our lives. We want his favor. We want him to defend us against our enemies. However, when life deals us a blow our enemies gather in force and ridicule us because of our faith. Even Jesus, when he was on the cross had all his scoffers around him, jeering him and taunting him for his claims to be the Son of God. However, he had the last laugh. Psalm 2:4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. David was feeling pretty low at the time he wrote this psalm, yet for all his complaint about his enemies, he knew God heard him and he did not give up and bow to his circumstances. He rose above them and declared that God was his hope, and knew God would help him. We need to remember God is on our side when the world comes knocking at our door taunting us and making fun of us for our faith. We need to make certain our faith is firm, without wavering from the hope that lies in us. We need to be ready to give an answer for that hope. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Remember God loves you and will defend you. He will take care of all those who come against you, and he will have the last laugh. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for standing with me against my enemies. Let me always stand firm in my faith, giving an answer to the hope that is in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 26 April 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay