Daily Devotion for February 21, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Psalm 13.

Psalm 13 is a Psalm of lament, petition and an expression of trust and praise unto God. Through the years, I’ve grown to appreciate the honesty of the Psalms. This honesty from the Psalmist’s perspective gives the gift for the Psalms to be current for every generation. And this honesty has helped me to understand that God is great enough and compassionate enough to hear our own honest questions.

Sometimes the Psalmist asks, “Where are you God?” as in Psalm 42, but in Psalm 13, the question is “How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” The Psalm-writer feels as if he has been forgotten and not only forgotten but is wondering if God has become angry towards him.

Then the Psalm-writer makes his appeal for God to look at him and to give an answer. God’s face turning towards him would be the face of light. Numbers 6:24-26 helps us to understand the gracious blessing of God’s face looking upon him. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

The Psalm-writer is going through a season of sorrow, and he is feeling that God is taking too long to hear his cries for help.

Yet, even in the midst of this season, the Psalm-writer makes his declaration. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” The Psalm-writer is holding the space and tension of an honest soul’s conversation with God. He brings before God his honest questions and maintains faith in God’s unfailing and steadfast love. God has carried him through his years with the goodness which only God can give and now he trusts God to carry him into the future.

Personal Worship Option:

Let me invite you to a time of an honest “soul conversation” with God. Do you have questions you would like to ask God? You can trust that God understands your honest questions and you can trust in God’s unfailing love and care for you.