The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Psalm 71:20,
“Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”
In this psalm the psalmist prays that the Lord will deliver him from his troubles: the hand of the wicked, the grasp of evil and cruel men, failed strength when he grows old, enemies that conspire to kill him, accusers who wish to harm him and so on.
However, in verse 20 he acknowledges that it is the Lord himself who has made him “see troubles”! Not a message that has any frequency these days. But this is not all the psalmist recognizes in this psalm. He says he will always have hope, verse 14, because of the Lord’s righteousness and salvation, verse 15. For those of us for whom the concept of salvation is “common currency” as something we are well acquainted with, the psalmist also acknowledges that even though he may tell of it all day long he doesn’t know its measure! It is a hope we have that transcends our ability to grasp, beyond our wildest dreams! The psalmist looks ahead to his resurrection from life here followed by death, “… from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”
Why would the Lord cause anyone to see troubles? Paul tells us that in the midst of hardship God works all things for our good, Romans 8:28. He points out that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4. The writer of Hebrews tells us to endure hardship as discipline, that God is treating us as sons. Jesus tells us he rebukes and disciplines those he loves, Revelation 3:19. Proverbs tells us, “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Peter and many others speak of the difficulties and suffering the Lord brings into our lives for his purposes: for our good.
The end of the matter in Psalm 71 is that the psalmist will praise God for his faithfulness, verse 22. He knows that God has redeemed him and that in the end God will put his enemies to shame and confusion. Things may not seem just right here and now, but the day of the Lord is headed our way!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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