King David’s Hope

The great King and poet David in Psalm 39 was experiencing one of those moments in life that many of us come to when we question, “What is the point of continuing on?” We see misery and despair around us and within ourselves there is a longing to find that rest we so desperately crave.

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Psalm 39:4-5

Here is a man that it is said, to be regarding his relationship with God, “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22) yet he suffered from what many would classify as depression and suicidal thoughts. The answer that was espoused by David would be the answer for us today also. That answer is found in verse 7 of chapter 39 of Psalm. “And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.”

The term hope here is not that of a wish like “I hope I get a new car” but that of a confident expectation. When we feel that there is no way to turn, that all the world is crashing down upon us, we can have that confident expectation that God knows, cares, and will be our strength even through the darkest of nights. Our difficulty is that we live in a day that everyone desires an easy life filled with joy and free of despair. The reality is that since we inhabit a sin-cursed world there will be pain and suffering, and if our happiness is tied to the here and now, there will be disappointment.

My challenge then for you is to stop looking around at this world to try and find meaning and fulfilment in this life. The result of that will be ultimately despair because a fallen world, occupied by fallen people will by design disappoint. Place your eyes on Jesus and find your purpose and strength there and He will never leave you without a source of true joy.

Devotional submitted by:
Pastor Eric Buhrow
Board Member of BFLW
Immanuel Baptist Church
Rice Lake, WI