Over the next few days we will look at selected Psalms that speak to different life situations. One of the great things about the psalms is that they speak to us exactly where we are. We can be in a valley or on a mountain top. We can be up or down but there is always a psalm that speaks to our hearts. Spurgeon once said; “I never find myself so high in exuberance in the Christian life that I find David already higher than I am and I never find myself so low in discouragement and being distraught that David is already lower than I am as well.”
We start with Psalm 102. The title sets it all. It is the prayer of an afflicted person. As we continue our struggle with the coronavirus let us turn to God’s Word for direction.
- READ PSALM 102
- MESSAGE OF PSALM 102
People take their heath very seriously indeed. Yet in spite of all the advances of the last century in the cure and prevention of disease, ironically at the start of the 21st century man is more afraid of becoming sick than ever before. The 16th century playwright, Thomas Nashe, wrote a poem during the bubonic plague outbreak which troubled Elizabethan England. It is not great poetry but is does express a different attitude to sickness. Here are a few of the stanzas.
Adieu, farewell Earth’s bliss
This world uncertain is
Fond are life’s lustful joys,
Death proves them all but toys.
None from his darts can fly.
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us
Rich men trust not in wealth,
Gold cannot buy you health
Medicine itself must fade
All things to end, are made.
The plague, full swift, goes by,
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us
Haste, therefore, each degree
To welcome destiny.
Heaven is our heritage,
Earth but a player’s stage.
Mount we unto the sky,
I am sick, I must die.
Lord, have mercy on us
Today, we regard sickness as an illegitimate intruder. We expect to be healthy, we think we have a right to be healthy. We don’t accept illness today the way that Thomas Nashe appears to in his poem. It is not a case of “I am sick, I must die. Lord have mercy on us” but “I am sick and I must not die. Doctor, you must do something.” Or if you have been exposed to prosperity preachers you may think that the cornonavirus can’t touch you. “I am sick but I won’t die. Lord I claim healing in Jesus name.” There are three movements in this psalm.
- A PRAYER OF DESPAIR (vrs 1-11)
From vrs 1, 2 we can deduce that he feels as if God is remote and has withdrawn from him. This is why he pleads with God do not hide your face from me . . . turn your ear to me. When he appeals to God to hear his plea it is because God does not appear to be listening. In vrs 3-8 how many symptoms of illness can you discern? What do you think he means when he says in vrs 3 my bones burn like glowing embers? Or, vrs 4 my heart is blighted and withered like grass? Or, vrs4b I forget to eat my food? Or, vrs 5, I am reduced to skin and bones. Or, vrs 6 I am like a desert owl? Or, vrs 7, I lie awake. Doctors would diagnose, fever, physical exhaustion, loss of appetite, the panic of isolation and sleeplessness. Indeed in vrs 3 when he says for my days vanish like smoke he feels as if his days are coming to an end. If you could place yourself in the psalmist’s shoes what do you expect him to pray for next? You are in for a surprise. - A PRAYER OF DEVOTION (vrs 12-22)
We expect him to pray for healing don’t we? That is not the first direction his prayer takes him though. What do you think he is praying for in vrs 12-22? One of the dangers attached to serious illness is that we tend to become very self-centred. Our world contracts and contracts until it revolves around me, myself and I. The psalmist does not fall for this temptation. He realises that his story is really just a part of a far bigger story. The mention of stones and dust and rebuilding Zion may imply that he was in exile – in Babylon?? The first prayer that comes out of his lips is for the glory of God’s Name. As this sick man pours out his soul to the Lord in prayer he suddenly reminds himself that there is something bigger in the purposes of God than his health. It is the glory of God’s name. In vrs 13, 14 we read; you will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. In vrs 16, 17 we read; for the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. In vrs 18 he says; Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord. It is recorded that John Knox spent the last two days of his life in considerable physical discomfort. Nevertheless he informed his friends that he spent those days battling on behalf of the church. His final days on his bed were spent doing the work of praying for the glory of God’s kingdom. How can we allow the psalmist to guide us as we respond to the coronavirus? Do we find ourselves first praying for it to be brought under control? Or, do we pray for the humbling of sinners before God? Do we find ourselves first praying for a vaccine? Or, do we pray that people will come to realise their sin and turn to Christ for forgiveness. The psalmist does challenge our priorities doesn’t he? - A PRAYER OF DESIRE (vrs 24-28)
Having said that we do see in vrs 24-28 that he does offer up a prayer of desire. Notice from vrs 23 his twofold affirmation of God’s Sovereignty. In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. He understood that God was in control of his affairs. That gave him great hope and comfort. It was this that gives rise to his anguished plea for healing. In vrs 24 he says; do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. I agree with those commentators who find a hint of humour here. It’s almost as if this afflicted man is saying; “It’s alright for you, God, you have got all eternity to play with! I’ve only got a few years on this planet. Please don’t terminate my life prematurely.” I do not always agree with Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the NT but I think he has grasped the sense of these verses. This is how he translates the verse; “God sovereignly brought me to my knees, he cut me down in my prime. ‘Oh don’t’ I prayed, ‘please don’t let me die. You have more years than you know what to do with!” He realises that there is no virtue in just stoically grinning and bearing his affliction. He finds it to be a trial and he wants to be free from it. He would like to go on living a few more years. Notice however the humility in the prayer. He does not demand, or claim by faith – a simple “please don’t let me die” suffices.
Let us allow the psalmist to shape our prayers in times of affliction.