Tuesday 10th November

Psalm 6 vs 2 - 9   

​2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? 4 Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. 5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from his grave? 6 I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. 7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. 8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.
 
Most people will not be familiar with this psalm but many of us have been in a similar tight spot when our future existence is in the balance. We are still blessed, even in times of pandemic like these to have free access to medical care of a high standard. It is not something everyone around the world enjoys. It was certainly not something that David had access to or anyone in fact in those times. Problems and diseases easily treated today were killers then and David discovered through bitter experience that those times when his life hung by a thread were the times his enemies would turn to their advantage as the jostled for power.

Most of us will not have to worry about that. Our jobs will be there when illness passes we won’t go back and find someone else in our place; our pay continues to come in, friends call to see how we are but spare a thought and if possible do something to help those, perhaps overseas, who are not in that fortunate position. Support those who are working to alleviate suffering and bring help to those in need. Be instruments of grace in God’s hands!
​
Of course for us too there are times when illness is serious and prayer or appeal to God is the very thing that changes the circumstances, when God moves and the danger passes or our lives are extended. Remember then that this is of God and due to his grace not our worthiness. The lesson we learn from David is that he never fails to give God the glory for answered prayer. It’s a practice we would do well to copy and if we did then maybe we would find more opportunities to talk naturally about Jesus and our faith in him.