“All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, because of Your indignation and anger; for You have taken me up and thrown me down. My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever; You are remembered throughout all generations. You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.” Psalm 102:8-13
Devotional Thought For The Day
The psalmist, the “one afflicted,” turns his attention to two aspects of his suffering. First there is the matter of his enemies and what they are doing to diminish his name and reputation. The second is God’s apparent complicity in the things that are bringing misery. In the end, however, he resorts back to praise of God and affirmation of His mercy and compassion, and suggests that “the appointed time,” the “kairos” – the ideal time, has come for God to act on behalf of His dear people of faith. This is an excellent mode of prayer, one that we can follow when we are afflicted with physical ailments and/or the insidious attacks of others upon our name and reputation.
It is an interesting aspect of the temptation of Eve that the devil attacked and maligned God’s Name, His reputation. The imbedded assertion was that God was selfish, petty, and unloving for not allowing Adam and Eve to become “like Him,” in knowing good and evil. The entire history of mankind has been about the desecration and perversion of God’s Name, and God maintaining among mankind a proper [accurate] knowledge of Himself, God defending His Name – this is the record of Holy Scripture, the Bible. This is also the continuing battle we have with false religions, and with every perversion of Biblical teaching within the church. It is not that God’s Name needs defending, or that we have power to defend it – He is independent of us and quite capable of defending Himself. It is for the sake of humanity, what is in hearts and minds, that we defend God’s Name and object to all perversions of it – for the one who is ignorant of God as He truly is must himself be perverse.
Evil people have found that this same tactic is highly destructive when applied against those who bear God’s Name, who are called His dear children of faith. So the psalmist’s enemies used his name so disparagingly as to turn it into a curse. People to this day do exactly this same thing with God’s Name. And people use slander to this day to discomfort or torment others, and to change the dynamics. Often this is a hidden and perhaps even subconscious attempt to destroy God’s Name by destroying those who stand for Him and minister to others a defense of God as He truly is. Surely it is a misguided and foolish attempt, but as the psalmist acknowledges, it produces a degree of pain and discomfort. When God “allows” such things to befall His dear children, it often feels as if God Himself is expressing indignation and anger and discipline upon us. This may be the case – and certainly there is much in our lives that is remedied by God’s discipline. However, we should never think that God approves of such slander and defamation of character; it is contrary to His commandment, and He will surely repay. This evil has no legitimate place within the church, the fellowship of God’s people, so we must all beware of how we use the name of others who are also God’s children.
The psalmist finally turns back to the nature of God to find solace, and he reminds God of His nature and character, that He alone is “enthroned forever,” He alone has the kingdom, the power, and the glory. He reminds God of His pity, compassion, love, mercy, and gracious forgiveness. It is only in this way that God is properly “remembered” throughout all generations. This past week we have spent time meditating upon just this very aspect of God’s being – His pity and compassion toward us, and His deliverance of us from all sin and guilt, in the suffering, death, and resurrection of His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is our only hope, consolation, confidence, and optimism – for this life and the next, that God is pitying and merciful toward us. His children, those who know and believe His love for us, are also filled with the same pity, compassion, mercy, and love for others – in contrast to the inner nature of the psalmist’s enemies. This discernment enables us to see things as they truly are, within others, and also within ourselves. May God always find it the right time to favor Zion, His dear people of faith, the church.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thanks and praise be to You for the pity You exercised toward us and to our great benefit, in Your great self-sacrifice of atonement. Thank You for revealing to us Your very heart in the pages of Holy Scripture, and for Your Spirit’s influence in bringing us to faith and a true knowledge of Your nature and character. May we be among those committed to defending and preserving Your Name. May our own heart and character reflect You and Your love. And may our actions and behaviors toward others also be consonant with Your love. Amen.