“He’s got it coming!’

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Psalm 38 (Forward, p. 80) CEV p. 577

David is in a terrible state, both physically and socially. His body is wracked with pain, fever, sickness, and weakness, and who knows what else. And, as for other people, he is isolated and rejected, and, in some cases, even plotted against.

And the cause of all this is not hard to find. He explicitly mentions his sin as being the culprit, the root of his problems:

“My body hurts all over because of your anger. Even my bones are in pain, and my sins are so heavy that I am crushed” (verses 3-4).

“Because of my foolishness, I am covered with sores that sting and spread” (verse 5).

“I told you my sins, and I am sorry for them” (verse 18).

In other words, he ‘has it coming.’ But that doesn’t stop him from going to God in prayer and pleading for His help and His intervention:

“I trust you, Lord God, and you will do something” (verse 15).

“You are the Lord God! Stay nearby and don’t desert me. You are the one who saves me. Please hurry and help” (verses 21-22).

And so, this should provide us with much reassurance and great hope, for we, too, without exception, have sinned, and brought at least some of our problems ‘upon ourselves’. We too ‘have it coming.’ But knowing that God doesn’t desert us or reject us in like of this, this is most reassuring. And likewise, is knowing that we can always go to Him in prayer, confessing our sins, helplessness, and brokenness, and appealing for His help. God is always there for us, whether ‘we have it coming or not.’ Thanks be to God.

Forward notes: “For in you, O Lord, have I fixed my hope; you will answer me, O Lord my God” (verse 15).

“I have two tattoos on my visits. They are both West African Adinkra symbols. One, Gye Nyame, means the omnipotence of God. The second, Nyame Biribi Wo Soro, means hope. There was a time, deep in the thick of depression, when I felt little hope. But hope came—and continues to come—through the word of God.

“Hope comes in the truth that before God formed us in the womb, God knew us and set us apart, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Hope comes wrapped in the promise that Jesus came so we may have abundant life. Hope comes in God’s beautiful commandments in which we delight and strive to abide. Hope comes in God’s love we see all around us. Hope comes in the promise that one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. Thank you, God, for your gift of hope.”

Moving Forward: “Where do you see hope? Share it with us at #ForwardDaybyDay.”