FEBRUARY 18
Psalm 35:3, “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation!'”
In this psalm, the psalmist, David, prays with great emotion and urgency for God to intervene on his behalf. He pleads for God to take up his cause to vindicate him and enact vengeance on his enemies. He understands God to be the One capable of coming to his aid, both to defend and deliver him. And he cries out to God to speak to his soul that he might be thereby assured of his salvation. In biblical usage the pronoun “I” when referring to the Lord signifies the God who has promised to deliver His people (Exodus 6:6-8; Isaiah 49:26). God is able to save!
I’ve sat at the bedside of lots of dying folks. The final steps of their journey are into unexplored territory. As much as loved ones or hospice folks want to help them, there are unknowns and fears they alone can fathom. What they need is heaven-sent assurance that they are going to be okay. To know that there’s someone to walk alongside. Someone who can bring them safely home when that time comes. That someone is Jesus, and there’s no substitute for the salvation and assurance He alone can provide.
It is one thing to hear comforting and assuring words from good-hearted family members and friends. And there are verses to share and songs to sing that bear such messages. But there’s no substitute for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Assurance is the language he speaks to those belonging to God (Romans 8:10-13; 1 John 4:13).
The plea of the psalmist, however, is not just for the dying or when we find ourselves in times of trouble. It is with assurance that we are free to occupy ourselves in doing vs. wondering. Having awareness that we are safe in the arms of Jesus, we are free from fears to stand and serve without reservation.
We are frail creatures. How good is an encouraging word to our soul from our God and Savior! Speak to my soul, O Lord! My heart rejoices in your reassurance.
Application Questions: Think back to the last time you were sorrowful. What worked to turn your emotions around? How important is this promise of joy in times of sorrow? What means does God use to restore joy?
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