A cry in the dark
We live amid the stark daily realities of sickness, grief and death, which put peace and security finally beyond our control. But what if God is behind such problems? Then he’s also the solution—our only hope.
A David psalm.
1 Don’t rebuke me in anger, YHWH
or punish me in your wrath.
2 Pity this poor weakling and heal me
because even my bones shudder
3 as anguish shakes me to my core.
And you, YHWH—how long?
4 Let up, YHWH
for the sake of your steadfast love!
Look down and rescue me
before it’s too late!
5 What good am I to you dead—
will I sing to you from my coffin?
6 I’ve exhausted myself crying—
my pillow awash with me
on the salt sea of my tears.
7 Anger darkens my vision
aging me under the outrages of my foes.
8 Back off, all you evildoers!
Because YHWH has heard my crying.
9 YHWH has heard my plea for mercy.
YHWH will answer my prayer.
10 That’s right—
my enemies will suddenly convulse
and run for their lives
like shamefaced fools!
David is ill, his illness either the result of his foes’ attacks or the occasion for them. Interestingly, the psalm concludes focusing on his enemies’ defeat and leaves his healing only implicit. This suggests that his illness isn’t primary, but is rather caused by the stress of enemy attacks that threaten his life. Alternatively, his enemies may be attacking him because his illness has made him vulnerable. And before the advent of modern medicine, illness was often fatal in ancient times. Either way, his enemies’ threat—devastating, scandalous, ongoing—leaves him furious, anguished, shaken to the core, exhausted, asking God, “How long?”
But to David it’s not just mortal enemies against him. He clearly views his many challenges as God’s rebuke, making God David’s real problem. So, he begs God—who clearly has his full attention—to stop angrily rebuking him and rescue, heal and restore him before it’s too late.
God’s anger isn’t random or inscrutable. It always directly relates to wrongs that inflict harm, but David doesn’t mention his sins or express contrition as we might expect. He simply begs God to let up for the sake of his steadfast love. Then in humble dependence on God, he voices his conviction that YHWH has heard his cry for mercy and will assuredly rescue him. That’s why, though he’s still at risk, David orders his enemies to back off, confident that God will turn the tables on them very soon.
In a world riddled with sickness, violence and death, I cry, How long, O God? Yet I’m comforted to know that none of these things can separate me from your unfailing love—my certain hope in this dark night. Deliver me from evil so I can glorify you with my every breath. Amen.
In your free moments today, pray these words:
Let up, YHWH
for the sake of your steadfast love!
Look down and rescue me
before it’s too late!
