The Israelites sat on the banks by the rivers of Babylon and wept over their memories of living in Zion. They were homesick for the familiar and cherished times they experienced there. They had no heart left in them to sing, and they put away their musical instruments – hanging them on the weeping willow trees (Psalm 137:1-4).
They were in captivity due to their pride and rebellion against God. He was using these events to discipline them of their sinful behavior and to turn their hearts back to His protective shelter. The circumstances in their life brought them lower than low, and they mourned both day and night.
Finally, their experiences pierced their heart and brought weariness to their bones, so they cried out to God from the overwhelming burden of their sins and repented (Psalm 38:1-5). Feeble and utterly crushed, they cried out for God’s salvation from the anguish of their heart (Psalm 38:6-8).
They lifted up their eyes to the mountains of the Lord and admitted that He was their only hope of any help. They proclaimed Him as the Maker of heaven and earth, acknowledged that He alone kept their feet on solid ground, and they realized that He never leaves or forsakes us as He watches over His children (Psalm 121:1-3; Hebrews 13:5).
God, in His mercy, saw their changed attitude toward Him, and He raised them out of the depth of their misery (Psalm 30:1-3). He provided for them everything they needed. He protected them from many adverse situations, and His presence surrounded them with His amazing love, grace, and compassion.
God does this for anyone who willingly surrenders total control of their life to Him. If we are happy making our own plans and attempting to control our own life, He gives us over to our free will. However, when we finally abandon our self-life to His control, He quickly comes to our rescue.
Prayer:
Father God, You never take a break or fall asleep as You watch over us with Your loving care. You give us cool shade in this parched and weary land in which we live, You make us to lay down in green pastures, and You keep us safe from all irreversible harm. Death holds no sting for Your children because it is our portal into Your very presence (Psalm 23, 121:4-8; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 2 Corinthians 5:8).
We feel the mulligrubs and the despondency of this uncertain life, which put us in a sullen and ill-tempered mood at times; however, we do not want to sink into the quicksand of the sulking blues and the anxiety of the unknown future as a way of life. We want to rejoice evermore, to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), and to love and trust You with our whole heart (Mark 12:30; Proverbs 3:5-6).
Thoughts for the Day:
In the depression of an incident or a challenging time, we can allow our self to feel the deep emotion of the moment, but not to camp out there on the banks of the river of negative emotions. We have a River of Life that flows from the throne of God – Living Water provided to us by Jesus Himself. By drinking freely, our soul will never thirst again, and we will live a fulfilled life with a deeper and deeper intimate union with the Trinity of God abiding within us.
- Revelation 22:1-2; John 7:38-39; Psalm 36:8, 46:4; Ezekiel 47:3-6
