FROM DESPAIR TO PRAISE

This messianic psalm is most familiar to believers as a psalm describing the inner emotions and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a psalm that relates some of David's suffering during his rejection. This has been called “The Psalm of the trespass offering.” When a trespass offering was brought, it addressed three “parties” injured by the one who committed it. The first was sin against the holy things of God. Then, some things that had been done were forbidden by the law. Then, there was an injured neighbor when something was taken by violence, like the garden of Naboth. Cheating on taxes would be in this category, or finding something lost and lying about it, including robbing an employer of their time and money.

In deep distress, David prayed in the opening verses, even though he believed he was wounded without cause and that accusations of guilt were made against him. He prayed that he would not bring disgrace to God’s people because of what he had done. For some reason, those close to him wanted nothing to do with him. Those who mock God also mock those who trust in Him. So, in humility and repentance, he prayed for mercy and restoration, even though the high and mighty who sat in the gate as judges or the drunkard on the other side made up songs about him in mockery because of his faith in God.

The psalmist was not claiming to be sinless, nor should any believer today make others think they are “sinlessly” perfect. However, when unfair and unfounded charges are made, we cannot help but feel concerned about what we may have done that brought them. Our influence should strengthen God’s people and be able to further His kingdom in some way. It is to be expected in the life of one who wants to please God that identification with our Lord Jesus Christ will bring some suffering. Man often ridicules intense devotion, service, and humility before God.

From verses thirteen through twenty-one, he prayed that God would keep him from being overwhelmed and defeated by all that happened to him. He also prayed that he would be conscious of God’s answers and know them through the evidence of love, mercy, and a sense of closeness and confidence. Further in his prayer, he commented again on the attitude and actions of others from whom he could find no consolation, comfort, sympathy, or help. He only found scorn, bitterness, and rejection from those to whom he had looked for help.

Faith and influence go together. It is incumbent on us to remain faithful to the Lord even when situations seem hopeless. Our awareness of God's lovingkindness and mercy toward us is the basis and reason for our prayers to Him.

In sorrow of the soul, David asks God to deal with those against him for no reason in ways appropriate to their wrongdoing. He asks that what they were doing to him would be done to them. He wants divine justice (wrath) to be actively used against those who had charged him with crimes and had committed crimes themselves.

There is a review of his prayer before his own commitment to praise God is made. He is assured that God will answer his request. Like the psalmist, we can also find joy living for the Lord. Even the creation joins in praising the Lord, as all that God intends from His creation carries out His desire, except for mankind, who has been given the ability to do right or wrong and choose what they are going to do. When we commit ourselves to praise and gratitude expressed audibly to the Lord, present and future generations will also pick up the importance of praise, worship, and adoration of the Lord we honor.

There is another aspect of this psalm that needs to be learned. This psalm gives us a review of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ in His humanity. There are seven different “I AMs” of His humanity that cover pretty well everything that will happen to us. When we read verse two of the “deep waters,” we are given a verbal view of helplessness. In verse three, our Lord is “weary of crying.” That reflects on a weakness not just of physical strength, but that which accompanies overwhelming trouble. He was “a stranger to His brethren and an alien to his mother’s children.” Walking away from family members gives a sense of abandonment and the grief that accompanies it. “The song of the drunkards” in verse twelve is a humiliation directed at one who is despised and rejected by men. When one is “in trouble,” verse seventeen, they need an advocate, but none was found for the Lord Jesus. To be “full of heaviness” is the deep sorrow of the heart. Sorrow within is often not expressed because not many people want to come that close to where they are involved in another person’s suffering. “Poor and sorrowful” is sorrow that is without, caused by circumstances, many of which we have no control over.

The silent years of the life of the Lord are given in some detail here. There were times of weeping during the first thirty years because of being hated without a cause. He was reproached because of who He was and what He did for us. His own brothers, His “mother’s children,” half-brothers who did not know His Father, were opposed to Him. This is likely one of the personal prayers of the Lord. Those who reject Christ will be rejected. Prophecies in this psalm were fulfilled when our Lord was here. Prophecies about His suffering and the results of His suffering were fulfilled.

The conclusion of the psalm is a beautiful song of hope and trust. “I will praise… I will magnify Him with thanksgiving” changes the whole dark picture of suffering to the outcome. “God will save… God will build…” are wonderful results that bring blessing to His “seed” and His “servants” and all “they that love His name.”