9 Be
merciful to me, Lord, for I
am in distress;
my
eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my
soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed
by anguish
and
my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and
my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my
enemies,
I
am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those
who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as
though I were dead;
I
have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many
whispering,
“Terror
on every side!”
They conspire against me
and
plot to take my life.
How
can someone’s eyes grow week with sorrow? From what you read in verses 9-10,
what was the writer of this psalm experiencing over a long period of time?
Describe
the feelings of terror in verses 11-13. Could you relate that to anything
today?
How
surprising is it to you that a follower of God could experience years of anguish? Why?
14 But
I trust in you, Lord;
I
say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are
in your hands;
deliver
me from the hands of my enemies,
from
those who pursue me.
16 Let your face
shine on your servant;
save
me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put
to shame, Lord,
for
I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and
be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying
lips be silenced,
for
with pride and contempt
they
speak arrogantly against the righteous.NIV
Compare
the themes in verses 9-13 with those in verses 14-18.
Describe
the shift in faith that begins to happen in verse 14.
Even
though the tone of faith changes, in what ways does the writer express a deep
faith throughout this whole section?
What
does the psalmist call himself in verse 16? What do you think he thought it
would be like to have God’s “face shine” him?
:::::
Equipping Challenge :::::
What
troubled and hopeful emotions could you bring before God right now? Take the
time you need to do just that.