For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount them, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings you did not require. Then I said, 'Here I am, I have come--it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.' I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, 'Aha! Aha!' be appalled at their own shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always cry, 'The LORD be exalted!' Yet I am poor and needy; may the LORD think of me. You are my deliverer; O my God do not delay." Psalm 40 NIV
I must confess of my avid curiosity and interest in the character flaws and the resulting dramas in the lives of others. I find myself drawn to such television programs as Cops, Judge Judy, and even Jerry Springer which capitalize on the misfortune of others and package it as entertainment. In the line at the grocery store, I admit to taking a secret glance or two at the latest tabloid gossip. Mind you that the headlines are rarely, if ever, flattering or uplifting. They are about exposing the dirt in others' lives for a public hungry for such fodder. Well, I should not speak for the public, but I can speak for me--sadly I find myself hungry for such information. I must admit to far less interest in looking at my own character flaws and the resulting drama. I'd rather the program be canceled due to a lack of sponsors and the tabloid recalled as the information contained therein was just too personal. However, I am in no way special and I must take my turn just like so many others before me and so many after me. The only relief I find is when it is pointed out to me that others will forget much more quickly than I will. I have become so aware of this need in me to see others in a bad light as if somehow it puts me in a better light. Is this phenomenon common to the human condition? Why is it that I secretly rejoice when good people fail? Why am I so quick to decide what others do and do not deserve? May God be merciful to me for my arrogance.
I am a man who fell into a slimy pit, full of mud and mire. There were those dear to me that tried to help me out, however they were soon exhausted and left me to my own end. Do I hold this against them? How can I? They did what they could and did not know what else to do. They were in shock at finding me in such a place, for ironically, I had helped them out of pits quite similar to the one in which I had fallen. Fortunately, heaven dispatched other rescuers and I was kept from death. I was provided a firm place to stand and I am learning to sing the song which God has placed in my heart. When I fell into the pit, the public me and the private me, shall we say, got acquainted. Now there is just one me--and I am endeavoring to live out of this new reality. My hope is that many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
