Honest To God (Psalm 102:1-7, 17-18) Mission Blessings

Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me
ewhen n I am in distress.

Psalm 102:1-7, 17-18

A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.

1 Hear my prayer, Lord;
let my cry for help come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.

3 For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.
5 In my distress I groan aloud
and am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.

17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

Today’s title is “Honest To God”

One thing that I like most about the bible is its honesty. Bible depicts everything as it is. It depicts God as He is. It also shows man as he is. Therefore, we know God and man most accurately through the bible. Bible also shows a very candid picture of the interaction between God and man. The biblical relationship between God and man is most straightforward and honest. A true man of God knows that God sees our hearts. No true believer dares to hide or cover up anything before God. On the other hand, God accepts every man as they are without any judgment or prejudice. WE are often marveled at the brutal honesty in the interactions between God and man. Today’s psalm is a good example of how honest and truthful man can be before God. This psalm has an unusually long title for the psalm. It says that this is a prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord. All the readers of the Bible instantly identify the psalm with themselves as they read the title. Who would have not been afflicted and has grown weak? Who would not want at times to pour out a lament before God? We all do. Then how do lay down what’s in our hearts before God? We see a good example of leveling with God in this psalm. Our interaction with the Lord must be personal and direct. We address God directly without any intervention in between. We see such examples of direct address in verses 1-2. It says, “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. The psalmist also honestly details the trouble that he is facing to God. He reports to God what exactly he is going through inside and out. How could he do this? The answer is clear. He was confidently sure that God listens to all his plea and prayers and respond. Obviously, this was not the first time that he went through such troubles. Whenever he poured out his hearts before in this way, God responded. Whenever we pour our hearts into the future, he is sure that God will respond too. God was not only able but also available. What do you want to pour out to God? You just open up your hearts and pour them out before God. Do it honestly and confidently. He will not despise your plea. Amen!