‘Have Mercy Upon Me’

‘Have Mercy Upon Me’

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

Psalm 25:16-17

We love to stand upon the mountaintop, but often find ourselves in the valley.  We want all to be well with our body, soul and spirit, yet we find that, at times, we are ‘desolate and afflicted.’ There is the temptation to think that we are somehow exceptional; that no one else, has ever endured what we are enduring, or felt the way we feel. Our text for today shows us that we are not alone. David, the choice servant of God, felt very much as we do. Much of David’s life was turmoil and trouble. His father-in-law King Saul hunted him to kill him. He warred often, surrounded by enemies who sought to destroy him. Eventually, members of his own family conspired to depose him, aided by some of his lifelong friends and counselors.  He found himself brought low on many occasions and under a variety of circumstances. When he was ‘desolate and afflicted,’ and when the troubles of his heart were enlarged, where could he turn? He turned to God. In evangelical terms, he turned to Christ. He prayed, ‘Turn Yourself to me and have mercy on me.’ Christ was the answer for his most depressed and desolate condition.  It is even so for us. We will find ourselves in similar straits to David, although not necessarily for the same reasons. Our hope and help is never going to arise from ourselves. All the self-motivation, and arguing ourselves into right thinking will not elevate our spirits one bit. Christ Alone can lift us up. He has never failed anyone who has resorted to Him. Today, let us appeal to this Succoring Savior to have mercy upon us.  Jesus never fails.

Our Glorious, Uplifting God,
we praise You that we may ever turn to You.
We rejoice that You will lift us up, and carry us forward,
all the way to Your Heavenly Kingdom.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning