Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Lynn Smith <lynn824@cebridge.net>
Sent: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:12:04 -0500
To: Recipient list suppressed:;
Subject: Morning Manna June 26: BP: Ps. 40; RBTTY: Acts 8:1-25; Job 5-7
June 26
“Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.”
Sometimes we must reach the point of desperation before His deliverance will come.
Crocodile tears.
Some think this phrase originated with the medieval French and English writers, with the earliest known use occurring around 1400. Since crocodiles don’t have tear ducts, it’s impossible for them to cry; however, some have observed that their eyes are moist prior to catching and devouring their prey, which possibly led to the phrase and its meaning of “pretense” or hypocritical show of emotion.
We should not believe such was the case with David in today’s Mannafor it’s evident from reading the entire psalm that he definitely was downcast in soul when this portion was written. Interestingly, at the beginning he was giving thanks for God’s deliverance in his life and having “put a new song in his mouth, even a song of praise” (v.3). He also gave us the “secret of blessedness,” which is simply “making the Lord our trust and not turning aside to the proud and their lies” (v.4).
From there he said “I delight to do your will, O my God; yea, Your law is within my heart” (v.8). However, the next two verses seem to indicate that he was trying to more convince himself of this statement than he was God. And, when we couple these verses with the next three, it’s clear that he’s having second thoughts about his standing with the Lord.
That’s why he cried, “Be pleased (Heb. ‘ratsah’‘to satisfy a debt, accept, consent to, have favor on, pardon, be reconciled with, etc.’), O Lord, to deliver me.” Who of us at times have not felt that heaviness of heart when we felt we’d sinned against the Lord and He’d turned His face away from us? Oh, how horrible this agony of soul and anguish of mind!
But, thank God, He is “a good God and ready to forgive plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Him” (Ps. 86:5). For sure, there’ll be times when He feels so far away and our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears; however, He is still there, Pilgrim, quietly waiting in the shadows until we reach the place of “Divine desperation” and cry, “O Lord, please help me; I can’t live without you!!”
David’s plea for the Heavenly Father to “make haste to help me” is not a command; it’s like the cry of a wounded animal. It’s the heartfelt cry of one who realizes how far he’d strayed from his First Love and how desperately he longs to once again enjoy His favor and fellowship.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, many there are who find Jesus in times of pressure and stress. They read their Bible, pray, go to worship and sing songs of praise; however, when the pressure’s gone, so is their faith. That’s why He’ll let us go down before He brings us up. . .for He knows we’ll then stay close to Him.
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