Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:56:18 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna July 19-BP: Ps. 119:81-88; RBTTY: Acts 21:18-40; Ps. 23-25
July 19 “Hope for Fainting Souls and Failing Eyes”
“My soul faints for Your salvation—but I hope in Your Word. My eyes fail for Your Word, saying, ‘When will You comfort me?’ For I have become like a bottle in the smoke; yet, do I not forget Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:81-83
“And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee. . .’” (II Cor. 12:9a).
Fainting souls and failing eyes.
What a poignant picture the anonymous author of today’s Manna paints for us as he describes his afflictions, both inward and outward. The Hebrew word “kalah” is used here for “faints” and also means “to end, be finished, perish, be consumed, to cease, etc.” Thus, it’s more than some type of swoon; it’s the desperate plight of one who’s fading fast and is about down for the count (cf. Ps. 73:2).
Can you identify with him, Pilgrim?
Have there been times—or, are you going through such times right now—when you’re feel lightheaded (either literally or figuratively), trying to stay upright as “you reel to and fro, staggering like a drunken man and are at your wits’ end” (Ps. 103:27)? If so, this Manna’s for you.
And, we shouldn’t be surprised the psalmist also said “My eyes fail (Heb. ‘kalah’) for Your Word, saying, ‘When will You comfort me’.” Faintheartedness and failing eyes seem to always travel together. Like Job, when we’re suffering through no fault of our own. . .when others misunderstand or malign us. . .we may find it difficult to press on.
But, it’s in those times that we must say “But I hope in Your Word. Even when I keep crying, ‘Why, Lord?’ or “How much more, Lord?’ I will not forget Your statutes.” Oh, dear Pilgrim, in the “dark night of the soul”. . .when “familiar friends have forgotten us and count us as strangers” (Job 19:13-15). . .we must cling to His Word “as a sure and steadfast Anchor of the Soul” (Heb. 6:19a). . .remembering that this Anchor is Jesus Himself, Who has “entered within the veil—that Heavenly Holy of Holies—and even now is praying for us by name” (Heb. 6:19b; 7:24-25).
During our times of affliction when we feel like a smoke-filled bottle or a bottle lost in the smoke, we must still lie quietly on the Potter’s Wheel as we “hope in His Word” and “forget not His statutes.” This will not be easy—for we’re much more prone to rely on feelings rather than faith.
But, will yourself through it, Pilgrim.
Do not give in to those haunts and taunts of the evil one—the prosecuting attorney in the courtroom of your conscience (Rev. 12:9-10). Instead, run to Jesus, your Defense Attorney (I Jn. 2:1), claiming His Mercy (Lk. 18:13-14) and resting in His sufficient grace (II Cor. 12:9-10; Mt. 11:28-30).
Remember, weary one: The One Who forgives and forgets our sins (Ps. 103:12; Jer. 31:34b) will never forget us (Is. 49:15-16). Even now, He’s right there beside you, whispering, “I love you. Trust me. The morning’s coming. It won’t be long now.”
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
No comments:
Post a Comment