Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 69:19-28
Ps 69:19-28
19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. 20 Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. 21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. 22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. 23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. 24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. 25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. 27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. 28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.
Matt 27:32-35
33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
As it often the case, a sentence or phrase in the Psalms is quoted or referred to as a prophecy in the New Testament. The psalmist was using poetic language to describe just how badly he was being treated and spoke of the gall and vinegar he was given to drink. This became reality in the crucifixion of Jesus at Golgotha.
We all get down at times and we feel we are mistreated. While Jesus was being mocked, beaten and spat upon, we are told he entrusted himself to the one who judges righteously. He trusted God and left the retribution up to him. In fact, on the cross as he was dying, he prayed for the ones who were doing this horrible deed and offered his forgiveness toward them. We should follow his example.
The psalmist was being abused and felt the whole world had turned against him but he asked God to deal with them. He did not seek his own revenge but left it up to God. No matter what we face in life, whether it is from others or just the circumstances we are in, we must leave it up to God and put our trust in him.
Heavenly Father I want to thank you for taking care of me, even when I am not aware of your presence. You have protected me from those who would do me harm. You have provided my needs when I did not know where to turn. You have put friends in my life when I needed them the most. Now, use me to help others and to lift them up when they are down. I pray for all who are confined at home and trying to adjust to a new way of life. Help each of us appreciate our families more and draw closer to you in this time. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
