Midweek Message from the Archive
Eleventh Octave
If you lived through the sixties, you may remember the folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary. This influential trio sang of the socio/political issues in American culture. Their music helped awaken our nation to unity, freedom, and social justice through peaceful protests and music that has influenced several generations. Paul Stookey, a believer in Jesus Christ, undoubtedly experienced many ups and downs in his life as reflected in his song, All My Trials. The bulk of the verses in Psalm 119:81-88 reflect that theme.
The Hebrew word that begins this octave means intense longing, desiring, even to the point of pain, for the salvation of the LORD. Interestingly, this word salvation is yeshua, the Hebrew word for Jesus. The Psalmist is faint from his trials in life and has only one hope: God’s Word. Those promises remind him not to allow the trials of life to bring hopelessness.
“When will you comfort me?” That’s his question in verse 82, however, the word comfort is not the ‘gentle arm around your shoulder’ comfort; it’s the cry of the heart that screams, “God, when are you going to stop this?!” He feels dry and lifeless, like a wineskin that’s shriveled from the heat and smoke of a fire, and is attempting to just get through the day. The one thing that keeps him going in the midst of his anguish is the constant hope of God’s promises and His daily direction of what he should do (statutes). He depends on God.
What kind of suffering and trials are you enduring today? A painful past, children who are in pain, a bad marriage, physical illness, or death of a loved one? Your circumstances are allowed by God for good reason: they draw us closer, as this eleventh octave shows us, to Jesus.
In the midst of his suffering, Paul longed for something:
… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, Philippians 3:10 ESV
What was his final goal in life? I think it was to experience suffering in this life with the attitude that when we die to ourselves we are in the position of resurrection. Trials are temporary; they have a beginning and an end. God isn’t going to spare us from all suffering in life; He’s going to bring us through in victory. We’ll grow in faith and learn to totally rely on Him. That’s a good position to be in.
Paul only quotes Jesus one time in scripture. Here it is:
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT
In the midst of suffering and weakness we can depend on His grace.
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