God with us - Week 28: Psalm 86:15
What makes you angry?
Is it when you’re driving behind a car, and a large bag of McDonald’s rubbish comes flying out of the front window and scatters across the road?
Is it when someone cuts you up while driving and then does the shaky head thing like you’re the one in the wrong?
Is it when people use the God you love to spread hate or forward their own agenda?
There’s a little insight into what gets me rattled.
What would it be for you?
Our Scripture this week is taken from Psalm 86 and attributed to King David, who appears to be a bit riled about how he is being treated. One thing I love about the psalms is their honesty. Like many of us, David had an interesting track record when it came to managing his emotions. He resisted taking the life of King Saul while hidden in a cave (1 Samuel 24) but lost the plot when Nabal wouldn’t hand over the raisin cakes (1 Samuel 25). David is like us, wonderfully creative, loving, courageous, and at other times absolutely all over the place! The beauty of David’s heart is that he recognises he is all of these things and often gets it wrong.
“Lord, bend down to listen to my prayer.
I am in deep trouble. I’m broken and humbled,
And I desperately need your help.”
Psalm 86:1 (TPT)
David is angry, but he knows exactly where to bring that anger! The situation he faced had gone on for too long, yet he repeatedly brought it to God.
“Lord God, hear my constant cry for help;
show me your favour and bring me to your fountain of grace!
Restore joy to your loving servant once again,
for all I am is yours, O God.”
Psalm 86:3-4 (TPT)
Like David, many of us need God to restore our joy after such challenging times of frustration and division. So here is David, showing us how it’s done. First, he acknowledges his anger at his situation but immediately speaks the truth over it to remind himself of God’s nature.
God, this is hard…but I’ll still turn to you. (v1-2)
God, I feel so depressed…but you are my source of joy. (v3-4)
God, I feel like you’re not listening…but I’ll keep praying. (v6)
God, trouble keeps coming my way…but I’ll keep crying out to you. (V7)
Throughout the psalm, we repeatedly see David’s honest dialogue with God. His situation has gone on too long, and he’s had enough.
“God, look at how these arrogant ones have defied me,
Like a vicious band of violent men, they have tried to kill me.
They wouldn’t worry for a moment that they were sinning against you!”
Psalm 86:14
Yes, David is God’s anointed King, and in fairness, he is talking about God’s enemies, but when you consider his track record, it still seems a little bit rich coming from him. But David knows that. He’s already acknowledged God’s forgiveness toward him (v5), and he’s simply sharing his anger and frustration with the God who calls him beloved. David knows he can’t act on this anger, but he’s directing it to God and acknowledging the contrast in how God handles things in comparison.
“But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle.
You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love.
You are full of abounding grace and truth.”
Psalm 86:15
The psalms bring to life the intimate relationship we have with God and the way that “God with us” permeates every aspect of our Christian faith. David understood that. He didn’t come to God with his head together, tidying up his raw emotion in advance. Instead, he placed his broken feelings in the nurturing, loving arms of God.
What frustrations are you currently facing?
What makes you angry?
Grab a notebook, read through Psalm 86, and write your own prayer of faith to our God who abounds in grace and truth.
Kay Moorby
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