28. David in the Garden of Grief
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"I will bless the Lord at all times." Psalm 34:1
DAVID SIGHING
"MY God, my God, why have You forsaken me? why are You so far from helping me? I cry in the daytime, but You hear not; and in the night season, and am not silent. I am weary with my groaning; I water my couch with my tears. For innumerable evils have compassed me about—my iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head—therefore my heart fails me."
"My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God? And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. How long will You forget me, O Lord? forever? how long will You hide Your face from me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God—lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death."
DAVID PRAYING
"Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing—I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Hear me, O Lord; for Your loving-kindness is good—turn unto me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And hide not Your face from Your servant; for I am in trouble—hear me speedily. I am poor and needy—make haste unto me, O God—You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying."
"As the deer pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God—when shall I come and appear before God? Turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. Look upon my affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Hide not Your face from me; put not Your servant away in anger—You have been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Have mercy upon me, according to Your loving-kindness—according unto the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation; and uphold me with Your free spirit."
"O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give Your strength unto Your servant, and save the son of Your handmaid. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Give us help from trouble—for vain is the help of man. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face. Hold up my goings in Your paths, that my footsteps slip not."
"My times are in Your hand—deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face to shine upon Your servant—save me for Your mercy's sake. O God, You are my God; early will I seek You—my soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water. Be my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Your wings."
DAVID PRAISING
"I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. Return unto your rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"
"Come and hear all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
"Bless the Lord, O my soul—and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits—Who forgives all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies."
"O Israel, trust in the Lord—He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord—He is their help and their shield. The Lord upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that are bowed down. The Lord is near unto all those who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you—He shall never allow the righteous to be moved. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You—for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You—and let such as love Your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord."
"I will bless the Lord at all times—His praise shall continually be in my mouth. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress—my God; in Him will I trust. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion—in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
"I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever. The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in need. He makes me to lie down in green pastures—He leads me beside the still waters. Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for You are with me—Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
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