Psalm 142
With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
King David penned these words while he was being pursued by his enemies, probably at this time King Saul and his soldiers who were intent on capturing and killing him. Though he was strong and courageous and had faith, he was exhausted from the constant pursuit and from being in danger all the time. He apparently had no one to support him for those who were with him were as worn out and demoralized as he. He had no hope of deliverance but from the Lord, but he needed the help right away. So he called out to the Lord for assistance and guidance.
Over the past 3 years of the pandemic, we who are God’s people all tended to feel He had forsaken us at one time or other, especially if we came down with COVID or when a loved one or friend came down it or died from it. At those times, we needed the words of government officials and health experts to reassure us that all would be well as long as we followed their instructions and guidelines. The truth was, as we discovered over time, was that these authorities did not really know what they were doing, which, considering the nature of the virus, was to be expected.
We in have faith in Christ were blessed that we had the Lord to rely on as well as our fellow believers to help us, so that the constant stress of the pandemic did not leave left us shattered. And, thankfully, we can always call out to God to come alongside us and fight our battles. He will help us with aid and strength. He will remind us of when He has helped us or others in the past in similar situations, even as far as reminding us how He helped King David, Joseph, Moses, Paul and other faithful men and women of God. We should be mindful of this aid He gives us for the Lord calls on us to aid our Christian brethren in their struggles and despair.