The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 69: 29-32 (5--9--20)

But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

In this Psalm King David wants judgment against evil---amazingly the Lord Jesus Christ will "take" it all upon Himself in verses 4, 7, and 21. Go back through, and "see" for yourself...

Take notice---the Man after God's own heart---is afflicted and in pain...

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ asks His people to walk this path. It is not easy. But walk it---we must...He provides "grace" enablement...

"We cherish shockingly strong illusions about having a right to expect from God health, wealth, ease, excitement, and sexual gratification. We are shockingly unaware that suffering Christianly is an integral aspect of biblical holiness, and a regular part of business as usual for the believer." J. I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness

The great Baptist Pastor, Spurgeon, was quite ill---the last six or seven years of his life. Amy Carmichael, Missionary to India for over 50 years, probably spent the last 20 years bed ridden. It is apparent that the physical weakness of these precious souls made them incredibly grace driven and Holy Spirit empowered for their labors.

An old deacon in my first church, Mr. John---had already endured three back operations when I first met him. He would have a fourth before I left his church. He knew chronic pain. He was, as often as he could be---an awesome servant---in spite of it all. He served---without fanfare (often without anyone being aware---Jesus knew).

We have some people in our church who "hurt" almost all the time---or have episodes of aggravation that are quite debilitating. As Darby Strickland (CCEF) puts it: "Pain calls our attention to what hurts. Pain is loud. It requires a large portion of our energy just to live with it. And pain can be consuming, tainting how we experience everything."

Well---Thank God---we may take our case to the LORD as David did. "Let your salvation set me on high, O God!" I get the picture that David is so "low"---that only the LORD could begin to raise him up! When you really hurt, and have found no relief---You must have God lift you up. Now I'm a believer in medical means. When I had open heart surgery in 2001, and the meds were not doing the trick on my sternum---I told the doctor that this every four hour dosage was not helping. He said fine---take the medication every two hours (Do not try this at home). Sometimes you aren't getting quite what you'd hope you'd get from the medical establishment---and you are suffering---You ask the LORD. Sometimes the doctors have done "all" they can do. You ask the LORD. He has His reasons---and we depend upon Him...Job 23:10...

Spurgeon lived in a day when they had very few drugs for the advanced rheumatoid problems he had. Swelling and inflammation could be terrible for him. He said he would say to the LORD, " You know, I have children, and I long to relieve them of anguish and pain when they call upon me. I cannot but imagine you would want to do that for me since I am knit to You by the blood of your Son---the Lord Jesus Christ." Spurgeon said that either the severe pain he was experiencing would begin to diminish---or God would envelop him with grace to deal with the pain at hand.

Often in pain, it's good to briefly reconsider the actual suffering that the Lord Jesus Christ endured for us---in both His body and soul---upon the Cross. Because He did that for us---we may rest assured that what we are experiencing now---will be very short lived. One day it will all be over!

As you are able---in your own pain---call to mind those you know of---who suffer physical suffering: You really understand---and may plead God's aid for them in a far more sympathetic manner---if even very briefly...

The LORD Jesus, The Man of Sorrows---is ready to receive those who suffer. He is the Great Physician. He will give us what we need when we come to Him.

"Praise to God is an antidote to the self-absorption that can overtake us when we suffer. This not only honors God but also encourages others (v.32). When suffering, don't get sucked down into yourself---turn outward in praise to God and minister to those in need." Tim Keller

"HE will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. " Revelation 21: 4

The LORD keep You All, Pastor Jason