TROUBLES

“Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward”, Job. 5. 7. So spake one who many centuries ago endured indescribable suffering. Job could say in reality, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble”, 14. 1. A reading of today’s psalm reveals a sense of despair because of an avalanche of adversity that had assailed the psalmist. When examined, it reveals troubles that are only too common in the experiences of life.

We notice how much the writer’s physical frame is affected: “my flesh … my bones”, v. 3; “mine head”, v. 4; “my wounds”, v. 5; “my loins”, v. 7; “my heart … mine eyes”, v. 10. The psalmist was conscious of a loathsome disease that clung to him, making his presence offensive, v. 5. So he suffered, enduring painful physical effects. As we look deeper into these words, we feel that suffering and sin are linked together, vv. 4, 18; cf. 32. 3-4; 51. 8. It is well to note that this is one of the seven “penitential” psalms (6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143), all of which have to do with a sense and confession of sin. They make an interesting study of the pressures that a consciousness of sin can bring into life, and also the relief that is brought through confession and cleansing of these sins.

Let us learn that, when our lives are out of gear with God, when sin mars the way we live, physical and mental well-being are often affected. Notice the dark picture that the psalmist had of life. Not only is the Lord’s hand against him, v. 2, but his friends have forsaken him, v. 11, and his enemies are arrayed against him, vv. 12, 19, 20; he is oppressed and burdened within himself, vv. 13-14. There seems no light in the dark tunnel, no way out of the maze of trouble and distress.

What light can we bring into this picture? Let us never say that sickness and disease are a direct result of a person’s sin. But the Christian can take comfort in the fact that trouble does not indicate God’s lack of love and care. If the Lord does chasten, v. 1, the believer can be sure it is in love, Heb. 12. 10. The hope of the Christian, often born out of despair, must be in the Lord Himself, Psa. 38. 15. He measures our longings, v. 9, and hears every cry of despair, vv. 21-22.

Reflect: trouble, turned into trust in God, brings triumph!