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Day 331

Psalm 71:12a "O God, do not be far from me..."

Day 331 – Psalm 71

“O God, do not be far from me…” Psalm 71:12a

A DESPERATE CRY FOR HELP

Our trust in God can be quite severely tested at times. The psalmist’s trust in God was very severely tested when his foes went on the offensive to attack him.

“O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
Let them be confounded and consumed
Who are adversaries of my life;
Let them be covered with reproach and dishonour
Who seek my hurt.”
Psalm 71:12-13

1. “O God… O my God”

a) These are expressions of continued trust in God.
b) However, a note of anxiety may be detected in these words.

2. Urgent cries

a) That God would be very near in the hour of trouble.
b) That God would hasten and send help to relieve the grave situation at hand.

AN IMPRECATORY ELEMENT

There is no mistaking an imprecatory element in this prayer. Such prayers often arise out of very desperate situations in life.

1. Praying against identified foes

a) These are “adversaries of life”.
b) They have sought the hurt of the psalmist (and other righteous ones).

2. Praying for divine justice to be meted out

a) May the adversaries be confounded!
b) May they be consumed!
c) May they be covered with reproach and dishonour!