Psalm 31:9-18 “Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away. Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, a horror to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me. I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery. For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life. But I trust in you, LORD. I said, ‘You are my God.’ 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 on your servant. Save me in your loving kindness. Let me not be disappointed, LORD, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. Let them be silent in Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.”

Have you ever been in the throes of depression? Have you ever been deeply burdened by the effects of your own sin? Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed because of the adversity of others? David feels all of that, but continues to express his trust in God, and pleads with God to hear so that he won’t be disappointed. Instead, David calls for his enemies to be disappointed and for their lying lips to be silenced by the grave.

Perhaps you can relate to David’s hopelessness. Hopefully in those times you’ve turned towards God rather than away from Him. And, if you are experiencing difficulties because of the abuse and lies of others, it’s certainly okay to pray for God to silence them even if you don’t wish them dead!

For additional worship: I Love the Lord [Live] ft. Alicia Williamson

I Love the Lord, he heard my cry
And pitied ev’ry groan.
Long as I love, while troubles rise,
I’ll hasten to his throne.

I love the Lord; he bowed his ear
And chased my griefs away;
Oh, let my heart no more despair
While I have breath to pray.

My flesh declined, my spirits fell,
And I drew near the dead,
While inward pangs of fear and hell
Perplexed my wakeful head.

My God, I cried, your servant save,
Be ever good and just;
Your pow’r can rescue from the grave,
Your pow’r is all my trust.

The Lord beheld me sore distressed,
He bid my pains remove;
Return, my soul, to God my rest,
For you have known his love.

What shall I render to my God
For all his kindness shown?
Your cup of life I’ll gladly take;
My songs address your throne.

How much is mercy your delight,
My ever-blessèd God!
How dear your servants in your sight!
How precious is their blood! (Isaac Watts)