There Is Someone Who Cares

O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day.
Psalms 88:13 NLT

The “Blues” genre of music began near the end of the 19th century.  It is soulful.  It is reflective.  It is introspective.  “Blues” share the “personal woes in a world of harsh reality.”[i]

Often our greatest sorrows can only be expressed with song.  Words are not enough.  Writing may not be adequate.  The powerful partnership between lyrics and music can soothe, satisfy or simplify the soul.

Psalm 88 has been called the saddest of all psalms.  Spurgeon gives us insight, “whoever wrote the Psalm must have been a man of deep experience, who had done business on the great waters of soul trouble.”[ii]

The psalmist shows his pain, shares his problems and surrenders his pride.  There is no one who can help but God.  In his heartache, the psalmist tries to find hope.  He pleads with God through daily petitions that are persistent.  He does not give up or give in . . . he gives his all to the Almighty God who receives and responds.

He Is The God Of Salvation.  When sorrow begins to conflict our soul, we need to find confidence in our Savior.  The psalmist writes, “O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night.” (Ps 88:1 NLT).  In our failings, we have nothing to fear and everything to find.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.” (Is 12:2 ESV)

He Is Our God In Supplication.  The writer of this psalm confesses, “Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry.” (Ps 88:2 NLT). God desires that we come to Him in our confusion and conflict . . . and we have the confidence that He will hear our cry.  Le Blanc writes, “It is necessary that God should incline His ear unto our prayer, else it would be in vain to come before Him.” The pastor of Hebrews tells us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb 4:16 NIV)

He Is Our God In Suffering.  When there is no place else to turn, He is there.  The psalmist cries out, “My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for Your help, O LORD; I lift my hands to You for mercy.” (Ps 88:9 NLT). Our brokenness always births a breakthrough for His blessing.  Matthew Henry writes, “Weeping must not hinder praying; we must sow in tears.  Let prayers and tears go together, and they shall be accepted together.”[iii]

Joseph Lathrop writes, “In this, as indeed in every affliction, the best consolation is drawn from a belief in, and meditation upon, God’s governing providence.”[iv]

In 1904, Civilla D. Martin wrote the beloved lyrics:

“Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.”

“Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.”

“All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.”

“No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.”

“God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.”

In perplexing times, He’s Peace.
When we are hurting, He heals.
In our loneliness, He loves.
In our chaos, He cares.

Don’t stop crying out to the One who hears, the One who helps and the One who is our hope.

If you are going through the “great waters of soul trouble”, be assured that He will take care of you . . .

_____________

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues
[ii] C.H. Spurgeon, A Treasury Of David, Volume 4, Marshall Brother’s Ltd., London, England, 1882, page 1
[iii] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary On The Whole Bible, London, 1835
[iv] C.H. Spurgeon, A Treasury Of David, Volume 4, page 22