Help!

by Charles Bertelsmeier

Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.

Let your favour shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me (Psalm 31:16).

Read Psalm 31:1–5,15,16

This psalm was written by David. David faced a number of episodes in his life when others were blatantly out to kill him. Some of these were King Saul, who was jealous of David early in David’s life; the Philistines who were mortal enemies of the Israelites; and then, later in his life, his son Absalom, who ultimately wanted David’s throne for himself. In all of these threats to David’s life, God rescued him and he ultimately died peacefully in old age.

Just thinking about one of these, Absalom’s war against David, it’s interesting that this attack by Absalom is partly a consequence of David’s most grievous sin, his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Bathsheba’s husband. The prophet Nathan told David that God had forgiven him, but that he would have to live with the consequences of what he had done: his family would now live by the sword. Subsequently, members of this family were involved in deception, rape, murder and treason.

Due to David’s many successes and God’s rich blessings, it would have been easy for David to develop a bit of pride and a sense of entitlement. When that happens to us, God in his love for us may need to teach us again about humility and our need for complete reliance on him.

We could be forgiven for believing that David should not expect any favours from God in this particular case. He blatantly disobeyed God’s rules and then committed murder to try to cover up what he had done. But David knew God very well and understood that although he deserved nothing from God, God was all about restoring relationships, especially our relationship with him. When we come to God for help, it has nothing to do with what we may have or not have done – it is all about God’s love and mercy.

In this verse, David is looking to see the smile of love on God’s face, the smile of acceptance and welcome into his embrace of safety and security.

How open are you to being completely honest with God about all those secret things in your life and entrusting them to God to deal with?

Heavenly Father, we know we deserve nothing from you. We also know how much we have hurt others with our selfishness and thoughtlessness. And, Father, sometimes we are so loaded down by our guilt and sense of failure, we don’t feel worthy to come to you for forgiveness and restoration. Thank you for continuing to remind us of your love and desire to draw us back into your love and embrace. Amen.

Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the Air Force, Army and Navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north west suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together they have four children and eight grandchildren whom they love spending time with. He keeps himself busy with their pot plants, community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.

• Click here to read previous devotions.
• We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
• Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.