Day 7 of 30 days of Summer Psalms

In Psalm 31, David is ill. He clings to God as his rock and fortress as he endures the scorn of his neighbors. Illness during David's time was considered a bad omen, so the sick were treated with disdain by the wicked. While they sought the help of vain idols for their own ailments, David trusted in the Lord to see him through his distress. When he speaks of his love for the Lord, he identifies himself and others who also believe in God as "saints" in Psalm 31:23. I like his choice of the term "saints" to describe the humble.

In the next Psalm, David is healed of his illness then offers a confession. He states, "When, I declared not my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long." He continues in verse 5, "I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said,'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord'; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin." He gives us good advice to confess our sins as part of purging an illness and more advice for dealing with distress in verse 6. David speaks from experience, "Therefore let every one who is godly offer prayer to thee; at a time of distress, in the rush of great waters." He adds, "Steadfast love surrounds him who trusts in the Lord."

After seeking forgiveness in Psalm 32, David praises the Lord with heartfelt thanks for his healing in Psalm 33. David makes the point in verse 13 that the Lord is always watching out for us from His throne in heaven, on all the inhabitants of the earth. He observes all our deeds. David extols the Lord for His commitment to those who fear Him and notes that our souls are waiting for the Lord to deliver us from death in the last verses of this chapter. David attributes all his gratitude to the Lord for his health.

I like chapter 34 the best out of today's psalms. In David's flight from Saul who is scheming to kill him, David recognizes the help God provides him in the form of angels. He proclaims, "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them." When I imagine angels surrounding me in my own times of trouble, it's a powerful weapon against evil. David writes more on the aid of the Lord's angels against his enemies in chapter 35: 5-6, "...with the angel of the Lord driving them! Let their way be dark and slippery with the angel of the Lord pursuing them." What a force the angels can be for all of us; they exist in the form of messengers, soldiers, guardians, and more. They are vigilant in their duties when the Lord calls upon them; David witnessed their expertise when he fled from Saul, and they are still working hard for us today. A whole spiritual realm is out there fighting for our existence, we can't see it with our 5 senses, but if we become more observant with our inner eye, it's an undeniable presence.

After completing the 6th day of the 30 days of Psalms, I see a pattern forming from David's prayers. He pleads, repents, gives thanks, and praises the Lord, then repeats the cycle. David's life is full of ups and downs just like our own. We must learn, as David learned, to give every moment of our experience here on earth over to God. He is supporting our welfare in every way, so it is to the Lord we must implore, whether we are pleading, repenting, thanking, or praising, all things we need to place before Him.