Read Psalm 69:13-18. 13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 14Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. 15Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. 16Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. 17Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. 18Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!
David is not out of the sinking mire and the deep water, but his prayer continues to grow in its faith in God, and more specifically, God’s covenant with the king. Twice David calls on God’s steadfast love, adding to it God’s saving faithfulness. This is the language of promise. You see, David’s prayer is not an attempt to convince God to do something. Not at all. Rather, it is a soul sustaining affirmation that God WILL do something, at the acceptable time, because he promised he would.
For those in Christ the deliverance of God has come and is coming. At the acceptable time Jesus came. He redeemed us. He ransomed us. We are purchased, pardoned, and protected in Him. And at an acceptable time Jesus will come again. There’s no convincing necessary, just standing on the promise of God to draw near to our souls in each time of need and finally to draw us near to himself in the great rescue of his people from the pit of death and dying.
Are you still trying to convince God to do what you want, or are you trusting God’s covenant promises in Christ to do what he wants, when he wants? To live is Christ is always the latter.
Prayer. Jesus, my redeemer, my ransom from the fall, you have promised me deliverance from the pit at just the right time. Help me trust your covenant grace and mercy today in all things. Amen.
To Live is Christ 