Psalm 31:9-16
Psalm 31:9-16 (NRSV)
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; . . . (12) I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many - terror all around! - as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”
Mark 14:33-41 (NRSV):
Jesus said: “I am deeply grieved even to death . . . (36) Abba Father . . . remove this cup from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want. (41) The hour has come; the son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
How much alike these verses from the Bible are. To me they are a perfect “mirror of prophesy” from the Old Testament to the New. Certainly this could be an actual lament from a person as told in the Psalm. But more likely, it is a vision of the future of the end of our Lord Jesus‘ life. It is very mysterious how similar these verses are. Frightfully similar and dark. The pain is so deep in both. Our Lenten journey has led us to this week of lament, sorrow, pain, and the horror to come.
Yet at the end of the Psalm it says: “Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.” That last verse is a plea to God to be saved. Similarly, Jesus says these words: “Abba, Father for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want , but what you want.” (Mark 14:36)
Through all the suffering and trials, the Psalmist never gives up hope that God would be there. The same reassurance is felt from Jesus. He is sure that, no matter what, his Father in Heaven is there for him.
As we go through life on this earth, we face many hard times. Some things are so crushing that it is a wonder we can get up in the morning and even take a step into the daylight. But that is just what we strive to do. Just as Jesus and the Psalmist did, we hope that in each tomorrow, God will bring us out of darkness into joy and light.
And He does bring us splendid light. It’s called: Resurrection.
Take time with this hymn, v. 2
Christ, the Life of All the Living (ELW pg.339)
You have suffered great affliction and have borne it patiently,
even death by crucifixion, fully to atone for me;
for you chose to be tormented that my doom should be prevented.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you.
Questions for Reflection:
- What has brought you to your knees in this life? How did you stand up and move on?
- What part of Holy Week is most meaningful to you? Why?
Prayer
Dear Jesus, our suffering Lord,
Your terrible suffering and cruelty on the cross for us was unthinkable. But by the will of the Father, you were resurrected to Heaven’s joy. And now you have extended that to us. “Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you”. Amen
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