Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/6 Reading Portions: Judges 20; Acts 24; Jeremiah 34; Psalms 5-6
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. Psalm 6:2
WEAKNESS
Sometimes we overlook the need of God’s grace. I was reminded of this recently. We must seek God’s lavish grace upon us daily and lean upon His everlasting grace constantly. Even when we are strengthened in faith, the moment we trust in the faith itself— faith given us by God’s grace in the first place (Eph 2:8-9) —we’ve created an idol of that faith. Our trust must be completely, entirely, and altogether upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The KJV translates the Hebrew phrase in this way:
“Have mercy upon me….”
“Gracious” may be a better translation of the Hebrew חָנַן (cha-NAN), in my humble opinion; for although we want God’s mercy, Hebrew חֵסֵד (CHĀ-sād), we need His mercy lavishly and graciously bestow upon us.
We sometimes overlook God’s grace because we forget we are languishing. The KJV, again, translates the Hebrew phrase, “I am languishing” in this way: “I am weak…” Although the word is more accurately translated in the KJV, the word comes from a Hebrew root that means “to languish.” Truly, we are languishing. Although we are saved by God’s grace, the corruptions which still remain in our mortal flesh continue in a downward spiral. It is an internal struggle, as its reality is understood by David when he declares, “for my bones are troubled.” All our strength, abilities, talents, behavior, and wisdom, separately or collectively, are insufficient to endure the spiritual foes and forces aligned against us. The principalities and powers of the fallen, unseen spiritual realm (Eph 6:12) hate us utterly because they hate our Christ, our Father, and His Spirit.
Weakness, itself, is not a sin. It’s a fact; a reality; a biblical truth. Weakness is only shameful when we fail to recognize it and act upon it. For when the Spirit reveals to us our poverty, we may seek the gracious riches of Him who is the Good Shepherd, Righteous Advocate, Eternal Redeemer, and Friend Who Sticks Closer than a Brother— our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Let our prayer be today, “Lord Jesus, reveal to me my weakness that I may be strong in You.”
