Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” Judges 6:17-18.

And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown…” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away. Luke 4:24, 28-30.

It may seem strange to combine these two Scripture references which I read after our chapter, Psalm 6, and yet, combined here with David’s prayer to God, they speak of God’s kingdom and our receptiveness to God. Gideon could hardly believe God was there talking with him and giving him a job to do and Gideon asked God to remain until he came back and God assured him He would remain. And God, the Word made flesh, was talking in His hometown synagogue present with them fulfilling Scriptures they studied. Both encounters were unexpected and never anticipated would ever happen to them. And reading our psalm today, I can’t tell if the enemy David is referencing is illness – Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony…v. 2 – or evil in the world - Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping…All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame…v. 8, 10. At the opening of this prayer, David beseeches God, Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. v. 1. I’m reminded of Job. The remarkable lesson we learn from David is his close relationship with God. He held nothing back. And in turning to God in his great need, David knew God’s peace and guiding Presence. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. v. 6, 7, 8, 9. 

In knowing God, David knew God’s help. When you have experienced God’s love and help, how can you not feel sorrow for the evil committed in this world by people who do not understand? The sorrow weighs you down and you feel that heaviness in your bones and your soul. That’s when you need your Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. He knows. He knows what we are. He knows our need. Do we? Give everything to God in prayer. Turn to Him and draw close. And then…trust God for all things. An amazing thing happens. A burden we cannot carry is lifted. A peace not of this world permeates our soul. God is here. Where God is His kingdom is. His Kingdom is good and one day His Kingdom will fill this earth as it fills heaven. Never forget…our God is with us now and His love will heal us now. How will He heal us? By helping us know Him. It’s personal. Ask. He’s here. Always.