Memory Verse Monday

Oh, good!!! It's Monday and that means I get to share with you the verse I memorized this morning and more about David in Psalm 22. Truly, I think of you during my week as God is speaking to me through His Word, and I look forward to Memory Verse Monday and my opportunity to share. Thanks, Karen at Karen's Ramblings, for coming up with MVM!

Well, the good news is David has not slipped back into despair this week! Though he has still been aware of his circumstances, David has kept his focus on God. (I feel like cheering for him!) And today he is (and therefore I am, too) reflecting on how God has handled his trials. Verse 24 says,

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

One of the things I do when I am meditating on verses in the Psalms is look up words to which I do not know the definition. Well, even though I know what despise means, I looked it up today and I simply love what I found there. It said, "to regard as beneath one's notice and unworthy of consideration or interest." I love it because Psalm 22:24 says that is what God does not do in regards to our suffering. God does not regard our suffering as beneath His notice. He does not see our suffering as unworthy of His consideration or interest.
Rather, God listens to our cry for help. I looked up listen, too, and loved what I found. "To hear with thoughtful attention." How about reading it this way? With thoughtful attention He heard his cry for help. Those words create a picture in my mind of God leaning in toward David, giving David His undivided attention. I imagine Him fully aware of David's situation, truly compassionate for what David is enduring, and perfectly able to help.

As I thought about this verse today and considered God's care for David in his trials - and the way He handles mine - I was encouraged to realize how much He cares. The things we are facing are not "beneath" Him. Our struggles are not "unworthy" of God's attention. I thought about the times I have cried out to Him in desperation, focused on my circumstances and feeling like I would never make it through. I realized I have never thought God doesn't care, but sometimes I have forgotten that He does. How wonderful to be reminded of this Truth in this verse today.

Whew! David has been through quite a bit in Psalm 22. Last week I summarized verses 12-18 this way: I am intimidated. I am threatened. I am completely spent. I am utterly hopeless. I might as well be dead. I am pitiful. I am humiliated. Can you relate to him? Been through some rough times recently? I pray you will find hope in and be encouraged by his thoughts in verse 24 today.

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

I am carrying that verse in my pocket today, and God is carrying me.
If you cry for help, He will carry you, too, my friend!