Psalm 22:18-27 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 22:18-27 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Verse 19But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Verse 20Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog!
Verse 21Save me from the mouth of the lion! From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
Verse 22I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
Verse 23You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
Verse 24For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
Verse 25From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
Verse 26The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
Verse 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
Devotion
When I was small an elderly relative got something called ‘cancer’. I didn’t know what it was, but from the way the adults forced themselves to act cheery I knew it was bad. Finally one of them explained, quickly adding, “But we mustn’t tell!” “Why not?” I wondered aloud; the relative was sick, not misbehaving. “She’s afraid her neighbors will stay away if they know she has (the word was a whisper) cancer.”
Times have changed but people still have secrets. Some bandage their secrets in layers of thick shame, hoping the neighbors will never guess. God gently invites the wounded to unwrap their bandages. Listen to what one sufferer experienced: “God did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted. God did not hide his face from me, but listened when I cried.” Nothing that is hidden in your life will cause God to shudder and turn away. Count on it.
Prayer
God of mercy, you understand me better than I understand myself. Help me trust you enough to unwrap those secrets that my conscience — or my pride — can’t stand to look at. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.