Psalm 22:6,9 “I am…scorned by men and despised by the people…Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast.”
[You, Lord God, were with both David and Jesus in their physical conception, preparing the way to give them protection and guidance, to have them trust you.
As it says in Psalm 139: 16-17 “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place….Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
So you have been with us, watching over our development in the womb, preparing our parents, our upbringing, our education and every other detail in life, that we may serve you in unique and powerful ways. What personal, intimate, deep concern you show in arranging even minute events of our lives, to develop our ability to join you in your great Plans.]
Psalm 22:10 “From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”
[Long before they are born, you know all who will respond to your invitation to be their God. In fact, before the creation of the world you saw who would believe (“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…” Eph 1:1). And on that basis, you prepared the way for those who would respond to the work of your Spirit: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Rom. 8:29). What a great privilege to be thus brought into your Kingdom by your love, mercy and grace, Lord Jesus.]
Psalm 22:11 “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”
[David had only you to turn to, Lord God, His great Father and Shepherd. Only you could help Jesus in His earthly life. And so it is in our lives: in the midst of powerful forces swirling around us–spiritual, political, economic, social–only you, Heavenly Father, can actually help. All others are limited and weak, they fail, are faulty, are fickle, but you are faithful.
As it says in Psalm 18:16-18, “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.”]
I praise you, Lord God, that you reach into every aspect of our lives to carry us through whatever challenges come. You take us through the valley of the shadow of death “out into a broad place; [you] rescue me, because [you] delight in me” (Ps. 18:19).
Thank you that today you will work this way in my life. Save me from the evil one, from evil people, from evil events and from my own evil within. Help me to keep on the armor, to trust in you that you may shield my head in today’s of battle. Amen.
