It's You Again God

17. My First Responder

It's You again God,

I am so thankful to know that You keep coming to speak with me each day, as regularly as the waves that break upon the shore.  Again and again You show me Your love. You soothe me when I'm tired, upset, unwell or broken. You're my first responder, the first One to surround me with words of encouragement and remind me of how much You love me. You show me again and again how You were there for so many others in the past, as I read the Bible.

On many occasions, David found himself in terrible situations and he cried out for You. He would seem to be in the depths of depression and he would pour his heart out to You and You never failed to turn things around for him. Just reading through Psalm 22, I am reminded that I can bring every fear, heartache or need before You and just call out to You honestly:

"God, my God! Why would you abandon me now? Why do you remain distant, refusing to answer my tearful cries in the day and my desperate cries for your help in the night? I can't stop sobbing. Where are you, my God? Yet I know that you are most holy; it's indisputable. You are God-Enthroned, surrounded with songs, living among the shouts of praise of your princely people. Our fathers' faith was in you— through the generations they trusted and believed in you and you came through. Every time they cried out to you in their despair, you were faithful to deliver them; you didn't disappoint them."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:1-5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

David remembers how you were faithful to his forefathers and this surely is encouraging!

"But look at me now; I am like a woeful worm, crushed, and I'm bleeding crimson. I don't even look like a man anymore. I've been abused, despised, and scorned by everyone! Mocked by their jeers, despised with their sneers, as all the people poke fun at me, spitting their insults, saying, "Is this the one who trusted in God? Is this the one who claims God is pleased with him? Now let's see if your God will come to your rescue! We'll just see how much he delights in you!""
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:6-8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This sounds so familiar —a prophecy of all that our Saviour would go through to bring us peace, to bring us back to You Father!

"Lord, you delivered me safely from my mother's womb. You are the one who cared for me ever since I was a baby. Since the day I was born, I've been placed in your custody. You've cradled me throughout my days. I've trusted in you and you've always been my God."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:9-10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

David keeps on remembering how good You have been and so I will do the same! Thank You for being with me throughout my whole life, even when I was doing my own thing and going my own way.

David slips back into seeing the desperation of the situation and again I can see pictures of how Jesus suffered:

"So don't leave me now; stay close to me! For trouble is all around me and there's no one else to help me. I'm surrounded by many violent foes; mighty forces of evil are swirling around me who want to break me to bits and destroy me. Curses pour from their mouths! They're like ravenous, roaring lions tearing their prey. Now I'm completely exhausted; I'm spent. Every joint of my body has been pulled apart. My courage has vanished and my inward parts have melted away. I'm so thirsty and parched—dry as a bone. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. And now you've left me in the dust for dead. They have pierced my hands and my feet. Like a pack of wild dogs they tear at me, swirling around me with their hatred. They gather around me like lions to pin my hands and feet. All my bones stick out. Look at how they all gloat over me and stare! With a toss of the dice they divide my clothes among themselves, gambling for my garments!"
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:11-18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Sometimes my plea is 'won't You come quickly to my rescue?' and here is David saying those very words:

"Lord, my God, please don't stay far away. For you are my only might and strength. Won't you come quickly to my rescue? Give me back my life. Save me from this violent death. Save my precious one and only from the power of these demons! Save me from all the power of the enemy, from this roaring lion raging against me and the power of his dark horde."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:19-21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Many times through illness, my heart has cried out 'Won't You give me back my life?' and I waited, and You came and You brought life —not the same life as before but the one where Your Name is glorified and I can daily remember that You are my Father and I am Your daughter and that is all I need to feel whole.

Thank You God that a song of praise breaks out in my heart as I think of how You have delivered me:

"I will praise your name before all my brothers; as my people gather I will praise you in their midst. Lovers of Yahweh, praise him! Let all the true seed of Jacob glorify him with your praises. Stand in awe of him, all you princely people, the offspring of Israel! For he has not despised my cries of deep despair. He's my first responder to my sufferings, and he didn't look the other way when I was in pain. He was there all the time, listening to the song of the afflicted."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:22-24‬ ‭TPT‬‬

You are so, so good! Thank You for not turning away during all of my complaining! You were so patient! You listened to the song of the afflicted —it wasn't a great song at all but You kept coming and lovingly letting me know You were there! Your healing presence was all I needed!

"You're the reason for my praise; it comes from you and goes to you. I will keep my promise to praise you before all who fear you among the congregation of your people. I will invite the poor and broken, and they will come and eat until satisfied. Bring Yahweh praise and you will find him. Your hearts will overflow with life forever!"
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:25-26‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Amen!