David Knows.
Have you ever felt so bad that you weren't sure you wanted to go on living?
Have you ever wondered why those who do evil to you aren't punished?
Have you ever thought nobody could understand how you feel?
Have you ever thought it was time to give up the fight?
I won't go into detail here, but lately I've felt like someone who was being surrounded on all sides. That others have been laying traps for me in order to trip me up and destroy me. I've been very frustrated by their apparent success in this endeavor. And somedays I feel like giving up. Like the victory isn't going to be worth the pain. Somedays I wonder if there will be victory for me at all. And then I turn to the Psalms and find that I am not alone. King David felt the same way.
Psalm 6
O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Be merciful to me, LORD , for I am faint;
O LORD , heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish.
How long, O LORD , how long?
Turn, O LORD , and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
No one remembers you when he is dead.
Who praises you from the grave?
I am worn out from groaning;
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.
All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.
Psalm 35
Contend, O LORD , with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid.
Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation."
May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise-
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.
My whole being will exclaim,
"Who is like you, O LORD ?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them."
Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good
and leave my soul forlorn.
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among throngs of people I will praise you.
Let not those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
let not those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it."
O LORD , you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!"
or say, "We have swallowed him up."
May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."
My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long.