Psalm 119:81-88 Kaph: Trust God with the “how long” of your affliction.

In this stanza it seems that the Psalmist pours out his heart to God concerning the length and depth of his affliction.  We hear his “how long” prayer, the prayer of the saints when they feel as if they would buckle under the seemingly endless difficulty.

His soul faints (v81) and his eyes fail as he constantly searches God’s word for comfort (v82).  He has become like a “wineskin in smoke” (v83), shriveled up and useless.  He wonders, “How long” before God will deliver him (v84),

Not only the length of his affliction; the weight of the burden is also having it’s way.  His enemies are going against God’s law (v85) as they wrongfully treat him (v86).  “They almost made an end of me on earth” (v87).

And so he prays again to be revived by God’s grace, his concern being that if God does not intervene he may be tempted to disobedience (v88).

Let us note a couple of important thoughts from this section of Psalm 119.  First, the saint does pour out his complaint to God.  We need to be assured of the fact that God does want to hear what is on our hearts.  He is the one who has bid us come and cast our cares on Him (1 Pt. 5:6-7).  He is the one Who tells us to pray about everything (Phil. 4:6-7).  He commands us to come to His throne in our time of need that we might receive what we need from His grace (Heb. 4:16).  He does not reproach us when we ask for wisdom (Jas. 1:8).  He treats us like the perfect and holy Father He is (Matt. 7:7-12).

Come to Him when you hurt.  This glorifies Him!

But also note that in the pouring out of his complaint, the saint does not question the word of God.  He continues to “hope” in it (v81); he does not forget it (v83) nor forsake it (v87); he trusts in it (v86). 

We may need to ask God for the ability to understand His word or for insight into how it is to be applied.  But if we question its veracity, we only open the door to leave behind the only sure counsel, direction and basis for hope that is available to mankind.

  Bring your burdens to Him today.  Do not be shy about proclaiming your weakness to Him.  But at the same time affirm your absolute trust in His word which is able to build you up (Acts 20:32).