Tag: God turns Groaning to Joy - Psalm 3-5

Psalms 5:1-2

Give ear to my words, O Lord;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my King and my God,

for to you do I pray.

Tag:  God Turns Groaning to Joy

David is the author of this Psalm.  As it opens it is obvious something is happening in David’s life that is causing him to “groan” and “cry” out to God.  Pain is inevitable in the believers life - James 1:2-3!   God did not promise us a life free from groaning and/or pain.   God did promise us a place to go with our groaning.   David sees that God is the resource for his pain and suffering.  We have no idea what his struggle is all about, but we do know WHO he turns to.  He doesn’t turn to family, friend, or fortune to cure his ills.  He turns to the most powerful source possible: His God.  He is not embarrassed to tell God he hurts.  He is not concerned that God will reject him.  It should be noted that David asks God to protect him from those who afflict him.  After acknowledging that God does, indeed, here his cry, David recognizes God sovereign rule and steadfast love.  Nothing changes in David’s circumstances in this short prayer to God.  The prayer is simply by a man who recognizes and confirms to God that he knows God is God and he is not.   In verse eight he doesn’t ask God to change his circumstances, but to guide him through those circumstances:

Psalms 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me.

He does ask that God take the words of those who are hurting him and turn their corruption back on to them.   But, there is no indication that something changes in his situation.   However, note how the psalm ends:

Psalms 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

Even though David started the prayer/song out with “groaning,” he concludes with a vision of joy and a posture of worship.   Again, nothing has changed in his surroundings.   Yet, the inside of his heart and mind changed.  He has gone from groaning to joy and exulting God in worship, despite his troubles.  This is the walk of faith for all believers.   God can turn our groaning to rejoicing when we choose to follow Him in faith and recognize His steadfast love in the midst of our struggles.   God is always God, despite the clouds in our day.   We are to recognize that fact an acknowledge that He is able to take the pain in our hearts and turn it into praise and worship.  Joy is the midst of suffering is the believers end:

James 1:2-3

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.