Consuming Zeal

June 21

(Psalms 69:1-20 NIV) "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. {2} I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. {3} I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. {4} Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. {5} You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. {6} May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the Lord Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. {7} For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. {8} I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; {9} for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. {10} When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; {11} when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. {12} Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. {13} But I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. {14} Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. {15} Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. {16} Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. {17} Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. {18} Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. {19} You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. {20} Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.”

David’s life was a series of highs and lows, as our lives will be. He experienced great victories, but he also knew days of defeat. He knew times of worshipping and praising God with singing and dancing. He also endured months when he was “worn out calling for help”. There were days when he flew so high, it seemed he could touch the face of God. There were days when he was engulfed by the deep waters of despair -- days when enemies seemed to “outnumber the hairs on his head”. Many despised David because he was king. Even more despised him because of his King. His consuming zeal for God made him the target of mockers and haters, but that consuming zeal also carried him through the deepest of waters and the darkest of days. So it will be with those who follow Jesus. We will be “scorned, disgraced, and shamed”, but our consuming zeal for God will sustain us. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day