Another Psalm of distress, but it's so replete with thoughts of praise and thanksgiving that we barely see the troubles.
That is the way the Lord wants it. He would like us to so see his glory, his brightness, His grandor, his faithfulness, and his love that our troubles will fade in comparison.
It is a song of compassion v. 5b, "The things planned for us no one can recount to you. Were I to speak of them they would be too many to count." David returns to his "_____________" mind counting, recounting, "more numerous than…" What wonderful Imagery fo one counting all of God's benefits. (Ps. 103)
There are two bins of marbles (?) to count. On your right is a small box of broken, scratched, chipped marbles. There seems to be a lot of them.
On your left is a huge bin of perfect marbles - round, colorful, shiny like diamonds. You start to count but as you do you recognize the bin is so large it fills the table before you. Each marble is a sparkling reminder of God's love, goodness, and faithfulness. Soon you are so dazzled by the beauty of this overflowing bin you realize thought the sad box of broken marbles is still there - nothing changed - yet it is miniscule and insignificant compared to the riches of God's faithfulness toward you.
Now your whole focus is on the good, not on the bad. That's what God ants for you today.
The second comparison is found in vs12, "For my troubles without number surround me. I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, my heart fails within me."
When David focused on the bad, it got magnified beyond reality. He indulged in the unsanctified imagination of exaggeration. "My troubles are more than the hairs of my head." That's a lie! It's not true. It only "feels" like that when we wallow and soak in our miseries. Get out of the mire and let God set your foot on a rock.
Finally, verses 9-10. "I will not seal my lips, I will not "_______" your love. I will speak, I will proclaim your righteousness." Again, "I will" is the choice of the heart that determines our final feelings at the end of the day. The choice is yours. You can sink in the mire and muck of your misfortunes or you can choose to rise above it by declaring all the goodness you choose to see in God's marble box.
New King James Bible, Bible Gateway Index
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