Call For Help!
August 20, 2003 • By Ed Wrather
08.20.03
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, and my relatives stand afar off. Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and plan deception all the day long. - Psalm 38:3-12.
A family’s vacation was suddenly interrupted as they were sailing off the east coast of Australia. A 30-foot, 10-ton humpback whale jumped into their boat; and along the way, pulled the mast and rigging down, as it crashed into the boat. Trevor Johnson who was on the boat with his wife, two sons and a son’s girlfriend said, "I was below deck when there was a hell of a crash from port as it leapt out of nowhere. It is amazing that no one was hurt or killed, but it was a terrifying experience." The small ship was ten miles away from the coast, and their radio equipment had also been knocked out. But they were eventually able to call for help using a cell phone and were towed to safety.
King David knew what it was like to have a terrible burden crashing down on his head. In David’s situation, it was his iniquities and he confessed they were so bad because of his foolishness. David listed the symptoms of the great weight upon him. He was bowed down, mourning, ill, brokenhearted, and his strength was failing him. David was much like the people in the ship with a whale crashing down upon it. David was in many ways just like them - helpless. There was nothing David could do of himself to solve his problem. David was sinking and going down for the third time.
Maybe you have been there or you are there now. Your sin or sins have pushed you down and pushed you down and your destruction is at hand? Or, it may not be quite that bad but the handwriting is on the wall and you can feel the pressure that continues to mount? What do you do? The people in the sailboat called for help. David called for help and in both situations; they called for help from the right people because help arrived.
David called out to God because he knew God was the only One who could possibly help him to have relief from the terrible situation he was in. Here is what David cried out to God, "For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said, ‘Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.’ For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; and those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation (Psalm 38:15-22)!
If the weight of your sin of your iniquities are sinking your ship, don’t wait any longer. Call out to the Lord your God in the Name of Jesus and ask Him to help you. Now’s the time ask for help from the One who can help you.