In Psalm 31:22, David writes "As for me, I said in my alarm, 'I am cut off before your eyes.'" (NASB). What David admits is that in the middle of a time of trial, he wrongly assessed God. He assumed that he had been cut off from Him. God had, it seemed to him, turned away. But, God hadn't.
Now, the real blessing for David, and the cause of enormous praise comes in the last part of the verse: "Nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to You." What David is grateful to God for is that when David in a time of distress stated that God had cut him off, God didn't reject David. God didn't become angry at the false accusation. David marvels that God heard his cry and answered his prayer. Here is the amazing nature of God's grace. This ought to humble us, encourage us, and excite us. God has the tenderness and patience to hear our unjust complaint and yet look beyond our words to hear the true cry of our souls. God is holy. David is wrong in his assessment. I doubt David would say that it is okay to complain against God. Yet, David does marvel and praise the Lord because the Lord hears his real heart cry and cares for Him.
This ought to be an example for all of us. How often do people complain that we don't care about them when they are going through particularly difficult times? Sometimes, people seem particularly unaware or unappreciative of what we are actually doing when they are perplexed and trouble by particular events in their lives. Grace has the capacity to not easily take offence. Grace overlooks the sin and hears the cry of a soul in need. Grace is not easily offended but is more concerned to care for a person rather than get immediate credit for what is being done.
Imagine what this grace can do for marriages, or for ministries. Parents, who are able to respond like God when a child can't see above a particular circumstance, can give grace according to the need of the moment. Sunday school teachers who by grace can look beyond the child struggling with his or her emotions, can minister God's truth and love in a way that is not coldly corrective. Pastors can listen for the truth of a situation when complaints are spoken in a way that sound accusational.
Is it not a marvel to you that our God loves us and never leaves us despite our struggle to see Him aright in the middle of troubling times? If you read Psalm 31, you will see that the one thing that amazes David is the greatness of God's lovingkindness toward him, when David himself is troubled by his own sin. David says "I will rejoice and be glad in your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, and You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy."(verse 7-8). David's hope is in this love alone. Verse 16 reads "Make your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness." David's hope rests in this deep unfailing love of God. David praises God because God's love was with him in a difficult place and never left David even when David struggled with understanding God. "Blessed be the Lord, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindess to me in a besieged city."(vs.21)
May you and I rest in God's unfailing love and may we imitate Him one toward the other. His love endures forever!
