A HORRIBLE PIT
Today’s Reading: Psalms 40-41
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Located in the ruins of the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest, is the pit that Jesus was lowered into for the night, just after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Caiaphas’ house is now covered by the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, which is located in Jerusalem. The windows cut in the stone were for the guards to keep watch over the prisoners who were in this horrible pit.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Psalm 41:9
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.
In yesterday’s Psalms, that big word “I” was repeated over and over. Today the words that stand out are “my” and “me.” At least 35 times we are directed inward to think about ourselves. Psalm 40 starts out, not with a pity party for poor “me,” but with a powerful declaration of what God has done for David. He testifies that God has (1) inclined to me, (2) heard my cry, (3) brought me up out of a horrible pit, (4) set my feet on a rock, (5) established my steps, and (6) put a new song in my mouth. From verses 4 to 10 there is more positive confession. Then David seems to slip off the “Rock,” and back into that horrible pit. He writes, “My heart fails me…”
In Psalm 41 there are some directions for staying on the rock and out of the pit. (1) Blessed is he who considers the poor. (2) The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. (3) The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive. (4) He will be blessed on the earth. (5) The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness. Then David’s feet slip again as we read verses 4 to 9. But let us not despair; he’s back up again for the last 4 verses of Psalm 41. One of the reasons the Psalms appeal to us is that David is so very human. We can identify with his struggles and his triumphs!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, help me to wait patiently for You. Please set my feet on the Rock and keep me there by Your presence and power. You have given me the doxology of Jude 1:24-25. I confess Your ability to keep me from falling back into that horrible pit. I pray this with confidence that I am standing firmly on the Great Rock, the Lord Jesus Himself, Amen!!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve had the opportunity several times of descending literally into the “horrible pit” in which Jesus was kept overnight, beneath the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest. It’s clean now, but when Jesus was there it was filthy; excrement would perhaps have covered the floor. Just next to the pit is the torture room where prisoners would be tied and whipped. I am overcome with the horror of it all. Jesus subjected Himself to this outrage when He could’ve simply spoken a word and set Himself free. He did it so that I, and millions of others, could be rescued from the pit of self pity and despair. He went down so that He could reach under all humankind and lift us up to stand on the unshakable Rock, which is Himself. He cleans us up through the cleansing of His blood (1John 1:7) and keeps us clean by the washing of water by the Word (Ephesians 5:26).
Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham, recorded a message which I would like to share with you. It ties in with David’s lament about his own familiar friend who has turned against him (click here).
Yours for standing firm on the “Rock,”
David
This is the torture chamber area where prisoners were scourged. It’s located in the lower levels of Caiaphas’ house where Jesus spent the first night after His arrest and before His trial and crucifixion.
Many times to those who lost children their friends would say(no doubt trying to help) things like:”Oh,well,you still have other children.”,Then others would simply say:”Get over ‘it’! “.That is simply cruel !This poem was written for those unfortunate mothers who sometimes blamed themselves with the “What if?” questions (One of Satan’s favorite tools.):
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a gift we receive,
And freely we must give it too,
To prove to Him we do believe,
Forgiveness also works for you.
When someone stabs your back,
Do not turn around to attack;
But smile and take up his slack
To show the faith you do not lack.
When you forgive it then returns,
For your heart is then lightened
While given the freedom it yearns
And your mind is then enlightened.
Let His healing hand touch your soul,
Then may His love render you whole,
For Satan will try to collect a toll
If faith is weak you give control
But someone you may overlook
Is one you may be least kind to;
For mistaken paths that you took;
The one you forgive must be you.
GW (Bill) Marshall/2012
‘It’
It is a sorrow to melt rock,
It is a tide that won’t go out,
It is with you around the clock,
It leaves you so full of doubt.
It is like lava’s hot flow,
It will bury you in guilt,
It is a mountain’s snow
And it is a prison built.
Yes,’it’ is a child gone,
But it has a secret unspoken,
It is that a soul lives on,
It is a promise unbroken.
G W(Bill) Marshall /Jan 22, 2013
The above was referring to members of Grieving Mothers where I was reluctantly ‘led’ to post ‘poems of comfort’.When I relented to an unexplainable very powerful urge to post poems there (I did not have a clue Who it was then) and did post some,Barbara,the site owner,made me,a male,a member of her site.Nuff said
PS:Sorry but that experience of writing these poems as quickly as I could type them,for about 1 1/2 yr,is the unshakable reason for my faith !It is a blessing from the Greatest Love.
thanks for sharing, William, words so true!
Thank You, Lord God, for this day, for your Word, for coming for us! Please keep all your church healthy and growing in your entirely good ways. Again we pray for this country. We see all the confusion and anger and finger-pointing in this world, and we ask that your will is done on Earth as in Heaven. Send your Word, Lord, and heal our diseases. Sin has ravaged, but You are the remedy.
Thank You for the Godly people You have given us. Bless all your people today and use them (us) in ways which glorify You. Let your gospel go out freely, and keep on raising up good people into leadership and influence. In Jesus’s name, amen
Amen, Rob!
Lord, things may look uncertain and pessimistic but our hope is in You! Help us not to be discouraged by what we hear and see but to rely on your unfailing power, mercy and love! In you alone is our confidence! We thank you for your faithfulness and your greatness!
May you bless and minister to each and everyone of us, this day in whatever situation we find ourselves in. We especially ask that you help Ann Mainse as she undergoes her treatment. We ask these things in the Name that is above all other names, Jesus, Amen!
Amen Luisa & Rob!
Thank you Luisa and Rob for your beautiful prayers and William for your much appreciated poems.
Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Amen! Thank you, Rob and Luisa for your prayers.
yes, Amen and Luisa, I agree with your prayers, Amen!
Psalm 40 is a psalm close to my heart
Yes, Amen Rob and Luisa
Thank you William for the poems that you post each day they are beautiful wonderful and at times very Timely so may God richly bless you and all my fellow bloggers today amen
Amen and thank you Williiam and Luisa for you poems and prayers.
Thank you all for the prayer and wisdom you all share!!!
God Bless You All!!1
What a blessing to read the postings on this prayer site!!!!! so wonderful,Lord bless each person, thank you in Jesus Name we Pray amen