MY SOUL REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

AUGUST 19

 

Psalm 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord:

my sore ran in the night, and ceased not:

my soul refused to be comforted.

 
God has provided suitable and sufficient comfort for his people.
 
He sends them comforters just as their circumstances require.
 
But they at times refuse to hear the voice of the charmer.
 
The Lord has perhaps taken away an idol
   —or he withholds his sensible presence,
      that they may learn to live by faith
   —or he has blighted their worldly prospects
   —or he has written vanity and emptiness upon
       all their gourds, cisterns, and delights.
 
They give way to passion, as did Jonah
  —or they sink into sullen gloom
  —or allow unhumbled pride to rule the spirit
   —or yield to extreme sorrow, as Rachel did
   —or fall under the power of temptation
   —or imbibe the notion, that they have no right to comfort.
 
This is wrong, all wrong, decidedly wrong.
 
Look at what is left you: at what the gospel presents to you; at what heaven will be to you.
 
But the Psalmist was convinced that he was wrong.
 
He was sorry for his sin.
 
He was reformed in his spirit and conduct.
 
He wrote this psalm to instruct, caution, and warn us.
 
Observe, they who are entitled to all comfort, often through their own folly, enjoy the least.
 

O thou Source of every blessing

Chase my sorrows, cheer my heart,

Till in heaven thy smiles possessing,

Life, and joy, and peace impart.

 
James Smith