Study 74

Text: Psalm 22

BATTLING EMOTIONAL UPHEAVALS SUCCESSFULLY

How does one battle emotional battles successfully? The psalmist David did something very special. He reached deep into the past and came up with an excellent reply!

"But You are He who took me out of the womb;
You made me trust while on My mother's breasts.
I was cast upon You from birth,
From My mother's womb
You have been My God."
Psalm 22:9-10

1. Make full use of the Mind

The mind is a powerful weapon that may be employed successfully against badly-upset emotions!

a) "But You are He who took me out of the womb"
The mind must feed deeply on truth! It must feed on knowledge. It may feed well on the fact that God was there from birth! Surely, He was there at the very moment of birth!

b) "You made me trust while on My mother's breasts"
This is a difficult text to fully expound. What does a baby know while he is being nursed by his mother? This text suggests that the baby learns the first lesson of "trust" when nestled in the mother's arms! At an even more profound level, the baby is in fact leaning on the Lord, and trusting Him!

c) "I was cast upon You from birth, from My mother's womb"
How profound this thought is! If we read this text as a Messianic reference, then we can appreciate even more the hand of the Lord in looking after Baby Jesus! There He was, born in a manger. There He was, facing the wrath of Herod soon after birth! God was there! The baby may not have fully comprehended everything, but now in mature age, knowledge may not be converted to truth! And when that happens, there is great power indeed!

2. Make full use of Faith

The psalmist David was wise and correct to cry out, "You have been my God."

a) It is a cry of faith in God

b) It is a cry of dependence upon the Lord

c) It is also a cry of defiance against all the enemies that threaten to overwhelm!

When both the mind and faith are engaged in spiritual battle, great power is made available- power enough to overcome all emotional upheavals!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~

Released 8th May 2005, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore