Bale and Boote
Psalm 38
My heart is
about to break; I'm burned out,
the light
has gone out of my eyes.
My loved
ones and my friends avoid me like the plague,
those who
used to be close to me now run away (Psalms 38:11,12 The Message).
The more we
need help, the less we attract it. Even our loved ones and friends "avoid
(us) like the plague." That's because neediness is off-putting. Hardly
anyone likes to be around a deeply troubled soul. Most people have enough
trouble of their own.
There is
One, however, who's not put off by our neediness, who never cuts and runs. He
understands our sorrow; He hears our sighs (38:9).
And because
He is Himself "a man of sorrows," He is able to sympathize with us
and comfort us as no other can.
We should
then, "draw near to Him with confidence that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).[1]
"When
bale (need) is att hyest, boote (help) is nyest." So goes "The Ballad
of Sir Aldingar." And so I pray with David, "Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!" (38:22).
David Roper
2.16.17
[1]
It occurs to me that our
friends and loved ones can't help us anyway. They can only point us to the One
who is our help.
