“My soul has clung to the dust, revive me in accordance with Your Word.” (Psalm 119:25)
In this verse, there is a characteristic and extravagant eastern figure, which is difficult for the western mind to appreciate. Sitting in sackcloth and ashes is an expression of mourning. Sitting in the dust is the attitude of humiliation, and so it fittingly expresses the depressed and exhausted spiritual mood of the psalmist. It may be that in our lives in pursuit of God, we ought never to be depressed; it is certainly the fact of life that we often are. Depression does not always come as response to outward circumstances, but it often does; and we may think of conditions that encourage it.
Depression follows on the difficulties and disappointments of business and life. When things will not go rightly, mind and heart are very full day and night, and brooding away tends to encourage fears, and to make the dark things grow darker. When the soul is full of care, better things are pushed out and faith fails. At such times we need the prayer: “Revive me” – give me life, new life, life of energy to battle with difficulty; life of hope to keep me in good cheer.
Depression follows on bodily pain and varying conditions of health. “My soul has clung to the dust”. Self and feeling are made too prominent; they force themselves out of place and proportion; and all truth seems discoloured; at such times we need the prayer “Revive me” – give me the life of strength to bear; give me to keep sure of the fatherliness of chastisement, and to cherish the trustful and patient spirit of a son.
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