Beautiful Broken Shards

5.3.26 sermon by Phillip D. Mumford

Psalm 31:1-24 CSB 

LORD, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness. [2] Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me. [3] For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name's sake. [4] You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge. [5] Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, LORD, God of truth.

  [6] I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. [7] I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul [8] and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place. [9] Be gracious to me, LORD, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration- my whole being as well. 

[10] Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away. [11] I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me. [12] I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person-like broken pottery. 

[13] I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life. [14] But I trust in you, LORD; I say, "You are my God." [15] The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors. [16] Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love. [17] LORD, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol. [18] Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced. 

[19] How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you. [20] You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from quarrelsome tongues. [21] Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his faithful love to me in a city under siege. [22] In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help. [23] Love the LORD, all his faithful ones. The LORD protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant. [24] Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.