“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
There are times when we need to lean on a friend for comfort, help, encouragement, or support. Usually this occurs when we are weak, vulnerable, or hurting. In times like this, a loyal friend can be a godsend. A trusted friend will bring forth wisdom and give us courage.
When David wrote Psalm 55, he was in a vulnerable position. Troubles were on his horizon (Psalm 55:2). The troubles were becoming overwhelming. David began to fear for his life (Psalm 55:5). Sorrow and anguish tormented his soul (Psalm 55:4). Though David was hounded by dishonest enemies, what really wounded his soul was the double-cross of a trusted friend. David wrote in Psalm 55:12-13, “It is not an enemy who taunts me, I could bear that. It is not adversary… it is you, my familiar friend”. The betrayal of a familiar and trusted friend deeply wounded David’s heart.
Lacking a trusted confidant to lean upon in that vulnerable time, David turned to the one he could trust when all others fell short. He threw himself toward God in anguished prayer. David expressed his hurt, his wishes, his fears, and his needs. He knew that God would hear and be powerful in that moment (Psalm 55:19). David was fully convinced that God would save and protect him (Psalm 55:16).
In the midst of all this upheaval in his life, David gave a valuable piece of information to the reader of his psalm. He offered up the words that begin Psalm 55:22 chosen for our meditation today, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and HE will sustain you”. David found that especially when you are vulnerable, God is powerfully present to the faithful. God will NEVER fail the “righteous” (SEE Psalm 55:22b)!
As I was preparing for this meditation, I looked up the Hebrew word for “cast” used in the scripture for today. It means literally to throw off or toss. This is important for understanding this scripture. Sometimes, the burdens God wants us to cast upon Him are very heavy. They weigh heavily on heart and soul. They are difficult to bear. When lifting a heavy weight, sometimes it is easier to throw it, toss it, or cast it away. It is actually less burdensome than simply picking it up and moving it. What we can deduce from the use of the words “cast your burden on the Lord” is that David wanted you to consider taking those heavy burdens of sin or shame or guilt and throwing them toward the Lord. Sometimes, the only way to shake off the terrible guilt and shame of a past sin is to just hurl the evil residue God’s way!
After committing adultery, Sharon hid the affair from her husband. She buried deep in her mind and heart the memories of her cheating past. However, every time she came into the sanctuary to worship on many a Sunday morning, the guilt and pain of that past would rise up within her. Memories of shame riddled her thoughts and kept her from feeling joy during worship. All too often, she would tear up. Recalling those memories flooded her mind and heart while listening to a sermon or participating in prayer. What Sharon did not realize was that though she had asked for forgiveness and buried that past, God wanted more. God wanted her to fling all the shameful residue to Him. God wanted her to cast that burden upon HIM, so she could receive HIS healing grace. Only after years of suffering and shame did Sharon realize her mistake. When she finally felt the release of this burden, she was shocked at how light her heart felt and how much joy came cascading back!
Now, before you decide to cast every burden God’s way, understand that some burdens are meant to be carried by you while others are meant to be cast to the Lord. Some burdens need to be borne by you in order for you to learn patience or deepen your understanding of grace. Other burdens need to be cast upon the Lord. For example, there was a time when God wanted Sharon to bear the brunt of her affair. God wanted her to feel the shame and respond with confession and repentance. That burden was meant for Sharon to change her ways. But, after a while, God wanted Sharon to cast the burden upon HIM. After she sought repentance and confessed her sin, God wanted Sharon to cast that burden upon Heavenly shoulders. That sin was no longer Sharon’s burden to carry each day.
Can you learn to separate out those burdens you must bear from those that must be cast upon the Lord? This is an important aspect of the holy life. God will put some burdens on your shoulders in order for you to grow in strength. God will ask you to bear the burdens of others to help them to bear the load. On the other hand, God will want you to cast upon Him those burdens that belong with the Lord. To continue to bear a burden that belongs with God will only cause suffering and pain where God intended grace and joy and forgiveness and peace!
When David wrote Psalm 55, he was in a vulnerable position. Troubles were on his horizon (Psalm 55:2). The troubles were becoming overwhelming. David began to fear for his life (Psalm 55:5). Sorrow and anguish tormented his soul (Psalm 55:4). Though David was hounded by dishonest enemies, what really wounded his soul was the double-cross of a trusted friend. David wrote in Psalm 55:12-13, “It is not an enemy who taunts me, I could bear that. It is not adversary… it is you, my familiar friend”. The betrayal of a familiar and trusted friend deeply wounded David’s heart.
Lacking a trusted confidant to lean upon in that vulnerable time, David turned to the one he could trust when all others fell short. He threw himself toward God in anguished prayer. David expressed his hurt, his wishes, his fears, and his needs. He knew that God would hear and be powerful in that moment (Psalm 55:19). David was fully convinced that God would save and protect him (Psalm 55:16).
In the midst of all this upheaval in his life, David gave a valuable piece of information to the reader of his psalm. He offered up the words that begin Psalm 55:22 chosen for our meditation today, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and HE will sustain you”. David found that especially when you are vulnerable, God is powerfully present to the faithful. God will NEVER fail the “righteous” (SEE Psalm 55:22b)!
As I was preparing for this meditation, I looked up the Hebrew word for “cast” used in the scripture for today. It means literally to throw off or toss. This is important for understanding this scripture. Sometimes, the burdens God wants us to cast upon Him are very heavy. They weigh heavily on heart and soul. They are difficult to bear. When lifting a heavy weight, sometimes it is easier to throw it, toss it, or cast it away. It is actually less burdensome than simply picking it up and moving it. What we can deduce from the use of the words “cast your burden on the Lord” is that David wanted you to consider taking those heavy burdens of sin or shame or guilt and throwing them toward the Lord. Sometimes, the only way to shake off the terrible guilt and shame of a past sin is to just hurl the evil residue God’s way!
After committing adultery, Sharon hid the affair from her husband. She buried deep in her mind and heart the memories of her cheating past. However, every time she came into the sanctuary to worship on many a Sunday morning, the guilt and pain of that past would rise up within her. Memories of shame riddled her thoughts and kept her from feeling joy during worship. All too often, she would tear up. Recalling those memories flooded her mind and heart while listening to a sermon or participating in prayer. What Sharon did not realize was that though she had asked for forgiveness and buried that past, God wanted more. God wanted her to fling all the shameful residue to Him. God wanted her to cast that burden upon HIM, so she could receive HIS healing grace. Only after years of suffering and shame did Sharon realize her mistake. When she finally felt the release of this burden, she was shocked at how light her heart felt and how much joy came cascading back!
Now, before you decide to cast every burden God’s way, understand that some burdens are meant to be carried by you while others are meant to be cast to the Lord. Some burdens need to be borne by you in order for you to learn patience or deepen your understanding of grace. Other burdens need to be cast upon the Lord. For example, there was a time when God wanted Sharon to bear the brunt of her affair. God wanted her to feel the shame and respond with confession and repentance. That burden was meant for Sharon to change her ways. But, after a while, God wanted Sharon to cast the burden upon HIM. After she sought repentance and confessed her sin, God wanted Sharon to cast that burden upon Heavenly shoulders. That sin was no longer Sharon’s burden to carry each day.
Can you learn to separate out those burdens you must bear from those that must be cast upon the Lord? This is an important aspect of the holy life. God will put some burdens on your shoulders in order for you to grow in strength. God will ask you to bear the burdens of others to help them to bear the load. On the other hand, God will want you to cast upon Him those burdens that belong with the Lord. To continue to bear a burden that belongs with God will only cause suffering and pain where God intended grace and joy and forgiveness and peace!