When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:3-5)
Apparently, there was a time in David’s life — likely prompted by the aftermath of his moral failure and the subsequent persecution — when he became so anxious about the future that he worried himself sick. That is, more or less, what he seems to describe here. He felt as if his life force was being drained; he described his inner man as feeling old and feeble because of his “groaning all day long.” Another translation renders this as “my anguished roar” which, according to commentators, is due to worry and anxiety. Instead of choosing to be optimistic or share his burden with others, David kept silent — i.e. he kept it all inside.
Later Solomon would write that, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25). Reading between the lines, anxiety that takes up residence in the heart might be due to one’s unwillingness or inability to share their heart with others. Look at it this way: if the remedy for the depression that worry incites is a “good word,” where does that good word come from? Perhaps it comes from someone who is there to encourage and strengthen us when we are not at our best. A true and encouraging word can brighten our spirits and strengthen us to look beyond the problem and see that “this, too, shall pass.”
The Messiah said that worrying about tomorrow is pointless because worrying about something isn’t going to alter the outcome. What can change things is to go to the the best friend we will ever have — the One who sticks closer than a brother and lay our burdens before Him. We can go to Him with our troubles, even if they are the result of our bad choices and sinful actions because, when we confess our sins and repent, He is faithful to forgive us. Whatever our concerns may be, there is no reason to be silent; as Peter said: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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