Medicine for anxious hearts (Zechariah 12-14; Psalm 94; 2 John)

“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:19)

What a beautiful verse, for who doesn’t know the pain of many cares or anxieties of heart? The Psalmist finds relief and even joy amongst all the troubling thoughts in the consolations of the LORD, his stronghold, his rock of refuge (v22).

I’m sure you have plenty of cares and concerns living in this fallen world, there’s almost always something troubling us, something pulling us down. For the Psalmist, it’s proud people who are persecuting God’s people in word and action. They are crushing God’s people, and the Psalmist reminds God that the ones they are opposing are the very ones the LORD cares especially for – the vulnerable. They are killing the widow, the sojourner and the fatherless. It’s as if the psalmist is reminding God that He has a special interest in these people, and calling Him to act. The people doing these awful things seem to think they will get away with it “the LORD does not see” (v7).

The psalmist expresses his faith in the LORD, and reminds the wicked that of course the LORD sees, and He will act! How can the one who created the eye not see (v9)? He reminds himself that the LORD will act, He will deal with the wicked and He will not forsake His people (v13-14).

What consolation for the psalmist as he takes his concerns and worries to the LORD, he finds peace that passes understanding, he remembers how God has acted in the past, he remembers his steadfast love and it gives him confidence for the future. He ends the Psalm confident that God will bring justice.

When Jesus sang this Psalm, He knew the pain of opposition to God’s people, He knew what it was to have many cares of the heart. Think of him saying “my heart is troubled” (John 12:27). And yet, He knew the LORD’s steadfast love holding Him up, until that moment of most severe trial, when it looked like the wicked had destroyed him at the cross. Yet he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, He knew the LORD will bring justice, He knew His Father would raise him and one day He will bring justice.

Allow Jesus to lead you in this Psalm. In Him you will find consolation that cheers your soul as you consider His faithfulness to you in the past and take comfort from the justice He will bring in the future.