Promptings: Spiritual Poverty
Scripture Reading — Psalm 69
The poor will see and be glad—you who seek God, may your hearts live!
Psalm 69:32
Psalm 69 speaks to people who may be money rich (or at least financially comfortable) but relationship poor. What good is financial wealth if
people hate you without good reason?
your own relatives ridicule you?
everyone (from town leaders to town drunks) mocks you?
you are flooded with so many troubles that you feel you are drowning?
people give you the vinegar of scorn when you look for sympathy?
That’s the worst kind of poverty a human can know.
Jesus Christ knew poverty to the worst degree. Hateful enemies demanded his head. All his friends abandoned him. Cruel soldiers delighted in beating him. Even God turned his face away from him.
Jesus endured extreme relational poverty. He died with no support in sight.
Yet if there was ever a time when Jesus sought the face of his Father, it was in that poverty. From the sweat–drenched prayers of Gethsemane to his last cry from the cross, the face of God was Jesus’ only focus and hope. And Jesus was not disappointed. His Father raised him up from the grave—to rule over all things.
The prayer of Psalm 69 is now the promise of Jesus.
Father, if I face abandonment or persecution, help me to seek only the light of your face, remembering what Jesus has suffered and that he will be with me always. Amen
About the author — Kenneth D. Koeman
Rev. Ken Koeman is a pastor at Bellevue, Washington, Christian Reformed Church. He has written Today devotions in past years and has also authored numerous articles for The Banner, the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church. Ken and his wife, Kay, live in Bellevue and have two children and five grandchildren.
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