OT 36

Lord and God,

What do we do when we are like David? What, when your arrows have sunk into us and the burden of our sin we cannot lift and the soundness of our flesh deteriorates? What can we do when we are like Job? What, when the arrows of the almighty are in us, as you say “without reason,” yet surely you have a higher purpose in all you do? What, when light is hidden from those whom you hedged in?

What can we do? Whom shall we seek? Comfort us with the presence of who suffered innocently yet died in sin. Let him say from the cross, I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin,” for he owned ours. Yet let him also say, “But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.” He who knew no sin yet became it suffered both as innocent victim yet as rightly judged and endured. Let us suffer as rightly judged yet innocent in his name. And manifest to us his presence and power to endure our cross and despise its shame.