“Cast your burden upon the Lord”
[Psalms 55]
The world makes us to carry heavy burdens on our minds gradually. This world can only give us anxiety, worry, sadness, and pain. But we Christians are laying down heavy burdens before the Lord continually and enjoying the peace that the Lord gives us. But somehow it seems that we are not good at laying down our heavy burdens. What do you think is the cause? I looked up the answer in Pastor Lee's book, ‘Putting it down’: ‘Satan, who is the master of the world, tempts us to keep having it and to keep holding it.’ I agree with this statement. Satan's work is constantly tempting us to ‘hold on.’ And among the things that Satan tempts us to hold on are 'past baggage', and hurt, pain, bitterness, anxiety, and worry that are heavy burdens on our mind.
But the Bible 1 Peter 5:7 says: “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Our God is the God who cares for us. According to Psalms 139:17-18, God loves us so much that His precious thoughts toward us are more than sand. Therefore, we must lay down all our concerns to God who loves us and cares for us. And we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow. The reason is that tomorrow will care for itself and each day has enough trouble of its own (Mt. 6:34).
According to Psalms 55:22, the psalmist David says: “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” I want to mediate on Psalms 55 under the title “Cast your burden upon the Lord” and receive God’s grace.
First, what was the burden of David?
There are two things we can think of:
(1) David's burden was "restless."
Look at Psalm 55:2 – “… I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted.” The Hebrew word for “restless” here means" bush "(Park Yun-sun). Dr. Park Yun-sun said that the word “restless” is used here because it is caused by complicated and confusing mind like a forest and thorny bush" (Park Yun-sun). What was the reason David was restless? Look at verse 3: “Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me.” David was restless because of the oppression and persecution of his enemies.
I am sure everybody has experienced restlessness. Shakespeare in the Great Britain said, ‘Restless is the enemy of life.’ A person with a lasting restless cannot be happy and enjoy his or her life. Restless can hinder health and shorten life and makes human beings unable to concentrate on new creative work. The measure of happiness is not in wealth, but in how much power do we have in order to overcome restlessness. A poor life without restlessness is more valuable than a rich life that is buried in restlessness. Aesop said, ‘A piece of bread that is eaten with relief is better than eating so many foods in a feast with restlessness’ (Internet).
(2) David's burden was' anguish heart'.
Look at Psalms 55:4 – “My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.” Not only David’s heart was in great pain due to his enemies’ oppression and persecution but also he felt the danger of his life. That was why he confessed that “Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me” (v. 5). If David had wings like a dove and he would fly away and be at rest. In a word, David’s heart was so heavy that he wanted to escape the present situation. David saw violence and disputes in the city, and suffered heartache because of sin, debauchery, malice, oppression, and deceit (vv. 10-11). In addition, David's heart was restless because of the betrayal from his friend. Look at Psalms 55:12-13: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend.” The deep wounds of David's heart were betrayed by his close friend who had walked in the house of god in the throng and had sweet fellowship together (v. 14). This good friend betrayed David by putting forth his hands against those who were at peace with him and violated his covenant (v. 20). The mouth of David’s friend was smoother than butter, but his heart was war, and his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords (v.21).
Second, how can we cast our burdens to God?
David cast his burden to God in prayer. Look at Psalm 55:1-2: “Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Give heed to me and answer me ….” David cast all his heavy burdens to God in prayer. He cast his severe painful heart to the Lord in prayer due to his restlessness in his evil and sinful situation. In particular, he cast all his painful heart from the betrayal of his friend to God. Why did David cast all his heavy burdens to the Lord in prayer? The reason was that he believed only God could save him. Look at Psalms 55:16-17: “As for me, I shall call upon God, And the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.” David set three times a day at evening, morning ant at noon, and cried out to God. He poured out his restlessness, hardship, and pains to God in prayer. The reason was that he was confident that only the Lord is his Savior.
Prayer is an expression that we are relying on God. In other words, those who rely on God pray. The psalmist David cast all his heavy burdens, restlessness, and severe hardships of his heart to God as he trusted in Him (v. 23). We must cast all our heavy burdens to God in prayer as we trust in Him.
“Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted? Tell it to Jesus, Tell it to Jesus;
Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone. Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that's well known; You've no other such a friend
or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone.”
(Hymn, “Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?”)
Lastly, what happens when we cast our burdens to God?
When we cast all our burdens to God in prayer, God gives us two blessings::
(1) God sustains us.
Look at Psalms 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; ….” David also confessed in Psalms 54:4,” God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” These two words tell us that David was convinced of God's help in the present threat and crisis as he remembered the past experience of God’s help in his tribulation. As David remembered the past grace of salvation, he was convinced that if he cast all his heavy burdens to God then He would sustain him (55:22). What was the result? Look at Psalms 55:18 – “He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who strive with me.” As a result, David enjoyed the peace that God gave him. We, like David, cast all our heavy burdens to God in prayer. In doing so, God will sustain us and will keep us in peace in our hearts.
(2) God never allows us to be shaken.
Look at Psalms 55:22 – “… He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” When we cast all our burdens to God in prayer, not only that God hears our prayers and sustains us but also He doesn’t allow us to be shaken. But those who don’t fear God (v. 19) and who don’t turn his wicked way, God will bring retribution by bring them down to the pit of destruction (v. 23). But those who rely on God will never be shaken. Look at Psalms 21:7 – “For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.”
One of the songs I like to sing is “I Must Tell Jesus”: “I must tell Jesus all of my trials, I can-not bear these burdens alone; In my distress He kindly will help me, ….” This hymn was written by Rev. Elisa Hoffman. One day one of his church member came to him and asked, ‘What should I do? What am I supposed to do with my heavy burdens?’ After listening to his complaint for a long time, Rev. Hoffman prayed earnestly for him to the Lord of Consolation to work in his heart. After the prayer, he made a bright face and confessed: ‘Yes. I should tell my heavy burdens to Jesus, instead of bearing them alone.’ After he left, suddenly the inspirational Rev. Hoffman began to write a poetry of hymn: “I must tell Jesus all of my trials, I cannot bear these burdens alone; In my distress He kindly will help me.” This was how this hymn was born (Internet).
I heard my father singing this hymn at his mission field. At the time when my father encountered troubles in the mission field, he sang this hymn vigorously during the Morning Prayer. On that day, God gave us a way to escape from danger. Our God is the God who carries our heavy burdens. So let us cast all our heaven burdens to Him who cares for us. Let us cast our restlessness, our worries and our severe pains in our hearts to God in prayers. Then God will deliver us. And God will sustain us, will give us peace, and will make us strong so that we will never be shaken. Let us cast all our heavy burdens to God!
Living and experiencing the grace of salvation of my Lord Jesus Christ who carried the burden of all my sins and died on the cross,
James Kim
(Casting all my burdens to the Lord in prayer)