Real Living

Aim: To see how believers' struggles lead to the church's good, and God's glory.

Doctrine: Faithful churchmen go through an array of emotions (in this life). This is because sin renders us miserable, and grace fills us with joy.

Exegesis: The process: from the pits, to glory. Grief rooted in the church's suffering (vv. 1-2b); fear speaks the heart's burden (vv. 2c-3); hope leads to bold petitions (vv. 4-5).

Further application: How God superintends the circumstances of the lives of faithful churchmen: He so arranges Christ's glory to fit our feelings, so that both of them get satisfied.

Key verse: v. 2 ''Therefore the king said to me, 'Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.' So I became dreadfully afraid...''