In Psalm 15, David, the psalmist makes a plea to God, “Lord, how long will you ig- nore me? Forever?” In similar psalms, the cry is from a person who “dwells in the dust”.
David questions God, “How long will you look the other way?” “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?” “How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
There are many reasons why people feel abandoned by God and “dwell in the dust”: (1) those who feel their prayers are going nowhere; (2) those who are discouraged with life’s possibilities; (3) those who are going through difficult physical, emotional, or financial stresses; (4) those who feel stuck in a job or family situation from which they can’t escape.
If you feel this way, take note that in the first two verses David is complaining; in the next two he is praying, in the last two he is trusting and rejoicing. By the end of the Psalm David’s eyes are no longer on himself; he is trusting in the Lord. No longer is he dwelling in the dust; he recognizes that God has been good to him.
Don’t let yourself remain in the “how longs” of verses 1-2. Look to the Lord and trust in him, and he will bring you to the point pf rejoicing once again.
(Reverend Gordon)