A Stranger to My Brethren - Psalms 69:8

In Psalms chapter sixty nine David said, “O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from you. Let not them that wait on you, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek you be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face”, and in chapter sixty-nine and verse eight of Psalms David said, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren” where we read,

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

The verse begins, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, ...” David began with the words, “I am become a stranger” or “I, David, have happened, existed and fallen out as a foreigner, enemy and estranged alien” “unto my brethren” which means “toward my, David's, relatives, kinship and kinsmen”. David said he was like a foreigner or estranged alien to his relatives and kinsmen.

The verse goes on to say, “... and an alien unto my mother's children.” David continued with the words, “and an alien” or “and an unknown and unfamiliar foreigner or stranger” “unto my mother's children” which means “to my, David's, own mother's offspring who were David's brothers and sisters.”. David said he was like a foreigner to his own siblings.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how David's own family treated him like a foreigner. Aligning with the ways of God sometimes alienates us from the people who are closest to us. This happened with Jesus as all men forsook him (See Matthew 26:56 and Mark 14:50), and even His friends thought was “beside Himself” (See Mark 3:21). Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (See John 16:33), and He warned about counting the cost for following Him (See Luke 14:25-31). Jesus came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and accompany us even when all others, family and otherwise, forsake us.

Next time David says, “for the zeal of your house has eaten me up”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".