Scripture: Psalm 88:3-4
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help…
Thought for the Day: Have you ever visited Sheol? For many, that is a strange word. Some translators have translated it as hell, but that is a lousy translation. It describes the pit where the dead were buried, often a mass grave of sorts. It was a dark and ominous place, but dark and ominous for the living…not for the dead. The idea of Sheol would often be used in figurative ways throughout scripture to speak about hopelessness or despair. So the answer to the question is YES, we all have been to Sheol. We have all, at one time or another, gone down in an emotional pit, but the scriptures remind us that it is not beyond hope. As Psalm 139 tells us, “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.” It may feel as if we have fallen beyond the reach of God, but no such place exists.
Prayer: Let me find life and hope and peace in you, O God who will never let me go beyond the divine reach. Amen.
THINK ABOUT GOING THIS SUNDAY
TO VISIT
After the 11:00 service
