Hovering over a couple of verses in Psalm 119 and chewing on where the songwriter turns when he’s all dried up; where he goes when there’s nothing left in the tank and the tank itself is starting to crack under the pressure.

My soul longs for Your salvation;
I hope in Your word.
My eyes long for Your promise;
I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten Your statutes.

(Psalm 119:81-83 ESV)

The psalmist is desperate for some saving (v. 81a). His eyes “grow heavy watching for some sign” (MSG) that the promises of God are really real (v. 82a). He’s at the point of asking God the “When?” (v.82b) and the “How long?”(v. 84a) questions. His enemies persecute him so relentlessly that he wonders if he can go on any longer (v.84b, 87a). They incessantly try to bury him, and he is not sure he can continue to endure. By his own admission, he is like a wineskin in the smoke.

Hung to dry within an ancient tent heated by fire, the wineskin is shriveled and blackened with soot. And, unless it is again filled with life giving liquid, it is in danger of cracking and crumbling beyond being useful. So too was the songwriter. Parched — if not physically certainly emotionally. Vitality ebbing. Sensing that his flexibility and adaptability to keep on in his current circumstance is almost at an end. So, how does he cope?

My soul longs for Your salvation;
I hope in Your word.
My eyes long for Your promise;
I ask, “When will You comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten Your statutes.

(Psalm 119:81-83 ESV)

I hope in Your word . . . I have not forgotten Your statutes.

If all you can do is hold on for dear life, then hold on to the word of God.

That’s why daily time in the Word is so important. Not just to check a box, but to establish in the “good times” a solid grip on where hope can be found when things are looking hopeless. To lean on the habit that reminds again of the promises. When you’re dried up and dying inside, to know that place where you can interact with the living God (1Tim. 4:10) through a living Word (Heb. 4:12) to find some living water (Jn. 7:38).

Who hasn’t known, to some degree at least, what it might feel like to to be a wineskin in the smoke? But it’s in that dried up, thirsty condition where the word of God can be experienced as life-giving refreshment.

Word of God speak! Word of God refocus! Word of God replenish! Word of God revive!

By His grace. For His glory.