Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 59

Again and again in the Bible, we read that God is for His people. Though not all promises in scripture are for all people, we must rightly divide the Word of God to discern them, many are. Psalm 59 contains promises for the Christian. Listen to the prayer of David in this psalm.

Psalm 59:1-2

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

God is our deliverer. He will protect us from those who rise up against us.

Psalm 59:3-4
For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,  for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!

David was not guilty of the things being said about him in this case. But let us be warned; far too often we make our own bed and then must lie down in it. Often our own sin is at the root of our troubles, so we must be careful in our self-examination. If it turns out we are guilty, then we must repent and seek God’s mercy and grace.

Psalm 59:8
But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.

The world is in rebellion against God and God’s people are under attack this very day. We can find comfort in knowing that God is not impressed with the world.

Psalm 59:11-13
Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!  For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

When David’s enemy came from outside, He knew God would destroy them. But in this case the attack was from His own people. David prayed that God would bring discipline once again to his people so that might be restored and be reminded that God is sovereign over the world.

Psalm 59:14-15
Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.  They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.

Our enemies can be relentless. But David knew who God is and he put his faith in Him.

Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.  O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

David knew that God was faithful. So instead of focusing too much on the enemy, David turned to praise and worship, having faith that God would indeed hear his prayers.

This is how prayer should look. Come to God and make your requests known. Then have faith that He hears and He responds. Let God be God. Our task is to seek Him with all our hearts and souls. Our task is to live by faith.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 54

Psalm 54 is a prayer, a prayer from David as he sought God’s help in saving David from those who sought to destroy him.

Psalm 54:1-2

Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power.  Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

We must take careful notice of David’s appeal. He asks God to save him by His (God’s) name and by God’s power. As Christians, we hold no right or standing to even speak to God, except by the name of Jesus. We can enter the throne of grace only through our baptism, which means identification, with Jesus. And it is only by the power of God that we can be saved.

Who is your enemy?

Psalm 54:3
For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah.

David’s enemies weren’t strangers as we think of the word; they were men from his own tribe. They were strangers more in the sense of being men who had turned their back on him. Maybe you can relate. Maybe it’s an ex-spouse or a former employee. But maybe it’s simply yourself. Most of us are our own worst enemies.

No matter who the enemy is, our mission as Christians is not to respond in violence; it is to love our enemies and pray for them. David had several opportunities to kill Saul, yet he chose to let God handle him. This is our calling as well.

Psalm 54:4-5
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.  He will recompense the evil to my foes; Destroy them in Your faithfulness.

Let God be the avenger. But what if it is yourself who is your enemy? The same principle applies. Pray and ask God to have mercy upon you and let Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit change you. As Christians, we have already been saved from eternal destruction. Shouldn’t that be the reminder we need to thus have mercy upon our own enemies? Shouldn’t we pray for God to save them and thus see the power of God working through His Holy Spirit changing them?

We must humble ourselves before God and let Him be God over all things and every situation. When the enemy threatens, turn to God in prayer. Then praise His holy name, for He is our salvation.

Psalm 54:6-7
Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good. For He has delivered me from all trouble, And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.

It’s about faith. Do you, as David did, have enough faith in God to handle your enemies?

Maybe your real enemy is a lack of faith? Pray for more faith.  

Prayer is the key the Christian walk. David knew that. Be like David.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 35

Psalm 35 is one of the imprecatory psalms. Imprecatory psalms are psalms that contain prayers to God to bring disaster and ruin to an enemy. Some people believe these to be an embarrassment to our faith. To think that is to misunderstand the point of what is happening. It is critical to understand that David is a part of the lineage that will bring Christ into the world and the devil had made it is work to prevent that. When David’s life is threatened; the entire plan of salvation is threatened. Thus, David is not seeking personal revenge; he is praying for the plan of salvation to be protected. David had opportunity to kill Saul and chose to have mercy. David prayed for Saul and his men, and when Saul died, he grieved terribly over his death.

Maybe you are surrounded by your enemies. Maybe you are tempted to pray for their demise. Look over Psalm 35 first. See what David was praying for.

Psalm 35:1-3

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!  Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!  Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”

We do have a God who will fight for us. Romans 8:31 asks this, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” No one can stand against God.

Psalm 35:10
All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

No matter the situation, do as David, ask God to protect you.

David was about God’s work. Or you? If so, then you can know God is going to see His will through. Be patient. Wait on Him. In the meantime, spend time praising Him as David did.

Psalm 35:17-18
How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!  I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

The truth is, most of our problems are not from serving God, but are of our own making. We don’t live in obedience to God and then we want Him to fix our mess. Relationships are a classic example. The Bible warns us, yet we get involved with the world. Then we want God to bring judgment on others. This is not what David was praying for. Listen to the close of Psalm 35.

Psalm 35:27-28
Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

“Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”  Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

Delight in God’s righteousness and live in it. Trust in Him to protect you, but when you stray from His will, don’t be surprised when He disciplines you.

As to our enemies? Let God handle them. I leave you with more from the letter to the Romans. Let it guide your prayers.

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do this and God will be for you.