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PSALM 55 (Todays NIV Version)
For the director of music. With stringed
instruments. A maskil of David.
1.Listen to my prayer O God, do not ignore my plea;
2.Hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3.because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the
wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their
anger.
4.My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen
on me.
5.Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
6.I said, o that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and
be at rest.
7.I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
8.I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and
the storm.
9.Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence
and strife in the city.
10.Day and night they prowl about on it’s walls; malice and
abuse are within it.
11.Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never
leave its streets.
12.If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were
rising against me, I could hide.
13.But it is you, one like myself, my companion, my close friend,
14.With whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God,
as we walked about among the worshippers.
15.Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive
to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them.
16.As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.
17.Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears
my voice.
18.He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even
though many oppose me.
19.God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change – he
will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
20.My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
21.His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words
are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
22.Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you, he will
never let the righteous be shaken.
23.But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days.
But as for me, I trust in You.
OK…. so this is a lot to ingest… but
we will give it our best shot!!This is an instructional Psalm… we
are to LEARN from David’s approach AND his response… so
much better to learn from someone else’s experience than have
to go around the mountain yourself!!
So David is again having a challenge of a day… and one of
the worst it seems, as he encounters betrayal from a friend.When
trust is broken, in whatever form this takes, this always brings
about great disappointment… especially from someone you love.
The first five verses here describe the anguish David is feeling….
I know that betrayal actually makes you feel very alone, and very
vulnerable. You can hear those emotions in David’s heart as
he tries hard to put into words what is going on within him.When
he says “I am distraught”… this actually means, ’confused
like a demoralized army..’ He wishes nothing more than to fly
away… on the wings of a dove… (must be a big dove!!)… trying
to find solitude and emotional rest… suddenly the wilderness
looks appealing to him!!I guess it is comforting to know that David,
one of the spiritual giants in the word, also faced REAL challenges,
and had to make right DECISIONS when feeling like running away!!!
David then throws himself into leader mode…. He is challenged,
but remembers how God dealt with Babel (another arrogant city)… by
exploiting the divisiveness of evil.He also prayed like this when
Ahithopel, David’s counsellor and friend became the trusted
counsellor of Absalom who was attempting to dethrone his father… (2
Sam 15 -17).IN MY TYNDALE STUDY NOTES, it says… David’s
personal trials make way for his public concern. This is God’s
city, whose walls should be the reassurance of His people… not
the parade ground of rebels and terrorists, and whose marketplace
should be above reproach. This prayer is on strong ground.
David gets very personal in verses 12 and 13…. as he describes
the feelings of broken trust, and experiences great grief. I’m
sure many of you have experienced this… and it is so easy
to start to build walls of protection around yourself so you don’t
get hurt again… but this is not the way forward, for this
action only stalls what you eventually need to do…
trust again.
I’ve had great revelation over the years… that even
if I am betrayed…I can still confidently climb the mountain
of the Lord… clean hands and pure heart are the prerequisites.
And no one can make that decision to live like this other than me.
No betrayal can steal that from me…. only I can allow it to
be stolen from me through my reactions.
In Numbers 16:30… Moses had called for proof that in resisting
him the rebels of his day were resisting God… and this is
how David is looking at his circumstance.
Well, I think it is always good to remember in the face of trials,
that when the enemy drives God’s servant to prayer… the
enemy has outstripped himself!! This is the turning point of the
Psalm as David says in verse 16… as for me, I WILL CALL UPON
THE LORD… what a breath of beautiful air to breathe… when
you are confident that God Himself is at work on your behalf.
The last seven verses are that of the psalmist we know and love… and
again his mourning is turning to rejoicing as he stands on the truth
that he IS NOT alone, and that God is in control. Even if it feels
the enemy is nipping at your heels…. Rebuke him… and
trust in the God of your salvation.CAST your burden on the Lord… it
requires a large action… to cast requires strength and focus…CAST
IT… for HE cares for you. Sometimes it is too easy to forget
this truth… GOD CARES FOR YOU… selah on that!!
And lastly and triumphantly… David states that he will trust
in the Lord… “I WILL” is actually what he declares.
Suddenly, the “I WILL” is emphatic… dismissing
the preoccupation with the enemy. Only two parties are needed… you
know the saying…
two’s company, three’s a crowd!!! If God is for you,
who can be against you!!!
Love you so guys… STAND STRONG in your DEVOTION and COMMITMENT…
I am in Adelaide and Perth this week ministering… see ya soonish!!!Darls |
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