Psalm 74 – Don’t be afraid to return to God

The title tells us that Psalm 74 is a miskil of Asaph and has teaching value. No other information is given by the title. A scan of the content of the Psalm tells us that the temple was being invaded by enemies. This probably took place at the beginning of the Babylonian exile under King Nabuchadnezzar, when Jerusalem was destroyed. This Psalm was a national lament where the speaker was speaking on behalf of the nation. Asaph would have died before 586 BC when the Babylonians seized Jerusalem. Attributing him as the author could simply mean that the choir he once led sang this song, or that this was written by one of his descendants.   

Broadly speaking, the Psalm has two distinctive parts. In verses 1-11 we see the statement of Israel’s destruction. He specifically talked about the destruction of the sanctuary. Then in verses 12-23, the Psalmist voiced his hope for Israel. He was sure that the Lord would intervene because of the past experience they had, where the Lord had intervened. Thus that confidence engendered the boldness in the petition recorded in verses 18-23. He sought the Lord’s intervention on behalf of the nation.   

The circumstances of the Israelites at this point in time must be excruciatingly painful. They sorely felt the destruction of the temple. But what’s worst was the feeling of abandonment by God. The Psalmist reminded the Lord of their covenant relationship and the unique bond they had with Him. He recollected how God’s great and supernatural signs protected them. Not able to endure the painful sight any longer, the Psalmist interceded for the Lord to come to their rescue.  

Verses 1-11 describe the deplorable state Israel was in. The temple was desecrated and burnt to the ground by the enemy. The prophets of the land had disappeared and vanished completely. And no one had any clue how long they had to endure this state of ruin. In verses 12-17, the Psalmist reminisced God’s past deliverances of Israel and stated his confidence that God still had the power to deliver again. He not only appealed to the fact that God’s honor was at stake, but that He had the power to do so based on what the nation had experienced in the past. He recalled how God brought them out of their bondage in Egypt and opened the Red Sea for them. He also recalled how He destroyed the pursuing army of Pharaoh who were covered by the sea. The destruction of Leviathan was talking about the defeat of Egypt. Furthermore, in their wilderness journey God had provided water for them and even dried up the water of River Jordan to enable them to cross into the promised land. The Psalmist was sure that just as God had power over nature – the seas, the luminaries in the sky, the seasons - He certainly had the power over all of Israel’s enemies.

The Psalmist was led to offer the second prayer in verses 18-23. He reminded the Lord of how the enemy had reproached and blasphemed His name. He begged God not to forget His people nor deliver them over to their enemies. Here he also reminded God of the covenant they had with Him and pleaded with Him to hear their prayer. His desire was that they would not be put to shame because of their prayers went unheard by God. The Psalmist asked God to consider their daily reproach and not to forget the voice of the enemies that rose against Him. In this Psalm, we are again reminded that God’s arms are not too short that He cannot save. Neither are His ears too dull that He cannot hear. Even if our circumstances are the result of our own making, God is compassionate and will hear our petition for help. He is far more gracious than we can imagine.  We can still come to Him and be assured that He will abundantly forgive and mightily deliver.  When we are up against the threatening circumstances, remember to flee to the ever secure refuge of God through earnest prayer.  

Psalm 73 – Factor God into life

Asaph, from the family of Levi, was a choir leader in God’s temple. This is revealed in 1 Chronicles 15:19 and 25:1-2. Besides him there were Heman and Jeduthun. David, we are told in 1 Chronicles 16:4-5, placed Asaph in charge of the sacred music before the Ark, in the tabernacle that he had erected in Jerusalem. According to 2 Chronicles 29:30, Asaph had established himself and was ranked with David as one of the great singers of Israel. Psalms 72-83 and 50 were attributed to him. It was likely that he had composed them and sang them as well.

Psalm 73 begins the book three of Psalms. Asaph, the author, seemed to be affected by what he saw was the prosperity of the wicked. When he thought of how the wicked had prospered, he wondered if there were any advantage in being righteous or living righteously. As he contrasted the lives of the righteous with that of the wicked, he became self-absorbed and started to pity himself. But then, as he factored the Holy and Sovereign Lord into his life, he had a change in attitude. From that perspective, it dawned on him that being righteous and living righteously certainly had more advantage than being wicked and living wickedly.   

In verses 1-14, Asaph described his perplexity. Here, Israel represents the people of God. And though he knew for sure that God was good to His people, yet when he looked at how prosperous the wicked were, he was baffled. The wicked were obviously living life without considering God, yet they seemed to be flourishing much better. Not only were they healthy and strong, but were also free from the troubles that plagued ordinary people. Besides, they were full of pride, yet seemed to be blessed with wealth in abundance. Furthermore their mouth oozed with arrogance and they had no qualms in leading the righteous astray. Asaph was stumbled by what he saw. He envied them, and came close to joining them. He saw no advantage in righteous living.

He would have been untrue to God and his people had he allowed his presumptions to lead him astray. He would have been a stumbling block to others. The great difference he had was when he came into God’s presence, and saw everything from the perspective of his relationship with God. It was then that he had a change in attitude. Like him, if God is not our focal point, we too will conclude the same way. Verse 17 tells us that he saw new light when he came into the sanctuary. In other words, in God’s presence, he was enlightened. True enlightenment always begin when we connect with God. The place to be truly enlightened concerning life is in the presence of God. Asaph came to the realization that the ground the wicked was standing on was precarious. They would be punished in death and would have to face God ultimately.

In verses 23-26, the Psalmist turned to talk about the bountiful reward the righteous would have in this life and the life after. God would hold them in His right hand and guide them with His counsel. And they would find strength in God. Everything clicked for the Psalmist when he encountered God. That connection led him into a deeper hunger and desire for God. He knew that nothing could truly and deeply satisfy outside of God. He realized that a departure from God would spell death, but drawing near to Him would be life indeed.     

Like the Psalmist, the temptation we face are real and enticing. Human being, even saints, face the common temptation to envy the well-off. But this Psalm tells us that when we place God in focus, we will be fortified against the temptation of the wicked. When we resolutely take our stand with God, we will find strength to resist the temptation and enticement of the world and evil. His Spirit will help us to stay the course of life and find our ultimate reward in Him. Life will never be lived in vain when God is at the center of our life. Let us serve Him and keep heed of His instruction!

Psalm 71 – God will see us through life

The title of Psalm 71 did not indicate who the composer was, but it tells us that this is the prayer of a man advanced in age. In fact, it says this is the prayer of an old man for deliverance. The progression of the Psalm can be seen in the man first making his petition in verses 1-4. In his opening words, he expressed his great trust in the LORD. It was not something that just happened. It was a trust that had long been there and will continue to be there. Verses 5-8 re-enforced that lifelong trust he had in God. He reiterated the fact that he had trusted the Lord all his life. A quick scan of these verses reveals how he and the Lord had a wonderful trust relationship. They communed often and God was his hope and trust. He saw his very existence was God’s design. God, he said, was the one who saw to his birth and sustained his youth. Besides, God was also his refuge and had been the subject of his praise and honor.

In verses 9-13, we see the words of his petition. He had a desire to experience God’s continual sustenance. For there were accusations and innuendos that God had forsaken him. He refused to be cowed. How did he do it? By rejecting the negative inputs of those that were against him. Instead of being influenced by the negatives, he chose to focus on the positive. He was constantly rehearsing God’s goodness, and placed his hope in God. Then he sang praises to God and spoke of His righteousness. One other thing he constantly did was to recall and remind himself of the marvelous things God had done for him since his youth.  

This Psalm tells us that so long as we are living, we will encounter all sorts of experience – pleasant and unpleasant. Whether young or old, we will face all kinds of circumstances. There is no exemption for any one in any age. The difference though is that this Psalmist knew who his refuge was, and placed his trust and hope in Him and so must we. What should we do when we face negative talks and insults concerning our faith? This Psalmist teaches us not to feel abandoned. We should instead put our confidence in God, trust Him and continue to praise Him. God is faithful and will remain faithful. He will vindicate us.

This is one orientation we all must have. God cares for us. From infancy His unseen hand had led us through to where we are. Now that God cares for us had been revealed through our knowledge of Christ Jesus, we should be inspired to trust Him even deeper. Remember that so long as we are on life’s journey, we should expect to encounter both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. We can expect to be maligned, misunderstood, and even persecuted. Bear in mind that the Lord will always be our refuge and strength. He will never abandon us and He is not about to start. He will definitely see us through, right through our old age. Praise His name!

Psalm 70 – Seeking God in prayer is better than fretting

Psalm 70 is a repetition of Psalm 40:13-17. David must have repeated it from Psalm 4o for a specific situation in the worship. It’s almost like taking a part of a hymn and sing it for emphasis. In this Psalm we can sense David’s urgency. Ten petitions were made in five verses. He was asking for God to hasten to his deliverance and bring retribution to his enemies. This song, like Psalm 40, was addressed to the choir director. The title tells us that this was to be a memorial, it was probably to bring the singers to remembrance before God as they sang this song. 

  

In verse 1 was David’s prayer for personal deliverance. We can sense his urgency. Four times in this Psalm he urged God to come to his rescue quickly. As He asked God for quick deliverance, he also petitioned that his opponents be dealt with. He asked God to cause them to turn back. And also petitioned that they would be confused and shamed.

David then exhorted the righteous in verse 4. He admonished them to rejoice in the Lord and to magnify Him. We are reminded that through circumstances that may be tough, we must also not forget to rejoice in the Lord, and to seek to magnify Him. He then rounded up in a prayer for deliverance. Notice he addressed the Almighty with two terms. He called Him ‘God’ taken from the word Elohim, and then called Him “LORD”, the covenant name of God. He knew that God would be his best helper and deliverer in time of dire needs.

Like David, we must make it a point to come to God, especially in times of great need and trouble. Never allow our trials to sink us into deep despair. Instead transform those tough moments into prayer so that we can encounter God. And as we pray and wait on His deliverance, we should just rejoice in Him, seeking to magnify Him moment by moment. “Rejoice always” I Thessalonians 5:16.

Psalm 69 – Living to honor God

Psalm 69 is another song attributed to David who had written it for the choir director. It was to be sung to the tune of Shoshannim. The theme of this Psalm is on unjust suffering. Hence several verses of this Psalm had been quoted by the New Testament to depict how unjustly Jesus was treated. In John 15:25, Jesus quoting verse 4 said that the people hated Him without a cause. In John 2:17 we are told that after Christ had cleansed the temple of Jerusalem the first time, His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 that said, “…the zeal of the Lord had consumed me.” In Romans 15:3, Paul quoted the second half of verse 9 to encourage the believers to emulate Christ and bear the reproach of their brethren. Romans 11:9-10 Paul also quoted verses 22-23 to show the reticent state of the nation of Israel, and how that led the Lord to consider the plight of the Gentiles. Acts 1:20 the author, in referring to the outcome of Judas Iscariot and his possession, quoted verse 25. So we can see that while David was talking about himself and his experience, there were moments that he seemed to be referring to Christ. And at other times he was referring to Israel and even to Judas Iscariot.  

Broadly speaking, this Psalm can be divided into two broad headings. David’s desperate prayer for help in verses 1-28 and the salvation promised in verses 29-36. David began by describing his dire situation in verses 1-3. He then went on to give what he saw was the possible reason for his affliction and described them in verses 4-12. That led him to petition to God in verses 13-18. In his petition he prayed to God with hope, trusting Him to intervene. In verses 19-21 he then rehearsed the troubles that assailed him. He narrated how his enemies had shamed him and brought dishonor on him. He was so heartbroken and weighed down with heaviness as he was left bereft of all comfort. David then call for vengeance on his enemies in verses 22-28.

Then as David looked forward to the future in verses 29-35, he was confident that God would deliver him. So he praised and thank God. He was certain that all the righteous would be encouraged by his deliverance. David had always trusted the Lord and knew that God had a great plan for His land and people. He was confident that God would save Zion, and the cities of Judah would be rebuilt, and the people would finally stay in those cities.    

In afflictions we must learn to commit ourselves to God so that we will not be overtaken by bitterness and sink into despair and resentment. This Psalm tells us that David was wrongfully hated and the words he used to describe his plight referred more to Christ than to himself. Our Lord was hated by the very people He came to love. He did not retaliate to what was hurled at Him. We must remember what Peter had said in his letter to the early Christians. “He (Christ) has left us an example that we should walk in His steps.” Like Him, let us not allow the unjust treatment we receive at the hand of others to get us down. Especially when we are seeking to honor God in our life. We must stand on the truth and live rightly. Let’s not be afraid of what others may think of us as we stand firm in God. Let’s live to honor Him!

Psalm 68:19-35 – The invisible God made visible

Psalm 68, as we have said, was composed by David when the Ark of the Covenant was relocated from the house of Obed-edom to Mount Zion. This Psalm underscores the blessedness of having the presence of God in the journey of life. Though Bashan was formidable in the sight of all the people, yet God chose to reside in Mount Zion. Verses 15-23 tell us that from there God protected His people and blessed them bountifully. In the Bible, Mount Zion has become a symbol of God’s presence. His presence is what we must seek. A day in God’s presence is certainly better than a thousand elsewhere.   

When we come to verses 24-27, David began to describe the procession when the Ark was moved. It was a glorious sight to see the entrance of the Majestic Lord with the Ark into His Sanctuary. The procession was preceded by singers and followed by musicians. Zebulun and Naphtali, two tribes from the Northern Kingdom, and Benjamin and Judah, two tribes of the Southern Kingdom, were mentioned in the procession. They represented all the tribes of Israel, the descendants of Jacob. All of Israel was admonished to bless God.    

Verses 28-35 contain their desires. The first one from verses 28-31 expressed the desire for God’s continual deliverance of His people. The Psalmist expressed the desire for God to strengthen His people. As God dwelt in Jerusalem and His dominion established, kings from other lands would come offering their gifts. He would bring into subjection the strong and aggressive forces represented by bulls and calves, both national leaders and people, to come and submit and to pay tribute to the Lord. Then He would scatter all who delight in war.

The second desire in 32-35, calls for the Lord’s reign to cover the whole earth. The whole earth is now admonished to sing praises to the Lord. The significance of these desires re-iterate firstly, that God had chosen Israel and established His rule over them. And then through them His blessing would flow to all the earth.  Secondly, these desires also reveal to us the personhood of God and give us a greater understanding of who He truly is. Sprinkle throughout this Psalm we see Him being addressed as The LORD. This word appears in capital letters because it has been translated Yahweh, the covenant name of God, (v4), the Almighty (v14), God (v16), the Lord God (v18), God the Lord (v20)

This Psalm brings together praises, prayers and thanksgivings. It is a reminder of the rich heritage of God’s people. It tells us that our Lord God cares for His people. And that He is the Majestic God who rules and reigns over the universe. What a wonderful thought to know that the Sovereign Lord of the universe is reigning over us. We, the church, must be the visible expression of His invisible reign. We must be the channel through which the great things seen among us will visibly express His invisible presence among us. What a glorious privilege!   

Psalm 68:1-18 – The presence of God is a great blessing

Psalm 68 is a long song penned by David. There is no superscript to tell us what led to the composition of this Psalm.  However, it is widely believed that the historical event that led to the writing of this Psalm can be found in 2 Samuel 6:12-18. This was when King David had the Ark of the Covenant moved from the house of Obed-edom to place it on Mount Zion. This Psalm narrates the pageantry attached to that momentous moment, but more importantly, it tells us of the importance of having God’s presence in our life and journey.  

Verses 1-3 introduced the procession. The Ark as we know represented the presence of God among His people. The relocation of the Ark from Obed-edom to the new location demonstrates God’s continual blessings on His people and the defeat of the enemies of their nation. In verses 4-6 the Psalmist called on the people to praise the majestic Lord who cared for them, especially the needy. God is described as a Father to the fatherless and a defender of needy widows. He took care of the lonely and ensured the liberty of the prisoners or the oppressed. However, the rebellious would have their just dessert. They would end in a parched land, a picture of bankruptcy of the rich experiences of life.  

In this Psalm, we see the relocating of the ark, set in history of all that God had done for His people in the wilderness wandering, and the entrance into the Promised Land. Verses 7-10 narrate what happened during the Exodus and the wandering. God did not just delivered them from Egypt, but He also journeyed with them. He provided everything that they needed. He was in reality their leader who led them all the way. At Sinai God manifested His power, and that very mountain quaked at His presence. It was here that He entered into a covenant relationship with His people. They experienced plenty of rain in their journey, and had their fill of refreshment over and over again. God simply took care of everything. How wonderful it is to walk with God and be led by Him.

In verses 11-14, the Psalmist described the time when God settled His people in Canaan. He brought them their victory over the Canaanites. The kings of the Canaanites fled before them because God was on the side of His people. Their blessing overflowed. So much so that even the women - their daughters and wives of the Israelites - had plenty from the spoils of war that their husbands would bring home. Besides, as God’s people they were given peace and light - peace represented by the dove and light represented by the snow in verses 13-14.

The Psalmist tells us in verses 15-18 that Mount Zion was God’s choice for His dwelling. He preferred it over the mountain of Bashan with its many peaks. As formidable as Bashan with its many peaks might appear to be, it was nothing in comparison to Zion, the choice of God. No wonder Bashan was described as envious of Zion, the place God had chosen to make His dwelling place. Zion had always been a symbol of God’s presence. This Psalm suggests to us that the key to a truly rich and blessed life is one where God’s presence is felt. No matter how plentiful one may have, nothing comes close to the experience of God’s nearness in one’s life.

Verses 17-18 picture the triumph as the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. The relocating of the Ark was attended to by angels, and all the booty of wars secured through David’s conquest. God is pictured here ascending His throne in the Sanctuary prepared for Him. And there He would dwell in the midst of His people and reign from His throne, and distribute the booty of war to His people. Simply put, God dwelt among them. Paul also quoted these two verses in Ephesians 4:8 to refer to Christ’s victorious resurrection and now He lives to bless us in life.  

God’s presence is everything in life. Just as the people of Israel needed the Ark, a picture of the presence of God in their midst, so also we must have His presence in our life. Just as the presence of God brought them tremendous victory, God’s presence in our daily walk will also ensure our victory. We need to cultivate His presence in our daily walk. Remember the Holy Spirit is given to be with us, and Christ Himself had promised us, saying, “Lo, I am with you to the end of the ages!” What a blessing! 

Psalm 67 – Blessed to be a blessing

Psalm 67 is a Psalm of thanksgiving to God by the nation of Israel. This anonymously written song to the choir director was to be sung with the stringed instrument. Here the Psalmist articulated the gratitude of God’s people to Him and also expressed His assurance that God would continue to bless them. Verse 1 begins with the declaration of a portion of the Aaronic or priestly blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-25. It is a declaration of the desire that God be gracious to His people and bless them, and causes His face to shine upon them. The Psalmist asserted that when the desire of this declaration is fulfilled, God’s ways will be known to the earth and His salvation made visible to the nations. Though God has a unique relationship with Israel, He is nonetheless the Almighty God, the One who owns heaven and earth and the nations. His blessing of Israel is a harbinger of what He could also do for the rest of the nations.

In verses 4-5, the Psalmist then calls for the people to praise this great God. He exhorts and urges the whole earth to sing for joy and worship Him. This God will not only judge with fairness and uprightness, He will also be a guide to the nations of the earth. This Psalm promulgates the promise God had made in the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12:1-3. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants, and that through them the rest of the families of the earth will be blessed. When Israel is blessed the whole earth shall be blessed.

Verses 6-7 state with confidence what the Psalmist had said in verses 1-5. He knew that God’s deliverance of Israel will demonstrate to the nations that He indeed is the Sovereign ruler of the universe. This will trigger the rest of the earth to praise Him. The nation of Israel is God’s chosen and unique vessel. A key to the world’s recognition of the Sovereign God is locked in the salvation of Israel. When God saves Israel the world will recognize Him as judge and shepherd of the nations. When Israel is blessed the attention of the world will be aroused. They will see in the history of Israel, the Sovereign rule of God. The church today is an extension of the Abrahamic covenant. Like Abraham, we are now the channel of God’s blessing to the world. So we, whom God had drawn to Himself through Christ Jesus, must corporately fulfil our calling to be the channel of God’s blessing to the world.     

Psalm 66:13-20 – Being grateful is the right response to God’s goodness

In the first 12 verses of Psalm 66, the Psalmist first exhorted the people to come and praise God, then showed why God deserves to be praised. He rounded up in verse 11 and 12, saying that trials and affliction are designed to polish and purify God’s people, so that like silver they would be refined. Though difficulties and troubles like fire may scorch them or like water may overwhelm them, the intention of God has always been to bring them to the place of abundance ultimately. 

Having experienced the goodness and deliverance of God, and saw His intention for His people, the Psalmist promises to offer sacrifices to God. He would go to the temple to make lavish offerings of thanksgiving to God. It is one thing to be blessed but quite another to be grateful to Him. Troubles in life may bring about anger with people and even God. If left undealt with, it may become deep seated resentment with time. Hence the best way to prevent that is to live a life of gratitude. Being grateful begins with a heart of thanksgiving. In bringing his offering of sacrifices, the Psalmist was responding to God in gratitude. 

In the earlier verses, the Psalmist called the people to come and see, now he calls them to come and hear. It is one thing to experience the goodness of God and quite another to tell and proclaim them. Whatever wonderful experiences God had granted us should be turned into occasions to speak of His goodness. God intents for us to praise Him every moment. We must praise Him in private but we must also declare His praise in public. Hence like the Psalmist, let’s make it a point to declare the praises of God both in private and in public. In verse 18 we are taught to keep short accounts with God. We must learn to confess and seek forgiveness the soonest we discover our wrong. By not dealing with sin we cannot expect God to hear us. Verse 18 is the Psalmist way of testifying that He had kept short account with God. He testified that there was nothing that came in the way between him and God. He had cleared the path for God to swiftly answer His prayer. This we must also learn to do, so that we can experience prayer answer and the lovingkindness of God. 

This Psalm teaches us to be grateful people. The blessings of God should beckon us to be thankful for all that He had done for us, and to ensure that between Him and us there is no barrier. Let’s keep short accounts with God, as well as cultivate an attitude of gratitude.          

Psalm 66:1-12 – With God we can expect triumph

This Psalm addressed the choir director although the author is not known. Psalm 66 is one of the fifty other Psalms that is written anonymously. However, the title tells us that it’s not just a Psalm but also a song. This means that it was to be sung accompanied by instrument. The key theme is to extol God for the enormous deliverance.

This Psalm opens by admonishing the whole earth to praise God. Without denial God is worthy of praise. This is the Psalmist assertion. He calls for all to make a joyful noise to the Lord, meaning we should openly express our praise and thanksgiving to Him. His name is to be sung gloriously. God’s name represents His entirety. It is the total revelation of Who God is. Not only should we praise Him, we should make the praise glorious.  This God is great and powerful and there would be enemies who would never take Him seriously. Although we are not where God had purposed the whole earth to be, yet we are assured that all the earth will ultimately worship and praise Him, and exhort His glorious name.

In light of the greatness of God, verses 5-6 invite everyone to come and see His works. It’s a call to submit to this great God. These verses reminisced the scene in Exodus where the people crossed the sea on dry ground. And it was Him who had dried up the water of the sea so that His people could walk across it on dry land. The works of God reflect His greatness, thus His people should rejoice in Him. God is still on the throne. He rules now and will reign forever by His great might. And He will keep His people within sight. Hence everyone, including His enemies, are urged to submit to Him.

Then in verses 8-12, the Psalmist turns to exhort the people of God to bless Him and to make His name known. He has been and will always be the God that sustains His people. He makes sure that the feet of His own will not slip in tumultuous times, tough circumstance may be there with their destructive intent. But with God’s help, they will not destroy but toughen us. The circumstance may try us, but with proper response we will become refined silver. Or as Job had said, “When He had tried us, we shall come forth pure as gold.” In the face of multiple hardship, God had never forsaken His people and He is not about to forsake us now. The trials may be oppressive, the opponents may seem to have won, and the unpleasant experiences may be relentless and varied. Troubles like fire may seem to scorch, or as water that overwhelms till we are almost drowned. Yet, ultimately God will bring us into a land of abundance.  

God is worthy of all our praise and worship. Whether congenial or uncongenial, we must praise and worship Him. These we must do daily and consistently. We would not allow the circumstances in life to wilt us. Focusing on God and trusting Him will triumphantly lead us into God’s place of abundance. He never fails!           

Psalm 65 - Divine favour for God’s chosen

Psalm 65 is a song by David written again for the choir director. He wrote to express his gratitude to God for the blessing of rain and harvest. Perhaps we, who are not in the agricultural background, may not fully comprehend how important rain is to people whose livelihood depends on it for harvest. Rain is a picture of tremendous blessings of God in this context.  

In this Psalm, David helps us to see how gracious God truly is in verses 1-4. He is magnanimous. He is the One who chooses us and draws us to Himself. He is a God of integrity, One who makes vows and fulfils them. In Him the transgressors can find forgiveness. And everyone, whom God blesses and makes His own, will be overflowing with blessings.  

In verses 5-8, David tells us that our God is one whose character could be seen through the forces of nature. He made the majestic mountains and established their strength and might. He alone has the capacity to calm the roaring sea and wave. What turmoil are there in man that He cannot control? The answer is obvious – none! What He does through the forces of nature invites us to stand in awe of Him! The signature of His greatness are in the majestic sunrise and sunset that provide us ample reasons to live joyfully for Him. The degree we enjoy life and find victory, in both the pleasantness and unpleasantness of life, is determined by our willingness and ability to see the hands of God in each moment of our life.         

In the closing segment from verses 9-13, David shows us how God has enriched the earth. He brought the rain to ensure the grain. He gave the dew and the rain, and brought enough moisture to prepare the ground. Then He sent the rain to water the seeds and ensures the bountiful in the season of harvest. He left His people in the path of blessings and plenty. And in the word of the Psalmist, they drip with fatness. The picture shows us how vast are the blessings of God. They literally cover every aspect of man’s sphere. They bring us many great moments of unspeakable joy.

God’s magnanimity has granted us access to Him, and it would be insensible not to lavish in His generosity. It should make us want to come to Him in prayer. As His choice people, we are greatly blessed. It would be desirous for us to seek Him and enjoy the privilege of His presence. More than enjoying the blessed plenty He has blessed us with, He wants us to gratefully trust and enjoy Him.   

Psalm 64 – Seeking divine protection from slanders

Psalm 64 is another Psalm written by David. Like many of his other Psalms, this one was written for the choir director also. Neatly this poem divides itself into two parts: verses 1-6, he appealed to God against the schemes of the wicked, then in verses 7-10, he envisaged the wicked being reckoned.

The flaw of the wicked certainly centred in their speech. There is real potency in what a person says. Hence we are told in the book of proverbs that life and death lies in the power of the tongue. And the wicked always major in death speeches. So David knew the potential havoc it could create. Here he complaint to God about it and asked to be protected from those malicious slanders. He described the words of his enemies as sword and arrow – sharp and piercing. Their slanders would be let loose on the blameless covertly and relentlessly without any fear. Every word was firmly rooted in evil intention, as well as thought out schemes, set up to ensnare and trap the blameless. What David was saying was that the depth of their wicked intent could not be fully fathomed. They had hardened heart and conscience. We can safely conclude that at the depth of the being of the wicked, they do not consider or factor God into their equation.     

Verses 7-10 show us the contrast effect that would happen to their wicked schemes. David knew with certainty that God would act just as swift and would bring about appropriate judgment. He would thwart their plans and bring them to naught. They would be frustrated by their own tongues. The righteous would rejoice and make God their refuge and find their glory in Him.

     

We all know the potential of slanders but we cannot prevent them. Very often they are spoken behind our back. Our surest protection is God, so we can tell Him about it. He has the capacity to frustrate every malicious lie spread about us. In fact those who speak those falsehood against you may find their words coming back to roost. This Psalm teaches us to trust God to conceal us, and keep us from the impact of those malicious lies. God will help us to triumph over them.

Psalm 63 – The value of silence and solitude

Psalm 63 was written by David while he was in the Judean wilderness. There were two periods of his life when he was leading a fugitive life. One was during the reign of Saul, who felt threatened by David’s popularity and so sought to kill him. He was forced to flee for his life. This account could be found in 1 Samuel 23. The second time, found in 2 Samuel 15, was when his son, Absalom, rebelled against him in seeking to usurp his throne. This Psalm was more likely written when he was running away from Absalom.

The uniqueness of this Psalm is that David did not petition God like his other Psalms. Instead, he talked about his yearning for God and his confidence in Him. We see him overflowing with thanksgiving despite the fact that he was in dire situation. Here we see the expression of longing for renewal; expression of trust; and gratitude, and expression of hope. His enemies were only mentioned cursorily in passing.

He started off by seeking God in the arid desert of Judea. Having been driven from his palace, David could have lamented and wallowed in self-pity. Isn’t this what a lesser person would do? But not David. He chose to look beyond the desert land to the God of wonders. To him the desert was a perfect place for solitude and silence. It became his sanctuary. Taking the advantage of the quiet surrounding, David set his heart to focus on God. Instead of thinking about his condition, he thought about God. In the quietness of the wilderness, he actively sought to connect with God. He sought God. He sought to experience His power and glory. He was assured of God’s loving-kindness, and concluded that to experience it would be much better than life itself. What is life without the nearness of God? It’s so true that without God, life is devoid of meaning, as St. Augustine had said, “Lord Thou has created us for Thyself, and my heart is restless, till it finds its rest in Thee” So in God’s presence, David was richly nourished in his soul, such that joyful praise for God just would not cease.

David thought about God all the time, even in his bedtime. His mind just gravitated toward Him. “The watches of the night” is a reference to the three periods of four hours each, when watchmen would be assigned to go about the city guarding it. He, like the watchmen, vigilantly watched for God and what He wants to say to Him. He thought about God the whole night, and recall his goodness and help, and thus experienced absolute security. As he abandoned himself totally to God, he anticipated God’s judgement on his enemies. Graphically, he saw their tragic end. He saw how they would fall by the sword or be hunted by foxes. And their malicious mischiefs brought to a halt.  

This Psalm points us to the important disciplines of silence and solitude. If we long to hear God more clearly there is a necessity to cultivate a listening ear and an attentive heart. The world is full of noise. The curse of our day is hurry, busyness and boisterous   sound from the furry of activities. They often cloud out our ability to hear God’s voice. This song appropriately calls us to a retreat, to come before God in quietness, silence and solitude. As we wait in quietness, we will find strength in His perfect peace. Here’s how Isaiah 30:15 puts it, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.”                

Psalm 62 – God is our sure security

During the reign of David, he had set aside Levitical singers to preside over the music in the Sanctuary. In 1 Chronicle 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 5:15, the leaders of these singers were named. They were Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, who was also known as Ethan. In Psalm 39, Jeduthun was first introduced and he would again be mentioned in Psalm 77. This Jeduthun had sons who were set aside to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals.

David now writing Psalm 62 to the chief musician specifically mentioned him. The occasion for this Psalm is uncertain but we know from the content that David was undergoing severe trials. It could well be during Absalom’s rebellion when he was hotly pursued, pressurised and maligned by those who were against him. Despite the trials and hardship, his one message affirms what we already know: God alone is trustworthy, and in Him there is perfect security in time of troubles.   

In Psalm 62, David again began by expressing his explicit trust in the Lord. Hence, despite the turmoil without, he could wait alone silently before God. He was deeply assured that God was the solid rock, his salvation and stronghold that could never be shaken. Truly, it’s hard to stay still when one is going through relentless attacks. Yet the best posture is to stay silent and wait on God. Stillness and serenity can only be experienced when there is deep trust and confidence in Him. And David demonstrated that. How about us?

It’s awful to be maligned. Their words outwardly and their inner thoughts of David, were incongruent. They would bless him with their mouth but curse him inwardly. They conspired to get him down. But he knew how to encourage himself in the Lord. The first thing he did was to wait upon God. He knew that it is the only secure thing to do. He placed his hope in God. He recognized that He was his only hope. He was the rock, his salvation and his sure defense. Anchoring on Him, would be hard to waver in the midst of great turmoil. Having established his trust in Him, David also told his followers to trust God as well. It would be foolish to put trust in men, or unrighteous riches.

David’s assertion is that God’s power can never be equalled. Besides, He is also loving and kind. These truths about Him cannot be disputed. If we truly want to be secure and have definite help in time of need, we must come and wait on Him. So in our tough times let’s be still and silently wait on Him. He is trustworthy and it is His desire to help and see us through.  

Psalm 61 – Let’s build our confidence in God

David is the composer of Psalm 61, which he had written for the choir director. This is a song to be sung with the string instrument. The historical background can be found in 2 Samuel 15-18. These were David’s fugitive years when he was driven from the palace and throne, by his own son, Absalom. In this Psalm David recalled the covenant and the promises God made to him and Israel. As always we shall see the godly response of David when confronted with overwhelming dismal circumstances in life. Like him, our response to God when faced with an adverse circumstance will reveal the depth of our relationship with Him. David had shown himself to be a person who had learned to trust God deeply in the tough circumstances of his life. In it we also see a deep inner desire for God and his protection.     

David opened with a cry for help in verses 1-2 and then went on to display his confidence in God. This is clearly shown in verses 3-7. Then in verse 8 he made a pledge to stay loyal to God. It’s David’s usual practice to start with prayer and end in praise. When we start praying, we will be able to see the hand of God. We will even sense God’s enablement to see us through the tough fight. When we realize how near God is and how willing He is to help us through, this will be a great reason to praise Him.

Without a doubt, this Psalm also tells us that God is near. As His people we have the freedom to draw near to Him anywhere and anytime. It’s great to know that He is ever ready to pour out His grace over us. He wants to see us through our difficulties and will lead us to the firm Rock that is higher than us. And Christ undoubtedly is that Rock. He is our sure shelter and anchor in life. When the billows of life’s adversities seek to toss and turn our lives upside down, we need this ever sure Rock on whom God had given us, to establish our foundation in the Christian journey. Let’s never forget that Christ is the solid Rock we must stand, because all other grounds are sinking sand. 

Remember that after pleading with God, there must come the confident trust in Him. It’s needful to come to God when we have difficulty in navigating over the rough terrains of life. But when we come pleading, there must be a display of confidence and clear resolution to remain faithful to Him. Yes we can cry to God for help. And no matter how far off He may seem to be, we remain faithfully trusting. For He never fails in a single promise He has made. And He never will!      

Psalm 60 – Victory is assured when we align with God

Psalm 60 is another mikhtam, a golden Psalm of David, composed for the choir director. It was composed for the purpose of teaching his people. The superscript tells us that it was set to Shushan Eduth. This is probably the tune that this Psalm was set to be sung in. The two names Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, are likely to be two Syrian commanders that led their forces against David and his army. While David was engaged in the thick of battle, he had news that the Edomites invaded the southern part of Palestine. He then quickly despatched Joab, his commander, with some of his forces to ward off the attack. In the ensuing battle, Joab was believed to have killed 12,000 of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt. For more detail, read 2 Samuel 8:3–14, 1 Kings 11:15, 16, and 1 Chronicles 18:12, 13

The Psalm began with an accusation that God had rejected them and caused their defeat. The implication was that God had forsaken them, so they lamented over their defeat in the battle. Verse 9 tells us that it was at the hand of Edom that they had just suffered a defeat. Feeling abandoned by God, they complained to Him about it. Disappointed as they were, they knew that God would nonetheless help them again, so they prayed to Him seeking His help. They had the boldness to ask God to change His attitude and grant them victory over the enemies. 

So in verses 1-4, we see a description of the situation the nation was in. In verse 5, they sought for an answer in prayer and asked God for help. Then in verses 6-8, we see an assurance of victory from God. But we hear their whining again in verses 9-10 before they prayed yet another time for help. Verses 11-12 expressed their confidence that God would answer their cry and come to their rescue.

This Psalm tells us that God will do for us, His people, what no one else can do. When we suffer a setback, don’t jump into any conclusion. We should take time to reflect and think through the possible cause of the setback. God never allows a thing to happen to us without His intended lessons. Be open to learn and allow God to take us through. Hence we should stop whining or complaining. But be driven to seek God and His presence and find our breakthrough again.    

Psalm 59 - God is our security

Psalm 59 is another mikhtam written by David for the choir director. It is again to be sung to the tune of Al-tashheth. The title tells us that David was being watched by men sent by his father-in-law, King Saul. They were watching over him seeking for an opportunity to finish him off. 1 Samuel 19:1-17 give us the detailed background to this Psalm. He felt his life was threatened by these men whom he considered his enemies. So he prayed to God. He presented his petition to Him, interspersing it with lament and expression of trust and confidence that God would answer his plead. Again we find imprecatory elements in his prayer, where he cursed his enemies and asked that they be destroyed. While he talked about his enemies, he also took time to praise God. In verses 5, 8 and 11, David’s mention of ‘the nations and my people’ suggest that he was already king, though this fact cannot be ascertained.

In this Psalm we find him first pleading for protection from his enemies, then went on to describe how duplicitous and underhanded his enemies were. He was led to plead to God to discipline them. David started by asking for deliverance and protection, and insisted that he was innocent and had done nothing to warrant their attack. He insisted that what the enemies was doing to him was unjustified. They had even laid an ambush to trap him so as to take his life. These were fierce men with ill intent. In verse 5, David reminded God that He was the God of Israel. As He helped him, God must also help his people fight against the nations that came against them. This verse had led many to conclude that David was already king at this point.  

 In verses 6-7, the enemies of David were likened to a pack of dogs that scavenged the city in the evening. Using figurative speech, David suggests that they were unrestrained in their condemning words. They hurled insults and threats at God’s people. David likened their malicious words to a sword that could kill. It’s true that words could be just as cutting as a sword. No wonder we are told, ever so often in the Word, to be careful with words. We are to be gracious with words, and what’s even more important to take heed is: to be slow to speak and quick to listen.

While wearied of the attack and the struggles, David also expressed his confidence in God. He was assured that God would defeat his and Israel’s enemies. He knew the steadfast love of God would cause Him to come to meet with him and save him. David was assured that God would come to the rescue of His people for His own name’s sake. So that all the world would know that He had always been Israel’s ruler and protector. In verses 14-15, David returned to the narratives of the enemies as a pack of dogs that returned to scavenge the city. However, their attempts would be futile and they would be making all kinds of needless noises.

David on the other hand, would focus on God and praise Him, and sing of His goodness and faithfulness. God was His sure security. We, like David, may be unjustly persecuted. But we must always remember that God has the capacity to deliver from any and every one of them. He will never fail us. His great mercy and power are ever poised to be unleashed on us, to ensure our safety and security. Hence it would be insensible not to look away from our troubles so that we can focus on God and praise Him instead.  

Psalm 58 – Trust God to act rightly

Psalm 58 is another golden Psalm or technically known as a mikhtam. This term, as we have said earlier, suggests that the content is so valuable that it’s worth engraving on some materials that were more durable so that the song will be preserved. The superscript also tells us that it was to be set in the tune of Al-tashheth. This word could well be the opening line of a song that was known and this Psalm was to be sung with the same tune. 

The opening clearly shows that the Psalmist was praying against unjust judges. The term “gods” is probably a cynicism. They were probably referring to rulers who acted as if they were gods. What is said about them tells us implicitly that their judgments are simply not trustworthy. In verses 1-5, David states his indictment against them and show why and how they were wicked. He began by deriding their judgments, saying that they were unrighteous and they exercised violence. Then he made comment on their character, using a series of hyperbolic exaggerations. The intention was to prove a point, to say how rotten they were from start to end. They were wayward even before they came into being. And from the moment of their birth they would speak falsehood and be led astray. Like poisonous snakes they kept spilling out venom and like a cobra that would not listen to its charmer, but instead turned a deaf ear to sound counsel. 

From verses 6-9, David’s prayer became imprecatory. His prayer began to denounce the wicked, pronounce a curse upon them and asked that they be punished. David literally asked God to act against those unjust judges. They were described as ferocious and nasty as young lions. He wished for their teeth to be shattered and broken so that they would not be able to devour. They were like relentless and uncontrollable flood water rushing to destroy everything in its path. So David asked God to avert their flow so that they could do no harm in its relentless flow. He also saw them as people armed with what looks like lethal arrows, but asked God for their arrows to be without a head. David also asked God to make them move at a snail pace and be melted away as they moved along and also made them to be like still born children. Basically David seemed to be asking for their plans to be aborted. So that no harm could be done.

Some of us may feel uneasy and wonder: does this kind of prayer collide with Jesus’ teaching on loving one’s enemy? Bear in mind that for us human, our revelation is progressive. We can see better from hindsight. In the absence of Jesus’ teaching on holistic love, David’s feeling was justified. Anyway, we are not in David’s shoes and have not experienced the pain, heartaches, anguish and turmoil, hence we are not qualified to make any judgement call concerning the way he had acted. Would David have done better had he been exposed to Jesus’ teaching? This is hypothetical, we don’t really know. Only God knows! Let’s just obey what our Lord has taught us.

The last two verses give us a ring of victorious assertion that God will vindicate and He will definitely judge the wicked. And when God does that, His judgement will be instantaneous and thorough. Verse 9 tells us that even before the material used for the fire is burned up, the pot would already have reached a boiling point. This is a picture of how swift and rapid God’s judgement would be. Besides that, it would be like a whirlwind – thorough and complete. When God’s judgement falls on the wicked, there will be cause for the righteous to rejoice. They will rejoice because the wicked will no longer be around to torment them. The judgement of the wicked will prove indeed that God is righteous and just. Take comfort that we serve a righteous and fair God. No wickedness will go unpunished. And no righteous living will go unrewarded. Whatever suffering we bear now, God will make it up to us. Let’s choose this day to live for Him and serve His cause!

Psalm 57 – Don’t gripe, praise and rely on God instead!

Like Psalm 56, this song was also a cry for help during David’s life as a fugitive. He was running away from Saul whose leadership was threatened by David’s popularity. As the previous Psalm, he had also written this one for the choir director and had set it to the tune of Al-tashheth. This is also a golden Psalm as indicated by the superscript that tells us it’s a mikhtam of David. The historical setting once again can be read from 1 Samuel 22-24.

While both Psalms 56 and 57 began with the same cry for mercy, Psalm 57 concludes with a note of triumph. David exploded into a time of praise and thanksgiving. He praised God for His faithfulness and lovingkindness. He also praised God for being a God of truth. Here He extolled God who is exalted forever, whose glory hovers over the earth. Both verse 5 and verse 11 are the refrain. David began with a prayer in verses 1-4, followed by the refrain in verse 5. In the second stanza from verses 6-10, David celebrated the defeat of the enemies and then burst into great praise for the faithful God. And concluded with the refrain in verse 11.

The troubles that David were assailed with were like storms. They were fierce, dangerous and relentless. They could have swept him into destruction. Had it not for the shadow of God’s wings which he entered in and took refuge, and hiding from those storms. This same shadow of God’s wings can be our refuge in the time of our own storm. He is our hiding place where peace would be ensured. David had a clear perspective concerning the storms that came upon his life. In them he saw God’s purpose. So he prayed for God to accomplish all things to him. He was asking for God to bring to pass all that He had designed for his life. It is rare for one to see the purpose in a storm. But David did, and so must we. Storms are not there to break us, they are there to build our trust and horn our reliance on God. Although God’s plan may include stormy circumstance, let’s be reminded that it is always good and it’s the best. Why? Because it always flow out of His love and faithfulness towards us.

Instead of wallowing in misery, David encouraged himself, to station himself in a time of praise. He spoke to his inner being and told it to be awakened and break forth into praise. Like him we should praise God because He is faithful and merciful. His faithfulness and lovingkindness are immeasurable and boundless in capacity. They enlarged and expanded from heaven to earth. Where should we put our focus in times of trouble? David refused to look outward, He chose to reach inward, harness his strength and then look upward to the faithful and merciful God. From what he did, we must also not focus on the adverse, choose rather to reach in and harness our inner strength and then reach upward to God and trust Him to grant us a breakthrough. After we have prayed, just continue in praise and thanksgiving, in anticipation of His deliverance!  

Psalm 56 – In God we trust

David wrote this Psalm for the choir director. It is a mikhtam, a golden song. Psalm 56 is one of the six mikhtams among the Psalms. It is considered a precious composition that’s worth engraving the content on something durable, so as to preserve the song. The emphasis of David in this Psalm was God, who is more than able to take him through his misery. The title also tells us that it was set to the tune of “Jonath-elem-rechokim.” This phrase literally translated means, “the silent dove in distance lands.” In this song David celebrated his return from expulsion, from places where it was necessary for him to be at, temporarily for respite and relief.

The backdrop to this Psalm could be found in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. In that chapter, we are told David was a fugitive running away from King Saul. He had a meeting with Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, who gave him consecrated bread for sustenance and Goliath’s sword for protection. Having left him, David came to Gath, a domain of the Philistines, ruled by King Achish. For fear that his life would be threatened, David feigned madness and managed to escape from the crutches of the Philistines. Bear in mind that the Philistines was Israel’s key enemy at that time. Having escaped from Achish, David wrote this Psalm. While he talked about his enemies, his emphasis was on God who was His confidence. He attributed his safety as coming from God who was there with him, to protect him. In this composition, we see a contrast between the threats from his enemies and the sure reliability of his faithful God. He saw his life being watched not only by his enemies but also by his faithful God, his ever sure protector. With that David then confidently stated his assurance of his upcoming deliverance.  

In the face of fear, David chose faith in God, and in the face of destruction, he chose to believe in God’s deliverance. Those perspectives elevated his attitude and armed his mind for triumph. No wonder David could live a life of trust and thankfulness. When facing the storms of life, we too have choices in making decisions concerning them. We can either live life out of fear of the wind of adversities, or a life of faith in God. We can focus on the coming destruction or the sure deliverance of God. Whatever our perspectives, what is most needed is to build a life of trust and thankfulness to God, who alone is ever so reliable. What’s our perspective? Let’s start emulating David’s perspective today. Regardless of how fierce the storms of our life, let’s choose faith in God. Let’s see the deliverance of God. And let’s live a life of triumphant trust and thanksgiving!  

Psalm 55 – Facing our uncertainty with God

Psalm 55 is another maskil of David written for the choir director. The indication in the superscript was for it to be sung with the stringed instrument. The substance of this song clearly shows a prayer of a person that was undergoing great duress. The Psalm tells us that David was betrayed by a friend and besieged by enemies. There is a strong suggestion that at this point he was recalling what his son Absalom did to him, at the goading of his once close associate, Ahithopel. More details of the rebellion of this wayward son and the mischief of his once counsel, Ahitophel, can be found in 2 Samuel 15-18.  Here we see David’s swelling emotion as he described the ill intent and betrayal of people whom he thought were friendly. He had trusted them yet it turned out that they did him in. He described them with deep anguish and disappointment. Disappointed as he was with them, he was glad to have a faithful God whom he could show his confidence. He was glad he could abandon himself to this God and trust His good will toward him.

In this Psalm, we see three clear definite things David did (1) he made his petition to God; (2) he expressed his anguish over his enemies who came against him but more disappointed was he with a friend who turned out to be a betrayer; but (3) He expressed his complete trust in God despite being disappointed with his so-called lowdown friend. In verses 1-8, David expressed the troubles that confounded him. He described those people that came against him. They disliked him intensely, spoke ill of him, acted against him and plotted his destruction. David also spoke about his deep anguish and fear that overwhelmed him. He even expressed his fear of death and wished he could find a place to hide.

In verses 9-15, David turned to denounce those that came against him. David could understand if they were people whom he had offended in the past and had come against him. What was disappointing to him was among his opponents was someone he considered a friend, who had shared meals and fellowship with him. He was deeply hurt that he should now come against him. And he was greatly affected by him. Perhaps some of us who have had similar experience can vouch for David that the feeling is truly deeply hurting.  Let’s be vigilant in our friendship with Jesus. We must be sure not to betray Him for the friendship of the world. Let’s have Jesus anytime.

While David talked about his opponent, He also talked about his absolute trust in God. Like him, we should call upon God and find His deliverance. Our God won’t mind listening to the honest expression of our fear and anxiety. This God we have come to honor and worship is eternal, the unchanging one, who had been on the throne and will be on the throne forever. We can cast our burden on Him and as the Apostle Peter had said in his letter, “He cares for us.”  And we can be assured that, “He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Remember that we have a great friend in Jesus whom we can bring everything to in prayer. Life journey will be frayed with uncertainties. Close friends may even betray us at times. But take comfort for we have a friend in Jesus who sticks closer than a brother. He will walk with us through thick and thin. Praise His glorious name!     

Psalm 54 – Trusting God to vindicate all wrongs

Psalm 54, a maskil by David, finds its setting in 1 Samuel 23. The superscript makes clear that the composition was written when David learned of the betrayal of Ziphites. David was a fugitive at this point and was being pursued by Saul. He sought refuge among Ziphites, who later told Saul of David’s where about in the village of Ziph. Prior to all this, David had actually delivered Keilah at the guidance of God. This was a little border town. Doubtless to say, David who had done good, and yet had to experience betrayal, was difficult to swallow.

It’s worth noting that despite their betrayal, Saul was not able to accomplish his mission to apprehend David. In fact in 1 Samuel 24, we find how the tide had turned. Saul was in a cave and within the reach of David, who could have killed him. But he chose to spare him on account that he was the Lord’s anointed. David had learned to respect the Lord’s timing. David’s first response on hearing of the betrayal by the Ziphites was to pray for deliverance. As always he was also very sure that God would hear his prayer. Here he also promised to give thanks for his deliverance. He was devastated emotionally. So in his discouragement he prayed. From this Psalm, we take courage and like David, we should surrender our difficulties to God and trust Him fully when we are maligned.   

David’s opening words implied that he had explicit confidence in the Lord. He knew that God had the capacity to shield him. Here he asked to be delivered from two groups of people: the people that betrayed him and the aggressors that were hunting for him.  He knew that his only recourse was God, and the way to enlist Him on his side was through prayer. So he prayed. The Bible makes clear that God has given prayer as a channel for us to enlist His help. This David knew in practice early in life. Like David, we should cease fretting and start praying. We should make it part of our solution in the encounters of life.  

Verses 4-5, David shows us that praying is just one part, trusting and being fully confident that God would intervene is another. David did not just mouth prayer without the accompanying trust and confidence. Our prayer would be meaningless repetition if we come to God in prayer without believing that he could and would act on our behalf. God will not only help us in our situations, he will sustain us while we are waiting for His intervention. We need to remember that we have a faithful God. Verses 6-7 show us the best way to respond after we have made our request before God. We should just give thanks and gratefully anticipate God’s breakthrough moment. When was the last time we prayed to God in our crisis? Like David, let us make prayers our first option and not our last resort!