David uses words like deliver, protect and save in the first few verses of this Psalm. He is petitioning the Lord to take care of him. What impresses me, however, is the choice of words. David didn’t say “show me the way” or “guide me”. His petition is to the one who can protect, save and deliver. I think about a mother and her infant inside of her belly. She delivers the baby, she protects the baby and if anything goes wrong, she would save the baby. Why? Love. There is nothing that baby has done in life to deserve that mother’s love. The baby hasn’t taken care of the mother, hasn’t provided for her or given her gifts. This baby is only seconds old and yet the mother will do everything in her ability to protect and save that baby. It is no different with the Lord. Well, the only difference is that the Lord loves us even more than a mother loves their newborn baby!
LORD God of hosts, … God of Israel. This is interesting. Why these choice of words? I think David was giving praise to the Lord and referring to Him as the one true God, the Creator of the entire world. Then, after declaring Him to be the Lord over all of creation, he brings it back home — personal. The God if Israel. It really is impacting to think — LORD God of the universe, LORD God of me. We have a God that is the true God of the universe but cares about each and every one of us individually. Mind boggling!
Impact Verses:
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast lovewill meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
God is my Strength and my foundation. He provides everything I need including protection. He doesn’t act simply like a bodyguard but like a fortress! A fortress is a huge building that has multiple forms of protection and are typically very different to defeat. Our God is the unbeatable fortress! Yet, He cares enough about me to let me enter His house and be protected by Him. He loves me enough to let me know that I have a refuge, a save haven, where I can go. Not only that, but in my obedience, He will help me triumph over evil! He will let me triumph over evil when when I am not obedient simply because He is a merciful God full of grace and love. As men, we don’t possess these same traits — especially in the ever-present way of the Lord. He doesn’t hold a grudge and He doesn’t judge me any differently than anyone else. I thank the Lord that He loves me enough to show me this kind of leadership and this kind of love.
At first, I wanted to turn away from this passage and not focus on it during my quiet time. Why? It is harsh. It stings. It was a clear message from David to the leaders of the time. In verse 1, David states that he is speaking to gods. I assume that this would be the earthly leaders of the times. He then tells them that they are not judging correctly but that they have deceit and evil in their heart. Why am I any different? I have the same deceit and evil in my heart. If I think about my earthly “jobs” in this world: husband, father, employee, etc. I question if David was not talking directly to me here. Why is it that I often times feel comfortable sharing too much information with one person but don’t want to tell another anything? Is it my trust for these people? If so, why? I know that they are human and they are bound to make a mistake — it’s just a matter of time. I am not different. If anything, I am worse! How do I change my behavior so that God’s precepts are the guiding principles in my life? I go back to the same things I have be harping on lately — I need to pray more often and I need to spend more time with God. By doing these two things, I will become more connected with God and understand what He wants me to do, not what I think I should do.
Impact Verse:
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
God will reward the righteous. He does judge the earth — both the living and the dead. I need to be walking next to Him. One day, as I approach the Great White Throne, I will have to get an account for my life. Do I want to do that in tears or rejoicing because I celebrated Christ and His victory over death?
David is praying for the Lord’s mercy. He knows that it is only through God’s mercy that he can be saved. His enemies are chasing after him and he is scared. He asks for the Lord to protect and shelter him. He takes “refuge” in the arms of the Lord. Likewise, I must do the same. Instead of trusting in myself or in my strengths, I must trust that the Lord is always working. He has a great plan and it is my job to be obedient to Him. To do that, I need people in my life holding my accountable and challenging me.
David cries out the Lord, the Lord who “fulfills His purpose for me”. Why does God do that? Why does he fulfill His purpose for me? Why is He thinking about me at all? God uses people as His instruments. We are simply devices for Him to use as He sees fit. When He uses us, broken people who are prideful, arrogant, insolent people, He receives the glory!
David was surrounded by sinful men. He knew he had nothing but evil people around him who were attacking him (physically, mentally and spiritually) every chance they could get. He didn’t rely on his strength, his friends, his armies or anything else of this world — David relied on God. He wanted God’s glory to shine through because he knew he couldn’t do it. God showed up in a big way for David and delivered him from his enemies. David sings praises to the Lord and thanks Him for His amazing love.
Impact Verse:
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He is the God Most High. He isn’t just any god. He is the one true God. He reigns on high. He is control of everything all the time and yet He still cares about us. More specifically, He cares about me. He has a purpose for me and will fulfill that purpose in His time. To imagine that the creator of the world has a plan and purpose for me is humbling! Do I know what that purpose is? Have I asked? Have I listened to the Lord when He is trying to tell me or am I too busy to listen? I have to pray and ask Him to reveal to me what He will. I feel very compelled that He has something huge in store for me, I’m just not sure what that is right now. I don’t listen very well to Him so I have to work very hard on that (especially as I am at a major crossroads as far as my church and work goes). He knows exactly what I should and shouldn’t do. I need to ask Him and listen for the answer. Don’t be in such a hurry — be still and know that He is God.
David starts out talking about the grace of God. While I could write for a long time about grace, I think it important to recognize what David is saying here: God, give me your divine blessings that I am unworthy to receive and protect me from man. Man is evil and attacks me all day. David is a man. God shows favor to those who are in His family — to those who walk closely with Him.
When I am a afraid, what do I do? Do I put my trust in the Lord to provide for me or do I immediately think that I have to handle the situation? It is a complete lack of trust in the Lord that results in our fear of failure. Just like the Children’s Ministry at HCBC Hutto, everyone knows that I can’t do that — God has to show up in a big way! Sure, my bride is there, but she is just like me — a sinner. We will still make mistakes but if we trust in the Lord, He will provide us with wisdom, clarity and direction on what we need to do. It is amazing to know that the Creator listens to me!
Impact Verses:
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:4)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:10-11)
Trust in the Lord for everything! Trust in His word to provide everything we need. He has everything under control, perfectly. What can man do to me? People who think that the world revolves around them put themselves on a higher “plane” that the Lord. That’s just not accurate. We are broken. We are arrogant and prideful. We are not compassionate or loving. God is our role model for all of these things and yet I continue to struggle following His example.
Trust in the Lord.
David needs the help of the Lord. He knows he is incapable of doing it on his own. It is abundantly clear from this Psalm that David was miserable. He was heart broken that his friend, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15), has been behind much of conspiracy against him.
David cries out to the Lord for His help! He knows that the Lord will hear him and provide for him. David commented that he called out to the Lord morning, evening and noon. This covers the entire day. That means that David was in “counsel” with the Lord (or praying to the Lord) all day long! The next verse is the real jewel of it all though — “and he hears my voice”. The Lord my God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, hears my voice! Why? Why does He care what I say or think? David understood it. He knew the God simply loves each one of us. He will judge each of us according to our lives, but He wants us to be near Him. When we are near to Him, He is greatly pleased.
Impact Verses:
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down
into the pit of destruction;
men of blood and treachery
shall not live out half their days.
But I will trust in you.
If I let the Lord take on my burden, He will take it and support me. God loves me more than I can even comprehend! He is willing to take on my suffering, my pain, my burden. If I am drawing near to Him, I will be able to better understand when I need to give it over to Him. The easy answer is everything! Give everything over to the Lord. The challenge with this is that it is not that easy for me. I need to find a way to listen to Him more closely and be in fellowship with Him. If I am listening (and not too busy for Him), I will be able to let Him support me.