Listen, O God, to my prayer!
Do not ignore my appeal for mercy!
2 Pay attention to me and answer me!
I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,
3 because of what the enemy says,
and because of how the wicked pressure me,
for they hurl trouble down upon me
and angrily attack me.
4 My heart beats violently within me;
the horrors of death overcome me.
5 Fear and panic overpower me;
terror overwhelms me.
6 I say, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and settle in a safe place!
7 Look, I will escape to a distant place;
I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 I will hurry off to a place that is safe
from the strong wind and the gale.”
9 Confuse them, O Lord!
Frustrate their plans!
For I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Day and night they walk around on its walls,
while wickedness and destruction are within it.
11 Disaster is within it;
violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.
12 Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me,
or else I could bear it;
it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me,
or else I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man like me,
my close friend in whom I confided.
14 We would share personal thoughts with each other;
in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd.
15 May death destroy them!
May they go down alive into Sheol!
For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.
16 As for me, I will call out to God,
and the Lord will deliver me.
17 During the evening, morning, and noontime
I will lament and moan,
and he will hear me.
18 He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me,
even though they greatly outnumber me.
19 God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago,
will hear and humiliate them. (Selah)
They refuse to change,
and do not fear God.
20 He attacks his friends;
he breaks his solemn promises to them.
21 His words are as smooth as butter,
but he harbors animosity in his heart.
His words seem softer than oil,
but they are really like sharp swords.
22 Throw your burden upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the godly to be upended.
23 But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit.
Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan.
But as for me, I trust in you.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 55:1-23). Biblical Studies Press.
Today I bring you the words of the whole of Psalm 55. Numbers often convey meaning in God's word. 5 is the number associated with grace. So here in this Psalm we have a double portion of grace (55)
David starts out this Psalm with a down tone. He projects the idea that there is no way that God could possibly hear him or attend to him.
This is this great man of faith and he is yelling at the top of his voice. "Listen, O God, to my prayer! Do not ignore my appeal for mercy! Pay attention to me and answer me!" Note the exclamation marks at the end of each line.
He then goes on to tell us more as he pours out his heart.
"I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself" David feels as if he is being attacked from all sides. He says "My heart beats violently within me" "Fear and panic overpower me, terror overwhelms me."
David desperately seeks a way out, an easy way out. To jump out of the valley and not walk through the valley. "I say, I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place!"
David goes on to describe how he is being attacked from every conceivable place.
We then hit a turning point in the Psalm where David seems to shift focus from his troubles. "Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me,
or else I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like me,
my close friend in whom I confided. We would share personal thoughts with each other, in God’s temple we would walk together among the crowd." It is with the help of a friend that his focus is shifted, someone with him in the public square and walking in God's temple.
David then continues to change focus, moving it off himself and on to the Lord. He says "As for me, I will call out to God and the Lord will deliver me." Note nothing here has changed. Just the state of mind and placement of focus on the Lord. "During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan,
and he will hear me. He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly out number me." Confidence is in his voice and determination, regardless of his circumstance.
David then starts to send us advice "Throw your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you. He will never allow the Godly to be upended."
David closes the Psalm with the words that so strongly strike my heart. With David I like to assert regardless of my situation. "But as for me, I trust in You."
God fill us with your grace,
fill us with confidence,
and help us to see Your love for us
when all seem wrong around us.
Give us the friends to taunt us
and get our focus back on You.
Give us the strength to let You order our footsteps.
Amen
Music Encouragement I Will Trust In You
1 comment:
Amen, brother! The focus is so important, even critical. This is shown is Psalm 73 as well, "...until I went into the sanctuary, then I understood their end." vs.17. I have been being taken to task in this area alot of late so this was so fitting for me.
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