Psalm 55
How could I read Psalm 55 and not relate? I was struck first by the vivid description of fear. As I copied over the words, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness” (vv.6-7), I remembered several times feeling the same way, even recently. The monster of betrayal, the spectre of fear, or the haunting ghost of wanting-to-escape, can be the close companions of many a Christian servant. These very same evil spirits hounded Jesus, the son of God, until His death on the cross.
12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.
MAINPOINT: God can help you carry your burdens.
Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. v.22
1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Once again I think it is important to focus my attention on God in this Psalm. Particularly the role David (Jesus) expected or hoped God would play in a betrayal situation.
God listens. vv.1-2
We may hear our fears, our enemies and the chaos of life all around us. But we can be sure God hears us and He can filter out all the noise and hear our cry for help.
God gets involved. v.9
We have seen it over and over that the Psalmist expects God to get involved. You can pray asking God to thwart the plans of the wicked. God can stop them. God can “confuse” them. Your enemies may be family or even your own emotions, sins, addictions. God is able to stop them. He can bring their plans to an end. Or He can turn their plans into your profit and salvation. Need I mention Joseph, Daniel, David or Jesus? The cross, the big plan to get rid of Jesus, really backfired. Pray for such a back-firing of evil in your situation and expect God to be bigger than the problem, betrayer, or friend. God gets involved.
God rescues. vv.16-19
Jesus faced such terrible opposition from the very people with whom He discussed God’s word as a child. He most likely, during his annual family trip to worship in Jerusalem, talked to the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees about the word of God. And probably when these same religious leaders visited His synagogue in His village.
And then this is their response when He does good. So Jesus counts on God to rescue Him.
“At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him. One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” Luke 6:11-12
“Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4:11
God rules forever v.19
“God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them” v.19.
God isn’t new to this task. He has not been caught off guard by the sneaky little Judas. God wasn’t bested in strategy by the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees or the Roman authorities. The city, the chaos, the hate, the mess didn’t appear when God turned His back for a moment.
1 Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!
2 Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals!”
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.
5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. Psalm 90
It bears repeating. I am slow to learn and often forget. I need to repeat these truths to my heart daily, like exercise. I’ll never make it through this journey to God if I fail to train. I must train my heart, I must train my mind. I must repeat these truths daily.
When Lyssa and I prepared to walk the Camino De Santiago, we trained regularly. We walked long distances and found whatever hills there were in our area and climbed them. We climbed up and down. Were they mountains? No. Did it help? YES. Train your heart with me.
God saved Jesus. God saved David. God saved Joseph. God saved Daniel. God saved Shadrack, Meshah and Abendigo. God saved Paul. God saved Stephen. God hears. God gets involved. God rescues. God rules forever. Evil does not rule forever. The wicked are like grass. But God is a rock and a fortress.
Betrayal will come. Our worst enemies may have once been the ones we trusted with keys to the house and with whom we shared our most intimate secrets. But they cannot stop God from saving us.
They may come with a kiss that is a dagger for our soul. But they will not be there on resurrection day.
Luke 12
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
 |
| Handwritten Psalm 55 |
Comments
Post a Comment