Reading: Psalms 52-59
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company (Ps. 55:12-14).
David trusted utterly in God. To David, God was much more than a religious figurehead. He was his Creator, his Lord, his Savior, and his dearest Friend. David reached out to God at all times. He took his feelings directly to the Lord, whether happy, sad, content, troubled, or overwhelmed. He praised His holy name in good times and bad, secure in the knowledge that God’s righteousness would prevail. David’s relationship with the Lord stands as an example for us all. Nothing in our lives is inappropriate to bring up before the Lord. If a thought, feeling, situation, or experience is relevant to us, then it is relevant to our Creator.
In Psalms 55, we find David deeply troubled. He is heart-broken over the revolt led by his son, Absalom. His son's actions caused him distress, but given their complicated family history (II Sam. 13 – 14), he probably was not overly surprised by the assault on his kingdom. What did surprise him was that Ahithophel, his friend and most trusted adviser, had joined Absalom. Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only (17:1-2). Not only had he joined him, but he also had sought permission to personally execute David. This betrayal was almost too much for David to bear. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest (Ps. 55:6). As David poured out his heart to God, he expressed his deep disappointment in the hypocrisy and treachery of this one whom he called mine equal, my guide.
Despite his momentary desire to flee, David knew running and hiding would not bring him the peace he sought. Instead, he committed his sorrows to the Lord and trusted solely in Him as he had done from his youth. He had assurance that his God could sustain him in every trial and would accomplish His purpose for his life. Therefore, he concluded the psalm by saying: Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved (55:22).
David spoke out of the realization that those seeking his downfall were, in reality, opposing God. A millennia later, Jesus faced the greatest personal betrayal of all in the person of Judas Iscariot, one of his closest friends. As servants of our mighty God, we should also be prepared to endure the disappointments, deceptions, and betrayals of those who seek to work against Him.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:18-19).
Thought for Today: There is nothing we can tell God that He does not already know, thus attempting to hide things from Him only deepens our guilt and sin.
Christ Revealed: As the One who saves those who will call on Him (Ps. 55:16-17). And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21; also Rom. 10:13).
Word Studies: 53:3 filthy = corrupt; 55:4 sore = grievously; 55:9 divide their tongues = bring confusion to their counsel; 59:10 prevent = go before.
Pray For:Our Nation and Military Worldwide • Country: Solomon Islands (609,883) South Pacific Ocean • Major Languages: Melanesian Pidgin, English, 120 Indigenous Languages • Religious Freedom • 73.4% Protestant; 19.6% Roman Catholic; 2.9% Other Christian; 4.1% Other/None/Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Pray to the Lord with sincere lips (Ps. 17:1).
Optional Readings: I Thessalonians 3