Monthly Archives: April 2020

PSALM 56

David, King of Israel approximately 1,000 years prior to the life of Jesus, writes vividly of the challenges in his life.  He writes of being captured by a hated enemy, running from the king who preceded him, ignored and even despised by his family. His written prayers are the nucleus of the song and prayer book of Jesus and His early disciples. They learned to pray, in the synagogues of their hometown, by reciting and singing David’s prayers, many of which were birthed in some sort of crisis.

            Psalm 56:3-4 contain an intriguing phrase:

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3–4, HCSB)

‘When I am afraid…I will not fear.’ How does that work? When I am afraid, telling myself to not be afraid increases the fear. Rarely can I ‘talk’ myself out of fear. I find it comforting to know that David, a strong warrior in battle, a powerful military leader who – even prior to assuming the throne – gathered an army, and a prolific writer (at least 14 Psalms are identified as his, while a host of others are often ascribed to him), often experienced fear.

I wonder, did David ‘talk’ himself out of fear? On closer observation the power for overcoming fear is not in David’s self-talk. The freedom from fear is a result of a deliberate choice. In the midst of circumstances that create fear, David chooses to trust God. The Hebrew word translated ‘trust’ in Psalm 56 suggests more than confidence. To trust God, as used in the OT, particularly in the Psalms means to devote one’s self fully to God, to choose to exercise a confidence in God’s presence and power that seems foolish to others, and to choose to look past the present and express hope that the future will be different than the present.

We are living in an era when fear runs rampant. Don’t talk yourself out of fear. Choose to give your fear to God, to devote your time and energy to seeking His presence, and knowing that the future, which is fully in God’s hand, will be different than the present.

The great philosopher Linus, as drawn by Charles Schultz, once remarked, “I love mankind. It’s people I can’t stand.’

All of us have experienced that moment. David expressed his moment in Psalm 55. The specifics aren’t mentioned, but we all know it’s like to have a close friend turn on us. Our instinct, like David’s, is to ‘fly away and be at rest.’

But flying (or running) away doesn’t resolve the issue. Hiding only magnifies the pain of loss. One of Jesus’ earliest followers knew what it was like to both be betrayed and be the betrayer. (You can read about Peter’s betrayal in Luke 22:54-62.) As Peter wrote to believers scattered across the Roman Empire he encouraged them with words similar to words David written in this prayer – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6–7, HCSB).

When hurt comes, pray. Let God hear your hurt, your pain. Let God hear your anger, your anguish, your disappointment, your disillusionment. These experiences magnify the trustworthiness of God so that with David we can say, ‘I will trust in You’ (Psalm 55:23b).

Psalm 54

            David was seeking to evade Saul who was seeking to kill him. The people of the region where David was hiding saw an opportunity for reward. The most painful part of the betrayal – these were fellow Israelites. This desperate prayer, likely composed while moving away from his current hiding spot, resembles prayers we’ve all uttered.

            For some reason we often hurt those to whom we are closest. In David’s case, his life was in the balance. No wonder the prayer is desperate. In desperate times people often turn to God with short and pointed prayers.

            When betrayal comes, and most assuredly it will, our best resort is to remind ourselves of our past. Remember how God has acted in the past. Read the accounts of God’s mighty deliverance of His people from the Egyptians in Exodus. Read hos God protected those returning pilgrims after the Babylonian captivity in Nehemiah and Ezra. Read the accounts of God’s acts in the lives of those who spread the gospel in Acts in the New Testament.

            When we are hurting, don’t lash out. Cry out. God hears, God acts, God delivers.

Psalm 53

These are terrifying times. My social media feeds alternate between sheer hysteria and loud claims of fraud. Recent press briefings suggest that this week (April 5 – 11, 2020) could be the worst week America has faced since  – you choose the comparison: Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) or September 11, 2001.

            Then I read the words of this song of David. It is titled, A Maskil of David. Scholars aren’t certain what the word ‘maskil’ means. It doesn’t read like it would have been a top-40 hit among worshipers in any era. The Apostle Paul will quote from this song in his well-known indictment of sin, found in Romans 3, which concludes with this stinging accusation: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, HCSB)

            Yes, these a terrifying times. What is even more terrifying is to fall into the hands of God as will the fool defined in verse 1 of this Psalm – “The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.” They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.” (Psalm 53:1, HCSB)

            Pray with David – “Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.” (Psalm 53:6, HCSB)