Psalm 60

 Psalm 60

When the insanity we call World War 1 began, all the combatant nations held these two things in common.  First, they believed it would be a quick war ending in glorious victory.  Second, they believed this to be the case because they were convinced that God was on their side.  They lived like this in ancient Israel.  Today many of us have the capacity to assume what we deeply desire must be God’s will.

The traditional title of this psalm doesn’t seem to fit the record of Scripture.  Perhaps this was written in a retrospective during the return from exile, calling Israel to reflect on and reject the folly of presuming upon God’s favor. That is the lesson for us.  

It recalls an occasion where apparently Israel was badly defeated in battle after assuming God’s protection and blessing, verses 1-5.  Certainly God’s will is going to be accomplished, verses 6-8.  But His will is going to be accomplished by those in submission and obedience to Him.  The important question is not “Is God on our side?” He alone chooses.  The question is “Am I on God’s side?”  If my loyalty is anywhere else, victory for instance, we may find ourselves beaten and broken.  

“Lord, help me to never presume on Your grace and favor. AMEN.”

Psalm 59

 Psalm 59

This Psalm has traditionally been attributed to David, but there are some scholars who believe it may have been written by Nehemiah while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  This seems to fit the Psalm better, especially the difficult-to-translate and understand verse 9.

When there are limited or scarce resources, you better put those resources to the best use possible, and that is what verse 9 is all about. What the Psalmist seems to be saying is either “Because my enemy is stronger, I will wait on God” or “With all my strength, I will wait on God.”  Perhaps the reason this verse is vague is that the writer meant both.  Compared to the power of darkness, our personal resources are very small.  The best use of our limited resources is to direct them to connecting with God. 

In this Psalm the forces of evil are powerful, relentless, remorseless, and cruel.  Clearly the author is over matched, so he will use what he has to connect with the One who saves. In the last 2 verses we see the hope of this strategy.  

“Lord, I will trust You because You are my stronghold. AMEN.”

Psalm 58

 Psalm 58

We believe this psalm was prompted by the rebellion of Absalom.  Recall that Absalom began to steal the hearts of the people by means of promising justice and social reform (2 Samuel 15).  

There are few things more harmful than those in a position of public trust who have evil motives.  They are like a deadly snake that is unresponsive to its handler/charmer.  David’s descriptions or curses are highly aggressive: a toothless lion, poured-out water, arrows with no point, snail slime, or a miscarried child.  David says their punishment will be fast.  Thorns burn fast and hot but not for long.  David is not predicting a soon-to-arrive justice, but when it happens, it will be a short and complete demise.  

At the fall of the wicked, righteous people rejoice.  This should not be a matter of personal revenge or angry retribution.  Rather, this is the delight of seeing God’s justice prevail.  We rejoice that God’s standards are vindicated.  “Surely there is a God who judges the earth. ”.

“Grant, Lord, that I will wait for Your justice.  AMEN.”

Psalm 57

 Psalm 57

The question often comes down to: “Whose solution or answer do you really trust?” From home repair to medical care, we follow the advice of those we deem trustworthy.  When it comes to the matter of life, whose solutions do we trust: God's or our own?

The events that prompted this psalm are found in 1 Samuel 24 and pose to David that same question.  Some scholars believe that David intended to kill Saul but was prompted or was told by God, ‘Do not destroy.’  David had every right to run Saul through and he had the perfect opportunity to end Saul’s pursuit.

But David realized there was a greater security and peace in submission to God’s will than his own solution.  The ESV translates verse 2 beautifully: “I cry out to God most high, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”  It was a sure thing that David could have killed Saul.  But it was an even more sure thing that God would accomplish His purpose for David.  

The question for me is do I trust my solutions and answers or God’s?

“By Your grace, Lord, help me never to substitute my solutions for Yours. Amen. ”.

Psalm 56

Psalm 56

David is between a rock and a hard place.  Fleeing from Saul, David goes to the Philistine ruler Achish.  But Achish’s war council reminds him that David has reportedly slain 10,000 Philistines (1 Samuel 21:10-11).  How does David respond to this situation?  He responds with confidence, but why confidence?  In verses 4 and 10, David expresses his love for God’s word.  Clearly this is not the same as our Bible, but the principle is the same. David knows God, and that knowledge of God gives him confidence in God’s care and direction.  Familiarity with God’s past dealing is derived from His word.  God’s story about Himself—how He interacts with His people, what He cares about, and what He thinks about me—can be more important than the circumstance.  Indeed these ought to be more important than the circumstances, people, or emotions.  The result of this confidence is we fulfill our vows or commitments to God.  Knowing God by His word, having confidence in Him, and living a holy life: this is a life worth living.  

“Lord, help me to know You by pouring faithfully over Your word. AMEN.”

Psalm 55

Psalm 55

The story behind this Psalm would make an excellent movie about high-level political intrigue.  This psalm is David' s response to the rebellion of Absalom and especially the treason of David’s trusted longtime friend and advisor Ahithophel.

David’s distress is complete, and he expresses his desire to retreat into the wilderness.  During the oppression of Saul, David was on the run engaging in guerrilla warfare.  Without the constraints of urban life, he was one step ahead of Saul.  But he wants to be like a dove, to get more than one step’s distance between him and danger.  

But David knows that safety isn’t in the dreams of a wilderness retreat or a bug-out location.  Security is found in God alone.  Traitors can be found even in the most secure locations.  The advice of verse 22 is for kings on the run or simple people trying to live faithfully in a crazy, evil world.  Our obligation and only real choice is to be sure that we are the ‘righteous’ as seen in the second part of verse 22.  This is greater security in righteous living than in a fortress.

“In times of ease or trouble, help me, Lord, to be righteous before You. AMEN.”

Psalm 54

 Psalm 54

The backstory or historical context is critical to this Psalm.  The men of Ziph aligned themselves with Saul and chose to betray David.  Saul’s response is interesting; he plans to capture and murder David, but he sounds pious in the process: “May you be blessed of the Lord, for you have had compassion on me” (1 Samuel 23:21).  Not everyone who is fluent in ‘God talk’ is a good person.  

David has a narrow escape and pens these words as a response.  In v. 7 we see the word ‘delivered’ in NASB.  This word carries the connotation or implication of a covenant relationship. David’s rescue was not mere happenstance.  It was God acting out of the relationship between God and David. For David’s benefit, God even used the wicked heathen Philistines.  God rules all things for the benefit of His Kingdom.  We need not fear the plots, plans, and operations of the godless or the powers of darkness.  Nevertheless, it was a close call.  In the past part of verse 7, David says that his “eye has looked upon my enemy.”  Often translations insert words to clarify the meaning, but a literal translation may be best. David was within visual range when the rescue occurred.  God will not fail us.  But He may allow things to develop so that we are frightened occasionally.  

“Help me, Lord, to live in complete confidence and trust in You. AMEN.”