Ps 57

Ps 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.

:2 I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me.

:3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

:4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

:5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

:6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

:7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

:8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

:9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

:10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.

:11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

This is headed as Prayer for Safety from Enemies.

Some of these verses are repeated in Psalm 108:1-5. David never got tired of singing some songs.

Here he repeats God's deliverance from his enemies, God's protection in trial, taking refuge in the Lord during a disaster.

Even though David was facing trial and tribulations he was not whining or complaining. He sang with great confidence in God. He was confident that God was at work in his life to fulfill His purposes.

Ever been where David was? Emotionally discouraged, wounded, alone? Did you feel God was actively working His purpose for your life?

We sometimes think God is only at work in our lives when things are going well. We forget that He will include difficulty or hardship, or want or pain. David and others God used to write the bible never forgot that.

Romans 8:28 We know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God.

God is not sitting up in heaven hoping things turn out okay. He is the One at work in every situation to bring glory to Himself and eternal good to us.

Remember that next time you are going through something and give God praise and honor.

Rick Warren said: When you realize that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God. Some tests seem overwhelming, while others you don't even notice. But all of them have eternal implications.

PS 56

Ps 56:1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; fighting all day he oppresses me.

:2 My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

:3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

:4 In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

:5 All day they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

:6 They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life.

:7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

:8 You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?

:9 When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me.

:10 In God (I will praise His word), in the Lord ( I will praise His word),

:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

:12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You,

:13 for You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

This is headed as Prayer for Relief from Tormentors.

David was really good with words. He makes us feel exactly what it's like to be under the attack he was experiencing. His refuge was the Lord and he makes that clear also.

When we're under attack or bound up in fear, it is easy to feel forgotten. He asked God to put his tears in God's bottle. He knew God saw the tears. When we cry into our pillow at night God sees those tears also. We may feel alone, but we aren't.

David asked twice what man can do to him. The answer: a lot! They can ruin my reputation with slander and lies, leave me behind for someone else, steal from me, misuse my friendship, reject me, turn others against me, hate me, attack me, even kill me. They can make my life miserable.

The truth that overrides all of that is simply this: if God is for us, who can be against us? David knew that people are only able to go so far with their persecution and attacks. Jesus knew that too, He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28). Christians may suffer intensely in this life, but God is our refuge from the storm now and our dwelling place forever.

PS 55

Ps 55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

:2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

:3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

:4 My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

:6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest,

:7 Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah

:8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”

:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

:10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

:11 Destruction is in its midst; oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

:12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him.

:13 But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance.

:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.

:15 Let death seize them; let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them,

:16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.

:17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.

:18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.

:19 God will hear, and afflict them, even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.

:20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant.

:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer then oil, yet they were drawn swords.

:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

:23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You.

This is headed as Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends.

Ever feel like you just wish you could get away from it all? That is how David felt also when the stress level got up to high. Running away only seems like a solution. It never solves anything. Where ever you go the problem will follow.

David always had enemies after him. But this time it was someone he considered a friend. That made things so much worse for him. David realized that flying away wasn't happening so he did what he needed to do. He cast his burden on God.

David realized the only answer to the panic was to face it. Our circumstances are never outside the concern of God. Whatever is happening He has allowed it. He will use it for His Glory and our blessing. When troubles come, and they will, remember God's promises. Focus on who He is and what He has committed Himself to do in your life. He didn't design us to carry those burdens. Cast them on the Lord. Don't pick those burdens back up once you give them to God. If you do, however, just give them back again.  

PS 54

Ps 54:1 Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength.

:2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.

:3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; they have not set God before them. Selah

:4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life.

:5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.

:6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

:7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

This is headed as Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries.

David never asked God to come halfway. He went to a big God with big requests. He asked God to save him, but also to vindicate him.

Do we ever have the courage to pray a prayer like this? How do you pray when you are attacked? Do you have enough confidence in God to ask Him to not only save you out of the situation but to vindicate you also? Do I? Are you confident in your actions to ask God to hear both sides and decide? (verse 2).

He ends with a promise of praise. How do you respond after God has come through in your life for you?  

PS 53

Ps 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

:2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

:3 Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no not one.

:4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

:5 There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; you have put them to shame, because God has despised them.

:6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

This is headed as Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel.

This is almost the same as Psalm 14. The fool is the person who lives like there is no God. Not the person who doesn't believe at all there is a God. Left to ourselves we all are lost. That is David's point. The only refuge for the person who has offended God is to run to God. When we sincerely seek Him for forgiveness He gives it.

Since it was included twice it must be important. We should really meditate on it.

Michael Wilcock said: Trust God, and you have nothing to fear. Ignore Him, and you have everything to fear.

Ps 52

Ps 52:1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.

:2 Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

:3 You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah

:4 You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.

:5 God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

:6 The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,

:7 “ Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

:9 I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

The heading is The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly.

This psalm is in response to the story in 1 Samuel 21-22. The story of Doeg the Edomite is one of the worst in scripture.

Here is a recap. The tabernacle was located in Nob. A whole family of the Lord's priests lived there. David was on the run from Saul. David went to the priest, not telling who he really was and asked for bread for his men, a sword, and a blessing from the Lord. The priest not knowing who he was granted all three.

Standing in the crowd watching however was one of Saul's men, Doeg. He of course told Saul everything. Saul confronted the priest and in a rage ordered his men to kill him and his family. The soldiers refused to harm the priests of the Lord. Doeg, seeing a way to get in good with Saul, volunteered. He killed eighty-five members of the priest family along with everyone in Nob. Only one person escaped, Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, and he went to find David.

David was very upset of course. Soon David sat down and wrote Psalm 52 condemning Doeg and every other person who tries to grow strong by destroying others.

We are never told what happened to Doeg. We can be sure that God at some time brought Doeg to ruin.

David is compared to a green olive tree. Several psalms mention olive trees.

1. They have a remarkably long life.
2. The tree is evergreen and hardy even in a harsh environment.
3. Its fruit is valuable and satisfying.   

PS 51

Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight – that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

:8 Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken my rejoice.

:9 Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take You Holy Spirit from me.

:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted to You.

:14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

:16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise.

:18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

:19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

This is headed A Prayer of Repentance.

David used three words in this psalm to describe his failure.

1. Transgression, which means “to deliberately break through the boundary of God's law.”
2. Sin, which means “to fall short of what God requires.”
3. Iniquity, an act that springs from the inner twistedness of our human nature.

He also told about God's mercy, unfailing love, and great compassion.

He told us how God views our sin after we confess it.

1. Our transgressions are blotted out (erased from God's record book)
2. Our iniquities are washed away (like stains rinsed out of a cloth)
3. Our sins are cleansed (purified by God)

Some people think forgiveness is easy. They flippantly ask God to “forgive me for anything I've done wrong today, “ and off they go. They need to read Ps 51. Confessing sin to God means to say the same thing about our sin that God says about it. David called it by its name and we should also.

1 Jn 1:9 promises that when we confess our sin, God is faithful to forgive. But don't skimp on the confessing part. We don't have to beg God to forgive us. But when we follow David's example here in confession, we recognize how much our sin hurts our Father – and how big a price Jesus paid to wash us clean from sin's stain.