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PSALM

CHAPTER 54

1 To the chief Musician of Neg'-i-noth, Mas'-chil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziph'ims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

When David had gone and saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines, he had to hide in the deserts surrounding Ziph. The Ziphites went and told Saul where David was, and David prayed for God to save him.

The word "save" means to set free and the word "judge" (here in this instance) means to strive for me.

God hears the prayers of His faithful people and He strives for their good to set them free from trouble.

Ziph was actually within the borders of the land of Judah, David's own people. Whether they were Israelites or not, they were "strangers" to David (verse3) for they were against him. Obviously, they had not "set God before them," because they weren't trying to help David and he was anointed by Samuel to be the next king.

When a person oppresses another, even if he is in church, he is not following the will of God.

4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. 6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. 7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

When Saul heard that David was in the deserts surrounding Ziph, he came to kill David. But David moved to another area where there were mountains and trees. And David hid from Saul. Then God caused the Philistines to make war with the Israelites in another section of the country, and Saul had to leave.

David praises God for saving him and keeping him from the army of Saul. David ran from Saul rather than fight with him. Saul was his king, and David wanted them to be reconciled. He didn't want to fight against the king.

David realized that it was GOD that saved him (verse 5) from his enemies. God had indeed delivered him just as he had asked (verse 7).

When we are saved by the Lord, we KNOW that God has a divine purpose for the remainder of our lives. Therefore we should pray daily that God will protect us and deliver us out of sin so that we might accomplish HIS purpose in our lives.

CHAPTER 55

1 To the chief Musician on Neg'-i-noth, Mas'-chil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

David was a man of war. Unless he had been a man of war, Israel might never have accomplished the power that they eventually had under David's leadership.

But because David was a man of war, he was constantly having trouble with other people. In this psalm, he is troubled by someone within his own kingdom (see verses 12-13).

David prays that God will listen and hear the prayer and then deliver him from this enemy and all others like this enemy.

David also is heart-broken and in anguish about the fact that a friend has betrayed him (verse 5). He says that if he could, he would just go away and hide (verses 6-8).

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12 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: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

But David cannot run away, for he is called of God to accomplish the work that God has given him to do.

OH!! I would that Christians would understand this! When we are called to be saved we are called to serve! When trouble pops up, that does not give us an excuse to run away!

If the "enemy" were someone from a foreign nation, David would fight. But the enemy is within. Therefore, David puts the whole of the situation in God's hands. He asks God to "destroy" the tongue of the one spreading rumors.

May I summarize this situation in order to show a very important truth? David is called and anointed of God to work the purpose of God in the nation of Israel. Here is a person who was WITH David in the "house of God," and spoke with David about the goodness of God and the work of God. Yet now this person is hating David. THAT work, my friends, is NOT of God! Striving within the kingdom against the work of God is of the devil! (See verse 15)

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. 19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. 20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

David's commitment is to carry the problem to God and ask for HIM to take care of it (verse 16).

David also makes a commitment to praying THREE times a day (verse 17). When trouble comes, remember God is near! Pray more!

Even though this enemy was so "nice" (verse 21), now he has shown that "war was in his heart" (verse 21).

This "burden" is too much for David to bear alone, and he takes it to God (verse 22). God WILL sustain those whom He has CALLED! Until God is through with the saved, they will never be "cast away" in the earth!

The enemies of God's people are enemies of God's work and purpose, and enemies of God! God will certainly deliver them to the "pit of destruction."

But the Christian must put his trust in God all his life.

CHAPTER 56

1 To the chief Musician upon Jo'-nath-e'-lem-re-cho'-kim, Mich'-tam of David, when the Phi-lis'-tines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

Sometimes, to the Christian, it seems that the world is just dragging us down. The constant bickering and fighting of the world and the constant promotion of sin in the world becomes too much to bear. And sometimes we even fear for our lives, and all the time we fear for our witness.

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

But when the world is too much to bear, our faith is in the "Solid Rock!" In Christ we have placed our trust and in Christ we shall not fear what others may do to us in this world. Even if they take our lives, we shall go to immediate REWARD!!

5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

Everyday is a constant struggle for the Christian. He is faced with everything from people killing babies by abortion, to gambling and even to government corruption.

But even worse, the Christian is slandered and called ignorant when he takes a stand for morality in this world full of "iniquity" (verse 7).

8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. 12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

But God knows our trouble. He knows every step we take. He even saves our tears. One day, those tears will be used in judgment against those who have never trusted God.

David said that he had confidence that God heard his prayers and was working to deliver the righteous out of the sinfulness of man (verses 9-11).

God has ALREADY delivered the Christian from "death" (verse 13). For He has granted His saved people the eternal LIFE of being with Him in eternity.

But God is also helping His people in this earth so that they will be able to live righteously before others.

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