Monday 13 May, 2013

1 Lord, hear me when I ask you to treat me fairly. Listen to my cry for help. Hear my prayer. It doesn’t come from lips that tell lies. 2 When you hand down your sentence, may it be in my favor. May your eyes see what is right. 3 Look deep down into my heart. Study me carefully at night. Put me to the test. You won’t find anything wrong. I have made up my mind that my mouth won’t say sinful things. 4 I don’t do the things other people do. By obeying your word I have kept myself from acting like those who try to hurt others. 5 My steps have stayed on your paths. My feet have not slipped. 6 God, I call out to you because you will answer me. Listen to me. Hear my prayer. 7 Show the wonder of your great love. By using your powerful right hand, you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies. 8 Take good care of me, just as you would take care of your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 9 Save me from the sinful people who attack me. Save me from my deadly enemies who are all around me. 10 They make their hearts hard and stubborn. Their mouths speak with pride. 11 They have tracked me down. They are all around me. Their eyes watch for a chance to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a hungry lion, waiting to attack. They are like a powerful lion, hiding in the bushes. 13 Lord, rise up. Oppose them and bring them down. With your sword, save me from those evil people. 14 Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. You satisfy the hunger of those you love. Their children have plenty. And those children store up wealth for their children. 15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.

This Psalm was written by David when he was surrounded by enemies who wanted to kill him. It is thought that this was the time when King Saul was called away to fight the Philistines and so abandoned his pursuit of David in the middle of the night, even though he had him surrounded.  There are 3 things to note in this Psalm.

Firstly, David is assured of his righteousness before God. Has asks God to examine the secrets of his heart by night and lays himself bare before God. We need to be assured of our salvation – our righteousness because we have accepted

Jesus as our saviour. We also need to be quick to confess and keep our slates clean so that we can remain confident before him.

Secondly, David is sure of God’s great love for him. He sees himself as “the apple of God’s eye” and is confident of God hiding him in the shadow of his wing. We are just as much the apple of God’s eye and are just as much under his protection as David was.

Finally, it is out of this confidence in his position before God and God’s love for him that David prays for God to save him. I believe that as we grow in knowledge of our true relationship with God that we will also grow in faith, and cry out confidently to him in times of trouble. We will also, as David is in verse 15, be absolutely certain of our salvation.

Written by Megan Cornell