Looking at our readings for the week Psalm 54-60 there seems to be a common theme: David praying to our Father in heaven to hear his prayers and how his [David’s] enemies are seeking to destroy him. My focus this week is in Psalm 55:12-14; here we find that David’s enemy is really a once friend and ally. Some quick research and I find that these Psalms are during the time of King Saul’s relentless searching for David to Kill him – 1 Samuel 19. As we read these Psalms one cannot but help gain insight into the struggle David is experiencing. In the above verses, it says that David and his enemy once use to be friends, use to go to the Sanctuary together and worship the LORD. David could understand if it was someone who is truly an enemy or one that hates him – but this person David doesn’t identify is none other than King Saul. Now we must remember at this time, Saul has an evil spirit about him – King Saul has disobeyed God by saving King Agag and by taking Samuel’s place during sacrificing – we also know that King Saul will seek out a witch for intervention. What use to be a grand and wonderful reign, quickly disintegrates in 18 months. David has been already anointed by Samuel as the next King of Israel, has killed Goliath and killed his 10,000’s while King Saul has killed his 1000’s. Obvious jealousy and rage has over taken King Saul – he is bound and determined to kill David – even after he has vowed to his son Jonathan that he wouldn’t. What are we to do; in David’s place? Saul is King – he has been anointed to be king, yet King Saul has lost his reign and respect from the people. The people of the land praise David. Saul has pursued David three times, sending out messengers to find David and kill him. King Saul’s daughter Michal [now David’s wife] comes to David’s defense. We need to remember that David had opportunity to kill King Saul, yet would not lay a hand on God’s anointed.
In these Psalms we read various messages come out. David will not fear what man can do to him; he will trust in the LORD to deliver him; yet David prays against those who seek after him; and the last message – David will sing and praise the LORD. In our own time we have all experienced great difficulty; have had relationships at home and in our families were great affliction and anger have destroyed what use to be a unity and harmony. We must take into account, if we live for Jesus and our faith is evident, then all who desire to live godly will be persecuted – without cause. As those messengers of King Saul sought David to destroy him; even so we have our own adversary ] 1 Peter 5:8] who lurks around trying to destroy us. I don’t know what it is like to be hunted down – but I am familiar with those who speak vile lies and plot to discredit and eliminate me from the work of God. How David can sing perplexes me; yet I think of Paul and Silas in prison [Acts 16:22 -30] at the midnight hour sing to the Lord. As believers we must find hope and strength in our faith and God as our stronghold. There will be [should be] times when we are attacked and pursued without cause – except our faith – in those times we must say as the Apostles and Fathers of our faith have said – “whom shall I fear!” Paul gives us great encouragement in Romans 8:31-39; nothing will separate us from the love of God. Paul goes to great lengths identifying many things that COULD separate, but will not because our God is our stronghold. In times like these we need a Savior, in times like these we need an anchor – be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds, this solid Rock. This Rock is Jesus! Amidst the treachery, affliction, anguish, evil, violence, oppression, deceit, strife, terrors and destruction that is ongoing in our times – we will overcome; have overcome by the Blood of the Lamb! Be strong and courageous!
preachbetweenthelines 