PSALM 54

1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?” 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.

PSALM 54:1-7

UPHOLD MY LIFE

I once had a vehicle break down at the beach and waited an hour to get a tow truck and spent an hour talking to the driver. The next week, miles away in another town, I had a malfunction on another vehicle. The same tow truck driver came in a different tow truck for a different company and picked me up. I don’t believe in coincidences and sensing God was up to something so I asked the driver more pressing questions about what was going on in his life. Sure enough, God was already at work in a situation and this man needed a pastor to listen and encourage him in his faith journey. At the end of the conversation I shared that I thought God had put me in his path that day for a reason. He had admitted that he had almost forgotten that he had prayed a prayer of desperation a few weeks ago and God had put me in his path twice!!! I prayed over him and we both parted company very encouraged knowing that God had heard his prayers and placed a pastor in his path to encourage him and help him.

This Psalm is David’s prayer to God asking to be vindicated from that harm that someone has done him. He asks God to hear his prayer, then he remembers that God has helped him in a million ways all along the way (so surely he won’t abandon him to his enemy now), and so his heart erupts in gratitude for the goodness and grace of God. Even in his prayer for justice David finds reason to rejoice because of God’s holy character.

Sometimes we forget just how far the Lord has taken us. We need to stop and see just where he has been working in our lives. David noted that God had helped him all along the way. I am often amazed at how I see God orchestrating my steps along the way as well. I know that I’m in good hands when I am in God’s hands and that should provoke us to praise.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for the millions of things you are actively doing in and around me. With David I can confess that you have held me up. You have been at work in my life and the lives of those around me. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering so many times before I could even think to say amen. Help me to walk into this day with gratitude and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.