Sunday, August 28, 2022

Bible in one year 8/28/ 2022 Psalm 54-55 By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 8/28/ 2022  Psalm 54-55

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                          

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Psalm 54 Reflecting on the treachery of the Ziphites, who revealed to Saul that David was hiding among them (1Sam.23), David petitions God for deliverance from his enemies (vv.1-3) and praises Him for the answer (vv.4-7).

 Psalm 54:1-7 A psalm of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “ Is not David hiding among us?”

 Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Strangers are attacking me, ruthless men seek my life. Men without regard for God. (vv.1-3).  Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. (v.4).



Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you, I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good (v.5-6).  For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes. (v.7).

 

 Psalm 55 Because of the treachery of an intimate friend (vv.12-13), David prays in anguish (with respect to himself, vv.1-8), in anger (with respect to his enemies,vv.9-15), and in assurance (with respect to God, vv.16-23).  Verse 9 may means such confusion and division as occurred at Babel happen to my enemies (Gen.11:7,9).  Verses 10-11 As king, David was especially concerned that the city had become a parade ground for revels and terrorists. Verse 13 we cannot be sure who this traitor was, though verses 20-21 tell us who he acted. Let them go down alive to the grace. I.e., let God’s judgment be immediate and startling (as was that upon Korah, Num.16:30-32), not for personal vindication but because the treachery was against God’s appointed leader.

            Psalm 55 1-23 A psalm of David

 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. (vv.1-3).

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “ Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest- I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. (vv.4-8).

Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. (vv.9-11)

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friends, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. (vv.12-14).

Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them. But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. (vv.15-17).

He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them –men who never change their ways and have no fear of God. (vv.18-19).

My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. (vv.20-21).

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.(v.22). But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. (vv.23)

           

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

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