JUNE 11 PSALMS 55-59

June 11 BIBLE BLOG

Psalms 55-59; BOOK TWO of the Psalms continues with five more psalms of David, four of which were written at times of great personal testing. Listen for David’s openness with the Lord; he allows his fears and feelings to come out. Listen, too, for evidence of his faith!

Psalm 55 does not reveal the circumstances under which it was written in the inscription, as some of the others do, but David’s trials can be seen in the text itself. He speaks of the “noise of the enemy” and “the oppression of the wicked,” but by the midpoint of the psalm, we see the real cause of David’s anguish: his enemy is a companion, a familiar friend (v. 13). Is there anything more painful than the betrayal of a friend? David pleads for mercy, bares his fear and anguish, and begs for the wings of a dove, so he can fly away! In the end, David gives himself the best advice: Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you (v. 22).

Psalm 56 was written in the aftermath of his arrest in Philistia. After 7 verses of complaint, David settles into some of his greatest faith statements: This I know: that God is for me (v. 9b); In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me (v. 11)? You have delivered my soul from death (v. 13)!

Psalm 57 was written when David fled from Saul, in the cave. Despite all the injustices and indignities that David suffered at the hands of Saul and his army, David spends very little time rehearsing his dire circumstances, and a good deal of time in praise and prayer and thanksgiving: I will sing… I will awake the dawn… I will give thanks… I will sing praises…for your steadfast love is great to the heavens (7-10).

Psalm 58 is the exception among today’s psalms; there is no evidence of any particular troubling situation behind it. In this psalm, David speaks in generalities concerning the wicked and the righteous. In the end, the righteous will rejoice and be rewarded, and the wicked will be judged (vv. 10-11)!

Psalm 59 was occasioned by the “secret police” whom Saul sends to watch David’s house in order to murder him. Deliver me, David cries; they lie in wait for my life! He compares Saul’s henchmen to howling, growling dogs (vv. 6-7, 14-15). And in the midst of it all, declares the steadfast love of the Lord (vv. 10, 16-17). Would we could walk in such faith!

Your brother in the Word,

Pastor Gary