When you look around at what’s going on in the world today, it does seem hopeless. If you focus on the bad news and the hope of the Good News fades away fast. In this psalm, David gives us a prayer to pray when we need hope — which is every day. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 54
For the choir director: A psalm (maskil) of David, regarding the time the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “We know where David is hiding.” To be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
2 Listen to my prayer, O God.
Pay attention to my plea.
3 For strangers are attacking me;
violent people are trying to kill me.
They care nothing for God. Interlude (Selah, pause and reflect)4 But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
Psalm 54
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
Typical “Need Hope” Psalm
This is one of many “need hope” psalms. They all have the same structure…
- An anxious plea for help.
- A realization that God is their only hope.
- Gratitude, praise and worship
What’s Going On
David wrote this psalm when he was being hunted by King Saul. You’ll find the story in 1 Samuel 23. David faced betrayal from his own countrymen. He didn’t know who he could trust. Consequently, David ran to the only person he could trust — God.
David knew that God has an unchanging character. In other words, when friends and family betray you, God is still there no matter what. He has your back.
God keeps His promises!
God anointed David as king of Israel and He was not going to let Saul and his minions get in the way of His ultimate plan.
David also knew that vengeance is God’s. He doesn’t have to worry about it. We don’t either. The wicked will get theirs!
In the end, David was so grateful that he promised to make a “voluntary offering”. That is, a sacrifice or offering above and beyond tithing 10%.
Where’s the Gospel when You Need Hope?
The folks at Spoken Gospel explain…
In a world of enemies and flaky allies, we need a name we can trust to save us. And God has given us His Name. God’s name is Jesus. Jesus is the embodied, visible, and tangible faithfulness of God to his people (John 1:14, 18). Jesus promises to be the only name that never flakes.
When Jesus walked among his people, his experience was similar to David’s. He knew what it was like to have his own kinsman turn against him (John 1:10-11, 7:4-5, 13:18). One of his own disciples betrayed him and handed him over to his murderous enemies. Nevertheless, Jesus trusted God and did not take vengeance into his own hands. He knew God would remain faithful to his own name. And God raised Jesus from the dead just as God delivered David. And now Jesus offers deliverance to all who trust that His Name is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
The goodness of his name will not let evil go unpunished. And when Jesus returns, God’s good and faithful name will overcome the evil and flakiness of humanity. The people we trust in life will change names and sides. But Jesus remains faithful because he cannot change who he is (2 Timothy 2:13). He is forever Faithful and True, a sure refuge in a world of flaky fidelity.
Spoken Gospel
How to Pray Psalm 54 when You Need Hope…
Praying to God shouldn’t be programmed and ritualistic. Praying to God is simply talking to Him! Furthermore, it’s nice and easy when you pray His Words right back at Him.
First, that helps you memorize the Word and keep it in your heart. You file it away and it miraculously comes to mind when you need it.
Second, He knows that you’re reading and understanding the Scriptures. That is, you’re making an honest attempt to get closer to Him. That’s building a relationship with Him!
Take a piece of paper or a journal and write the psalm down in your own words. Something like this…
Come with great power, O God, and rescue [help] me! Defend me with your might.
Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea.
For strangers are attacking [insulting, persecuting] me; violent people [or diseases, plagues] are trying to kill [harm] me [and/or my family]. They care nothing for God.But, You, God, are my helper. Lord, You keep me alive! May the evil plans of my [our] enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them, for vengeance is Yours.
In gratitude, I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord,
Paraphrase on Psalm 54 by Giselle Aguiar
for it is good. For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
Who do YOU Trust?
Who do you turn to when you need hope? You cannot rely on…
- A church
- The Pope
- A religion
- Rites and rituals
- Praying to dead people like Mary and dead saints. Or, asking a dead person to pray for you. Seriously, how ridiculous and absurd is that?
- An employer
- Family
- Politicians
- Friends
Many have their own agendas and will not give your wellbeing importance.
Not Jesus!
Do YOU have a Relationship with Jesus?
Isn’t it about time you let Him in?
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
It amazes me how God knows exactly what praise and worship songs need to be at the bottom of my Sunday blog. These 2 songs were part of the worship at my church this morning…
