Today's Reading:

Psalm 35
Psalm 54
Psalm 63
Psalm 18

David’s enemies slandered him “without cause.” This phrase was repeated throughout the psalm. “They repay me evil for good,” he lamented (35:12). David’s kindness was repaid with betrayal, slander, and harm. His soul was crushed and hurt because he had shown them nothing but goodness. He cried out to the Lord for rescue.

This was like Jesus. He poured out miracles, good works, and teachings full of love and compassion. In the end, He was slandered and killed by the very ones He was trying to help, giving the ultimate sacrifice- His life. Those He came to redeem, outwardly mocked, slandered, gave false accusations, and crucified Him.

We are like those in the psalm and the crowd at the cross- we are not worthy. We have nothing of value to give back to Him in return. Yet He knowingly and willingly came to fulfill His Father’s will so we could gain eternal life with Him, debt-free. Jesus took all that we deserve- free of payment- to turn our eternal life into a reachable concept. We have hope in the resurrection that David could only dream of and write about.

Grace is not a tab we can repay, so why do we try so often to “pay Jesus back” with our good deeds, religious routines, or guilty efforts? How can simply embracing the gift of eternal life let us love Him more freely?

 

Psalm 35
David wanted judgment on his enemies. He cried to God to fight on his behalf by picking up His spear and armor to fight them. David wanted God to declare, “I am your salvation,” bringing spiritual peace and protection. In 35:5, David asked God to scatter his enemies like chaff (dry husks from grain), the worthless and wicked who would be blown away by judgment. Typically, when threshing wheat, the chaff would be thrown up in the air along with the grain, and the lighter husks- the chaff- would get blown away. David wanted the angel of the Lord (Christophany, the pre-incarnate Christ) to chase and drive his enemies away like the chaff. He wanted the same for his enemies as they had given to him- they hid nets for him… may those nets entangle them instead. They dug pits for him… may they fall into their own pits to their ruin. David claimed he was innocent and persecuted “without cause.” David accused them of repaying his good with evil, just as ruthless witnesses brought false accusations to gain the king’s favor, and his own friends slandered him, while Saul tried to kill him with spears and traps (1 Samuel 18:11, 19:10). In 1 Samuel 24:15, David made a plea to Saul and asked that God be the judge between them.

Psalm 54
This was a short psalm that covered 1 Samuel 23:19, when the Ziphites betrayed David by telling Saul where he was hiding. The people rose up against him, strangers oppressed him, and his enemies wanted him killed with no regard for God. David cried out for deliverance and promised that if God gave him victory, then he would offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

Psalm 63
David wrote this psalm about his time in the wilderness. He had a thirst for God’s presence more than the physical needs of water or food. In the dry land, his soul longed for the Lord- to see His power and glory as in the sanctuary. Even when satisfied with a full belly, David would remember God as he laid down at night. God was his help and protection, covering him in the “shadow of Your wings” (63:7). As he clung to God with devotion, David would be satisfied with food, and his enemies would be “given over to the sword” (63:10)- killed in battle, and their bodies became the food for animals. This psalm talked about the “depths of Sheol” (spiritual realm of the dead- like Hell, before the second coming of Jesus). David showed faith even in the wilderness, even in times of exile. He had security in God even in his trials.

Psalm 18
 This was a thanksgiving psalm celebrating how God saved David from his enemies- especially Saul. David called on the Lord and was saved. God was his strength, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, and salvation. An image of an earthquake, the power of God rescued David because of his faithfulness. God would reward the blameless and light the path. He humbled the proud and trained those for battle. His word is flawless. His power, justice and faithfulness are exactly what we need.

These psalms show David’s honesty during trouble- his pleas for justice and a thirst for God. He vowed praise and thanksgiving when rescued.

Today's Discussion question: 

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