https://esv.literalword.com/?q=psalm+55
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 19 January 2025:
“To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.” Psalm 55 expresses the prayers of David but put to music, intended for the instruction of God’s people. The word “maskil” is derived from the Hebrew verb lkc (sakal), which means “to understand.” Maskils were sung as a form of teaching in the tabernacle and temple. This maskil has been divinely preserved in God’s word for your instruction. What do you need to learn and put into practice? Specifically, this psalm addresses David’s response to terrible betrayal by someone very close to him not mentioned by name, perhaps Absalom and Ahithophel but perhaps someone else.
Psalm 55:1-2 — Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me….
In deep anguish, David goes to the LORD in earnest, honest prayer. He pleads to the LORD and desires nothing more than the comfort and counsel of the LORD, no one else. David moanfully prays to the LORD, all day long (v17). He is persistent in prayer. During challenging times, the most important thing we can do is pray.
Psalm 55:2-3 — I am restless in my complaint and I moan, because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked.
Noise is distracting, and disruptive. It can make it very difficult to think clearly. It is easy for the noise of the wicked around us to distract us from God’s word and the “low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12) of God’s voice. In the noisy moment, we can lose sight of the reality of God’s presence, perfect providence, provision, and protection. We can catch ourselves thinking too much of our adversary (or crisis) and too little of our Almighty God. We can begin to act as if our adversary (or situation) has some sort of power over us which is not ordained by God; said another way, we can act as if our adversary can somehow usurp God’s sovereignty in our lives. The prideful, unloving, ungodly boasts, accusations, complaints, insults, threats, and condemnations of the world are just noise, which might be impossible to ignore, but can be filtered out with a continual prayer and focus on God, His word, and His promises. Don’t be restless; don’t simply moan and complain. Rejoice and be grateful because the LORD is your rock and your shield. The Lord is your Father who is working everything out for His perfect purposes while making you into the child of God you should be and will one day be. Be patient and wait upon Him. He is always good and always faithful.
Notice, however, in this instructive psalm, David starts by confessing his restless, anguished, fearful complaints and his desire for vengeance. Like most of the psalms, his prayer starts with honest confession and concludes with a realigning, comforting, prayer induced reminder of the Truth which steadies his soul — “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (v22) Confess your fears and doubts to the LORD in prayer; be honest; it is pointless to do otherwise since God already sees the depts of your heart, and God wants to address the truth of you with you while further revealing to you the Truth of Himself. Pray in accordance with God’s word with anticipation that the Holy Spirit will use God’s word to renew your mind and transform your spirit, turning your fear into faith, and your anxiety into anticipation of the great things God is going to bring about through your trials.
- Isaiah 25:5 — You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.
Psalm 55:6-8 – And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah. I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”
Running away from problems won’t solve your problems; turning to God will. Too often, Christians focus on escaping the situation in which God has sovereignly placed them, rather than thankfully embracing the situation as an opportunity God has given them to glorify Him and grow into Christlike character. Too often we pray that God will change our circumstances while God is working on changing our hearts through the circumstances. We would rather drop out of the schoolhouse for Christlike character development than graduate. However, there is no growth in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone. God can’t teach you to love and forgive your enemies and wash the feat of your betrayers without giving you plenty of opportunities to practice. We grumble when we don’t acknowledge the goodness of God in every situation.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Philippians 2:14 — Do all things without grumbling or disputing….
Psalm 55:12-14 – For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it…. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend….
The closer someone is to you, the greater they can hurt you. Love demands vulnerability which will lead to various forms of maltreatment, which will give you the opportunity to have a small taste of the cost of grace, which our LORD bestowed upon you (G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) in full; give you the opportunity to learn how to forgive continually and completely; give you the opportunity to grow in Christlike character, which is God’s ultimate purpose for your life (Romans 8:29); and give you the opportunity to experience the love of another person, who might reciprocate by loving you despite how sinful you are and hurtful you can be.
- 1 John 4:12 — No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
- Colossians 3:12-17 — Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Again, Psalm 55 instructs us, by example, in how to handle our most difficult challenges. David begins Psalm 55 by casting his burdens on the Lord, pleading, moaning, complaining, and confessing, but he concludes with trust and praise. Throughout the Bible, we are given instruction on how to handle with wickedness and brokenness of the world – Meditate day and night on God’s word and be very careful to do everything it says (Joshua 1:8). Pray continually and thankfully and replace your negative thoughts with positive ones (Philippians 4:4-8). Keep your focus on Jesus without being distracted by worldly things (Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 26:3), focus on what changing your heart rather than merely changing your circumstances (John 17:15; Romans 8:28-29), and surround yourself with likeminded, mutually supportive fellow believers (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- Romans 12:2 — Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Psalm 55:23 – But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
Piety may not be profitable in this world, but our reward is eternal and immeasurable. Make the decision to trust in the Lord and obey Him joyfully, regardless the current circumstances. Obey today, and trust God with tomorrow.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 19 January 2025: Pray your version of Psalm 55 today and all day if needed. Consider doing it also with someone else.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 