Day 108.  Reading Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63

 

This is a wonderful psalm of trust and dependence on God; of a face-to-face closeness that most of us don’t experience. Remember David’s situation as you read, constantly pursued by Saul who wants to kill him.

• Hear a just cause, O LORD, attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free from deceit.
• You have tried my heart, You have visited me by night, You have tested me, and You will find nothing.  I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
• I will call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.
• Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge.
• Keep me as the apple of your eye; hind me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 
• He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from me by your hand, O LORD.
• As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”

Psalm 34.

David wrote this psalm after he escaped when he acted crazy before the Abimelech (King Achish of Gath). (Don’t confuse him with the high priest Ahimelech from whom David got the bread and Goliath’s sword just before going to this Philistine king.) (1 Samuel 21:8-15)

The psalm is full of praise, with many verses that would be great to memorize.

• I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
• My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
• Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together!
• I sought the LORD and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
• The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. 
• Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
• What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
• The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.  When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Wow!  Praise God!

Psalm 54.

This psalm was written by David when those “tattle-tellers” went to Saul and told him David was hiding in their city. (Remember how David asked God if the Ziphites would turn him over to Saul – even though David had rescued them from the Philistines.  God had said, “Yes,” and David and his men fled into the wilderness.)

• O God, save me by your Name, and vindicate me by your might!
• O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves.
• Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies.
• I will give thanks to Your Name, O LORD, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Psalm 63.

Again David is faced with a familiar and persistent enemy.  He’s learned to put his trust WHOLLY upon the LORD.  Hear him preaching to himself. (Lord, help me to do this too!)

• For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation
• He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall NOT be greatly shaken.
• How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.
• For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.
• He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken; On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
• Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. 

 Are you like me?  Do you want to memorize some of these great words of trust and praise?  Thank you David.  Thank You, God.