Our prayer life reveals the quality of our trust and measure of our confidence in God. As David closes this hymn he lifts a prayer in his affliction to the attention of God because he trusted only in the Lord’s strength to rescue him, thus, “O you who lift me up from the gates of death.” David continues as he recounts God’s delivering work that made him worthy of all praise. What in the testimony in God’s goodness towards David fueled his confident trust in the Lord? A few observations for our edification:
The wicked ensnared. David declares, “the nations have sunk in the pit they have made; in the net that they have hid their own foot has been caught.” God’s people will experience persecution for our witness and testimony of Jesus (2 Tim 3:12). Though we suffer for our walk with the Lord, we need not avenge ourselves against those who set traps to harm us, slander us, and inflict pain in our lives. God sees all, and at appointed time he has offered a promise…….he will avenge and vindicate his people. The wicked will be repaid according to their deeds. The very trap they set, will ensnare them. With confidence in such truth, David boldly declares, “The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are ensnared in the work of their own hands.” When we suffer hardship for his name-sake patiently, this pleases God, or as Peter put it, “…but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, (15) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (16) having a good conscience, so that, when (not if) you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (17) For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Pt 3:14-17). Like David, we are able to do this when we trust in God to judge and make all things right (in his timing). We trust that God will have the last say.
The wicked have no future. David highlighted the truth that the destiny of the wicked is to pass to the grave with no hope. In contrast, the righteous (whom David likens to the needy) will not always be afflicted in this life for their promise of final restoration is in the future with God, thus David says, “…the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.” Though our hardship sometimes seems to be everlasting (with no end) we can take courage because God sees all. We can place our trust in God because he has promised that our suffering is only a moment in light of the eternal glory to be revealed……..our inheritance we shall receive in Jesus. Though our body and mind are being tormented and assaulted by the evils of his world, our inner Spirit man is being built up and prepared to meet our God and be with him. This hope is our life-raft in the midst of destructiveness of life’s storms that endeavor to drown us. Paul taught, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (17) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (18) as we look not at the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:16-18). As we travel through life, we will not always experience our rough roads made smooth, but we serve a God who promised that he is coming soon. When he returns he will settle all accounts and make all things right. The nations will be judged before him on that day. The hearts of the wicked will be exposed and they will feel the full measure of their human weakness before our awesome and powerful God. This is why David closes his prayer with confidence, “Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!” Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com