Have you ever been caught by sudden rainfall without a jacket or umbrella while walking to a parking lot to your car? If along the way the winds and rain produce a heavy thunderstorm, it is a natural response to seek immediate refuge and wait for the storm to lessen or pass by. Enduring a deluge of troubles is similar to this. Sometimes the path of our daily routines are disrupted or cut off by trial and adversarial people. It is in those moments we say within ourselves as we scurry from the prevailing peril, “Help me Lord.” We cry out of God’s protection as we attempt to anticipate the movements of the danger we face, like trying to evade lightning striking while fleeing for shelter.
In the early verses of this Psalm (Part 1), David began to appeal to God for help and trusted that his prayer would be heard because God numbered him with the righteous. He prays for shielding from the attacks of his enemies. He seeks God for two things:
His undivided attention. David prayed that God’s watchful eye take notice and give attention to his predicament. His need was urgent and imminent, for his adversaries were near ready to pounce on him, “They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. (12) He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.” David desires God’s focused attention on his situation and immediate need, thus, “Keep me as the apple of your eye.”
Reflection: We serve a God that knows all our troubles. We should take comfort that he has promised to hear our calls for help. Remember Peter’s encouragement to the Christian exiles in the Roman Empire who were suffering many perils from the proclamation and witness of Jesus Christ, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Pt 3:12). No matter the troubles we endure, the dangers at our door, God’s watchful care is always on us. He has promised his children, he will never leave us nor forsake us. Let this truth strengthen us.
His protection. David sought shelter from God from his enemies’ plots, thus he asked of Him, “…hide me in the shadow of your wings, (9) from the wicked who do me violence…” In their callous pride, they sought after David’s life, thus David strengthened his case in hopes God would come quickly to his aid, “…They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.”
Reflection: When a Christian and church body endeavors to be gospel centered in pursuing the mission of the Christ, we will draw the ire of the enemies of the cross. Adversaries will even rise up from within the community of faith (cf. 2 Pt 2:1-3). Like David, we should seek God for his wisdom, discernment, and protection against our adversaries. We should also pray that the restraining power of the Spirit mitigate and temper our own sinful reactions that would bring the witness of the Gospel to open shame. Remember it is in our nature to repay evil with evil (tooth for a tooth). David appealed to God, because he knew that such battle belonged to the Lord. While we wait, we must ask God to give us strength to endure what we are suffering. We must trust God’s word that he will avenge and repay. In such prevailing storms, our greatest weapon against our enemies is patience in the will of and hope in God (1 Pt 3:9). Amen.
Beloved, may you trust him to guide and keep you this week. As I have stated before, God never takes his hands off the steering wheel of your life, even when we attempt to pull his hands away ourselves.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com