Series: New New
Psalm 59:14-17 ESV
Initially when I planned this lesson weeks ago the intended scripture was Psalm 59:16,
“But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.”
At the time I planned it I was thinking (or not thinking) it was a beautiful section of scripture. However, I must have skimmed past the conjunction ‘BUT’ and because of that I didn’t realize I needed to back up in order to give context to verse 16.
There are times when context is king.
This was one of those examples.
Psalm 59:14-17 says, “Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
(15) They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.
(16) But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
In verse 14 we still need to clarify who “they” are.
We learn from Psalm 59:1 who “they” are, “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.”
More research tells us that King Saul was after David and the King sent men to kill David.
The entire story of King Saul trying to kill David is found in I Samuel 19:1, “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David.” The King was determined that he needed to act on his own without praying about it. King Saul had turned his back on God.
In 1 Samuel 19:4 Jonathan even defended David, “And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.”
It actually would have taken great courage for Jonathan to defend David to his father the King.
So, back to Psalm 59:14-15.
The men who are trolling the city looking for David and his men wander about and growl like dogs.
They key to psalm 59 tell us David’s responds.
David does not cry and complain.
David does not yell at his men they need to find Saul and kill him.
Instead, in verse 16 David chooses to do the opposite. He does not take matters into his own hands.
David chooses God. He turned to God and proclaimed God’s strength and steadfast love. David spoke of God being his fortress and his refuge.
David sang praises to God his strength.
The message is clear and has context for us even today, for who among us has not been in David’s shoes at some point in our lives?
When we come to that point of no return we all have a choice. We can respond as King Saul responded by talking about the opposition and plotting against them or we can choose to do what David did.
Saul did not choose God.
David chose God.
It’s not always a clear easy choice but ultimately, it is the right choice.
Choose God and let God fight your battles for you.
Spiritual Practice: Be Intentional
Choose God.
In God, Deborah
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