RR Psalm 54:1-5 Part 1

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 54:1 For the music director, on stringed instruments, a contemplative song of David, 2 when the Ziphites came and said to Saul: “Is not David hiding himself among us?” 3  O God, save me by Your Name, vindicate me by Your might. 4 O God, hear my prayer, listen to the words of my mouth. 5 For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men seek after my soul. They do not set God before them. Selah

Let’s put some context to the writing of this Psalm.  It’s actually one of ten Psalms focused on David hiding from Saul, collectively called “Psalms of the Fugitive.”  Psalm 16 is out of order.  The other nine, 52-60, are in order.  

Oh those pesky Ziphites!  They would have turned David and the 600 men who were with him over to Saul for certain destruction.  1Samuel 23:19 Then some of the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gibeah, saying, “Isn’t David hiding with us in the strongholds at Choresh, in the hill of Hachilah which is south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down whenever it is a desire of your soul to come down—our part will be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

How did David end up in the wilderness of Ziph?  The Lord had previously warned David to leave Keilah.  1Samuel 23:12 Then David asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my fellow men into the hand of Saul?” “They will surrender,” Adonai said.  It was out of desperate wandering that David ended up in the wilderness of Ziph, but the Lord delivered him from there too.  In fact, the only thing that ultimately saved David was an attack by the Philistines on Israel while Saul was away.

1Samuel 23:26b David was hurrying to elude Saul. Meanwhile Saul and his men were closing-in on David and his men to seize them. 27 But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!” 28 So Saul had to return from chasing after David, and go to engage the Philistines. Therefore they called that place the Rock of Separation. 29 From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Watch David’s response to this stressful situation.  Psalm 54:3 O God, save me by Your Name, vindicate me by Your might. 4 O God, hear my prayer, listen to the words of my mouth. 5  For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men seek after my soul. They do not set God before them. Selah. 

Did you hear that?  David’s first response is to turn to God for help.  Of course there is abundant Scriptural support about turning to God in times of trouble.  Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5,6 and Joshua 1:9 all come immediately to mind immediately.  Paul’s instruction to the Philippians also commands our attention… Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.

“Let your requests be made known to God.”  Let’s make that our first option.  The promised result is that God will give us shalom.  This is not the equivalent of Zen Buddhism but the result of a confidence in our relationship with the supreme authority of every thing.  When our “understanding” says “panic” our response is in blessed assurance that God will provide.  He alone will save, and He alone will deliver.  May His name be blessed.  B’shem Yeshua HaMashiach, Amen.

Day 48 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri22-May-20266th of Sivan, 5786  
Ex 19:1-20:26(23), Nu 28:26-31Ez 1:1-28; 3:12   Ac 2:1-41