Studying Leviticus and Matthew at the present time.
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.
Verse 1 O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
Where do we put our trust when life is difficult or devastating? Do we run to the doctor every time we are sick and then pray to God after the office visit? Do we ask for healing of the refrigerator when it quits working or do we just call the repair man? And when we do pray, are we really expecting answers?
Verse 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
In verse one, David uses the plural pronoun them. More than one person is persecuting him. Yet here he uses the pronoun he. Why? Could it be that David recognizes the devil behind people’s actions? Usually people want to destroy the physical victim and they are not terribly interested in the victim’s mind, will or emotions. But the devils go after the soul knowing that eventually the physical flesh of the victim will be negatively affected. The picture here is of a lion ripping with his teeth and claws. Very painful and very deadly. The demonic world is like a lion. Satan is referred to a lion in ????
Verses 3-5 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) 5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
David is asking God to search his past and the motives of his actions and is ready to accepts persecution if he has sinned. Do we accept responsibility of our actions or do we blame something or someone and try to justify ourselves in our own minds? God knows the heart. We cannot hide anything from Him and David knows this. He believes that he is blameless, but just in case he has made a mistake or done something against the LORD that he is not aware of, he wants to accept judgement if judgement is warranted.
Verse 6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
David is asking for the LORD’s intervention.
Verse 7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
As the LORD intervenes righteously for David, His people will see and be encouraged and rely on the God of Israel and of David.
Verse 8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
David knows that in the public court there may be injustice, but in God’s court there is only truth and righteousness. He states that the people will be judged. Scripture teaches that every individual that has lived or will live on this Earth will be held accountable for their words, thoughts and actions when they stand before the living God.
Verse 9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
This is a prayer every believer should be praying if we want peace.
Verse 10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
David is relying on the greatest defense attorney that has ever lived. For us today, it is Jesus who paid the penalty for our sin on Calvary and who mediates for us in Heaven.
Verses 11-13 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
We tend to think that judgment from God is only for the wicked. But here is is clearly showing that the believer is judged also. For what is he judges? Most likely for his goodness, mercy, grace, forgiveness, patience, love, caring, financial responsibility and all the other positive attributes that should be in a believer’s life if he is trying to be like Christ Jesus. Think of it like a dog show or a horse show where the judges are choosing the best example of the breed and not condemning those that are a little less perfect. We are judged for rewards and not condemnation. Rejoice in that fact!
Likewise, the wicked are judged for punishment and even the death penalty. This death penalty is defiantly spiritual in that the person will be consigned to Hell forever, but it can also be physical death from this Earth. These verses use the picture of instruments of war which were used in David’s time. Today we might use images of guns or knives or lethal injection. The results are the same. Repent and get right with the LORD or die both physically and spiritually. The choice is yours and God will always give a person time to decide before taking action. Take comfort in that!
Verses 14-16 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
The wicked work hard at being wicked. They enjoy it and deal with lies. However, eventually they will trip and fall into the same lies and wickedness they have created. Think of the crime families or the drug dealers that get killed doing business or taking their own poisonous products.
Verse 17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
David finishes this song with a happy ending in which he chooses to praise the LORD for who he is even if the difficulties in David’s life have not been resolved yet. His confidence is in the God of the Heavens and the Earth and so he knows the ending will be a good one to this story in his life. Do we have that much faith and trust in our God?