Daily Bible Devotionals

“Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, ‘Who will see them?’ They devise iniquities: ‘We have perfected a shrewd scheme.’ Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.” Psalm 64:1-6 (NKJV)

Ah, the secret plots of the wicked.  Most of us can relate to how it feels to discover that people are secretly spreading negative rumors about us.  Often, the source of backbiting is someone close to us: a friend, coworker, or family member.  So, it hurts even more.  I say it often, but we must be ever mindful that the definition of "Envy" is simply "Pride wounded in competition."  Whenever someone is trying to secretly destroy your character, it is likely because they feel threatened by you.  Whether you perceive it or not, there is a level of competition present, and the backbiter feels they are in danger of losing.  Hence, they try to skirt the rules of Christian unity and seize control through falsehood.  While your character may be irreparably damaged in the eyes of some people, rest assured that God sees both the oppressed and oppressor and He judges righteously in His fair time.

“Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:3 (NKJV)

Regardless of what people may say about you, the best defense is a Godly character.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)

Ultimately, our vengeance comes from God.  (Romans 12:9)

“But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; all who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalm 64:7-10 (NKJV)

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.” Psalm 63:1-2**

Today’s Psalm, written while David was in the Judean wilderness, mirrors Jesus’ time in the wilderness, leading up to His being tempted by Satan.  It mirrors Jesus’ wilderness time, not simply because it was written in the Judean desert.  It is also similar in that David and Jesus’ ability to survive in the desert was more linked to their remembrance of and trust in God’s Word than their ability to find food and water.  We, too, should seek and meditate on His Word from sunrise to bedtime.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”  Matthew 4:1-2

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.” Psalm 63:3-5

“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’”  Matthew 4:3-4

“When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:6-8

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

“But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. Psalm 63:9-11

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23

**All verses are NKJV

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Psalm 62. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. – Selah” Psalm 61:1-4 (NKJV)

It is good to know that we serve a God who hears our prayers and attends to them.  We do not toss up prayers like that lonely NASA engineer sending random messages into space, hoping for signs of extraterrestrial life. God is ever-present (Psalm 46:1), all-knowing (Job 34:21), all-powerful (Matthew 19:26), and His character never changes (James 1:17).  From the end of the earth, we can cry out to Him and expect that He is with us, hear us and can affect change according to His character as articulated in His Word. And that last part (according to His character) is where we often have trouble.  We live in an increasingly impatient society, an on-demand culture that expects our texts, emails, and social media posts to be immediately answered while affirming our egos.  

I'm sad to inform you, but if you don’t already know, we do not have a genie in heaven.  We have a FATHER in heaven, who answers all prayers, yet not always in the affirmative nor according to our wisdom.  He sees the world from an elevated, personally engineered perspective.  He is the Creator; we are the creatures.  He set the world into motion; we are simply responding to it.  Yet, if we trust Him, He will be the Rock, “higher than I.”  He will be our shelter and strong tower protecting us from the enemy.  True worship means giving all that we are to all that He is.  And He delights when we come under the shelter of His wings.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37 (NKJV)

We should delight in dwelling in His tabernacle (sanctuary of His holy presence) because He delights to dwell in our presence for all eternity.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3 (NKJV)

David believed in the resurrection, and he fully expected to spend eternity in God’s presence.  Therefore, he sought God every day.

“For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. You will prolong the king’s life, his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him! So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.”  Psalm 61:5-8 (NKJV)

“Who will bring me to the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom? Is it not You, O God, who cast us off? And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.”  Psalm 60:9-12 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is known as  “A Michtam of David, for teaching…when Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.”  God is so gracious to us. In addition to giving us the theology of the psalms, He also provides context by telling us where (in the Bible) we can reference the accounts/events through which the psalms were written.  We find the battle’s account in 2 Samuel.  

“And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.”  2 Samuel 8:13-15 (NKJV)

When we combine the narrative of 2 Samuel 8 with David’s testimony in Psalm 60, we get a richer understanding of what went on.  Sure, David was ultimately victorious, but not without struggle and doubt.  David begins Psalm 60 in trouble.  

“O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; oh, restore us again!”  Psalm 60:1 (NKJV)

The campaign of battles against the Philistines, Moabites, and Edomites (which did not begin victoriously) began shortly after David assumed the throne.  David was in the midst of great opposition, not just from foreigners, but there was also massive division within the kingdom, stemming from Saul’s extended pursuit of David.  Now, David felt God was against him.  David must have been perplexed as to why victory was so difficult to achieve, since earlier, in 2 Samuel, Chapter 7, God made a covenant with David that He would establish David’s “house” forever.        

“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (NKJV)

So, today we learn three things: 1) battles are not for passive men, 2) even though kingdom success is God’s doing, He still chooses men to lead the charge, and 3) until Jesus returns, the kingdom will remain somewhat unstable under human leadership.

“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord. They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold! You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah” Psalm 59:1-5 (NKJV)

In filmmaking, it is important that a movie is matched with the perfect soundtrack.  What would a James Bond or Star Wars film be without their famous intro music?  But what if the soundtracks were flipped?  What if the Star Wars film began with the James Bond theme?  Something would be amiss.  Hollywood music is created specifically for the films they support.  It is also true for so many of these psalms.  In order to fully understand the song, it helps us to match the music with its “movie,” so to speak.  The subtitle/backdrop for today’s psalm is “When Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill David.”  We find that account in 1 Samuel 19.

“Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, ‘If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.’ So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, ‘He is sick.’ Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, ‘Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.’ And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ hair for his head.” 1 Samuel 19:11-16 (NKJV)

It may have been no fault of David’s that these “ belching dogs” (as David sings) were roaming the town, looking to kill him.  But we see something odd in the movie's plot.  David’s wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter), was an idolater.  Quite a big one, at that, because she had an “image” (aka: idol) big enough to pass for a sleeping man within reach.  We kind of saw it coming, didn’t we?  The Lord has departed from Saul, so we can only assume that his family had departed from Him, as well.  Pomegranates don’t fall far from the tree!  Saul, in his own words, gave Michal as a wife to David as a snare (1 Samuel 18:21).  And Scripture says that Michal was barren, a sign of the Lord’s disfavor in Biblical culture. (2 Samuel 6:23)

When we read of the image with a “cover of goat's hair,” we are also reminded of Jacob, who covered himself with goat hair in order to trick his father Isaac into bestowing (to Jacob) his brother Esau’s blessing. (Genesis 27).  We chuckle at that simple yet profound little detail because we know that the blessing of kingship has been taken from Saul and given to David.  Through both this movie and its soundtrack, we are reminded that we, like David, must keep our focus on God, our fortress, strength, defense, and mercy!

“Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them flow away as waters which run continually; when he bends his bow, let his arrows be as if cut in pieces. Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, as in His living and burning wrath. The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, so that men will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth.’”  Psalm 58:6-11 (NKJV)

When I was a kid, my friends and I entertained ourselves by prank-calling people.  We would call folks and ask if their refrigerator was running.  When they said, “Yes!” we would say, “Hope you can catch it!”  We got many laughs knowing an unsuspecting department store operator was paging “Amanda Hugginkiss” on the loudspeaker. Of course, those were the days before “Caller ID” and long before maturity on our part. One of my friends called me once and asked if we had something to get blood out of the carpet, “…lots of blood."  

Blood is one of those things that stain. Often permanently.  As a young believer, I never understood the imagery of being “washed” in the blood of Jesus.

“So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:14b (NKJV) (Revelation 1:4-6)

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

Today’s passage is the first time we see the idea of “washing in blood” in the Bible.  But the image of washing here does not denote cleansing.  The word “washing” (or bathing in some Bible translations) is meant to describe the level of intensity of the Lord’s judgment.  So, is there any connection to the imagery of New Testament believers who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and the righteous (of David’s day) whose feet were washed in the blood of their enemies?  Perhaps.  Remember that while Jesus knew no sin, He paid the penalty for the world’s sin.  

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin (lit: sin offering) for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

Through Jesus’ shed blood, which led to His death, God’s vengeance laid upon Him was fully accomplished to the extent that David prayed toward his enemies.  While blood typically renders things unclean, the blood of Jesus is the evidence of justice fully served.  The presence of Jesus’ blood on our “garment” (soul) is evidence of how we no longer need cleansing.  His resurrection testified to God’s approval!

“They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me; into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. - Selah - My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.”  Psalm 57:6-11 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is subtitled in my Bible, “A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.”  1 Samuel 22 records that incident.

“David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.  Now the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.”  So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.” 1 Samuel 22:1-5 (NKJV)

Apparently, David was not the only Israelite Saul wanted dead because, when word got out that David was hiding in a cave, many people showed up at his doorstep - "cap in hand."  The real miracle may have been how people with no resources easily found David while Saul, who had the kingdom at his disposal, could not!  

At that point, David had a decision to make.  Was he going to shoo away the discontented, indebted, and distressed crowd?  He had every right.  Undoubtedly, David was concerned that such a crowd might draw unwanted attention to him. For instance, one of the people might have desired Saul’s ransom or a chance to get back into the king’s graces by passing along David’s whereabouts.  But David had compassion on the crowd, as a shepherd would naturally be inclined to do.

Today’s passage shifts from David’s joy over his deliverance from Saul to how David’s faith was strengthened by God’s deliverance.  David’s kingdom may have been scabby at that point, but he was no longer alone.  It is amazing how even the most humble community can be so comforting!  Furthermore, David declares a new day ("awaken the dawn") where he would sing the praises of the Lord to "the nations.”  Indeed, his next move was to send his father and mother to Moab, traditionally bitter enemies of Israel.  But David had an ace up his sleeve.  His great-grandmother was a young Moabite girl named Ruth, who married a righteous Israelite, Boaz.  And like that, the true testimony about Israel’s God had (again) come to the Gentiles.

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? All day they twist my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God! You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), in the Lord (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-11 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is subtitled "When the Philistines Captured David in Gath".  There is only one instance in the Bible where David was at the mercy of the Philistine King in Gath, so we can safely assume that instance was the deliverance about which David was singing.  Perhaps, it helps to refresh ourselves of that story.

“Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, ‘Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’ Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, ‘Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?’” 1 Samuel 21:10-15 (NKJV)

Why should David be concerned to the point of faking insanity?  It helps to remember a story from deep in David’s past, featuring his victory over a bully from Gath.  Sometimes God’s “safe harbor” is in the presence of our enemies. (Psalm 23)

“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, ‘Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.’” 1 Samuel 17:4-9 (NKJV)

God’s Word was that David would someday be king, and nothing that stood between David and his kingdom would kill him.  God’s Word can be trusted!

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Psalm 55. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; they have not set God before them.  Selah   Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth. I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all trouble; and my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.”  Psalm 54:1-7 (NKJV)

We could easily weigh the value of David’s psalm solely by virtue of its declarations about God and David’s faithfulness in the midst of trouble.  We could also focus on God’s judgment of David’s enemies.  But today’s psalm has a header that tells us David wrote the song in response to a specific instance or instances, as the case may be.  The header in my Bible reads:  “To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, ‘Is David not hiding with us?’”  We find those instances in 1 Samuel 23 and 26. (NKJV)

“And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand. So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.’  So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, ‘Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.’”  1 Samuel 23:14-19 (NKJV)

“Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, ‘Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?’” 1 Samuel 26:1 (NKJV)

There are two profoundly interesting things about both Biblical instances, where the Ziphites attempted to rat out David. 1) God allowed David to escape and foiled the plans of His enemies, and 2) God’s deliverance of David set up situations where David spared Saul’s life.  In both instances where the Ziphites sought to aid Saul in killing David, God used that situation to spare both David’s and Saul’s lives.  BOTH of His anointed kings were in His sovereign grasp, even while one was trying to kill the other.  David’s psalm, then, takes on a different meaning thru the filter of these 1 Samuel accounts.  If God is preserving His anointed (David) from Saul, surely He will protect His anointed (Saul) from David were David to "go rogue."  David declares God is the Judge, and His Word (Truth) will be the scale by which both of His anointed are weighed.  It was by the Word that David prevailed.

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.”  Psalm 53:1-3 (NKJV)

In today’s psalm, David contrasts the folly of the godless nations (those who are either atheists or who believe in false gods and not the God of Israel) with the restoration of Israel.  To be clear, when David says no one “understands or seeks after God,” he is not speaking of all mankind.  David is saying that none of the pagans who oppress Israel seek God, and together they have become corrupt.  

That is not to say that God is a racist or that He loves Israel and hates all other nations.  God created all men.  Furthermore, Jesus paid the penalty for the sin of the world, making a way of salvation for all mankind!  There are many foreigners in the Old Testament who turned from their pagan ways, sought the Lord, and found salvation (Ruth, Naaman, Tamar, Rahab, Nebuchadnezzar, Nineveh, etc.).  David’s point is that it is impossible to seek after God AND be an anti-Semite.  While God has a history of using pagan nations to rebuke Israel, no nation who calls upon God could say that He told them to hate Israel.  Ultimately, Israel will prevail by God’s grace.

“Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; you have put them to shame, because God has despised them.”  Psalm 53:4-5 (NKJV)

Speaking prophetically, David looks far into Israel’s future and depicts a time when Israel would be taken captive.  This was obviously God speaking through David because the kingdom would not be divided until the reign of his grandson Rehoboam.  Several generations later, Assyria would conquer and exile the ten tribes of Israel’s Northern Kingdom, followed by Babylon’s eventual conquering and dispossessing of the remaining Israelites from the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

“Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.” Psalm 53:6 (NKJV)

Was Israel on a downward trend, and did David see their eventual downfall?  Absolutely!  But the greater lesson is that God would allow His own people, and even His own Name, to be tarnished with rebuke by pagan non-believers for both His Name and “namesake” to eventually be restored to their proper place of honor and respect among the nations.  It is amazing to me how far God will go to see His people, the priesthood of all believers, return to Him and testify of His greatness among the nations so that the nations will, in turn, believe in Him!

“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness.  Selah  You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, and uproot you from the land of the living.  Selah  The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, ‘Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.’ But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your Name, for it is good." Psalm 52:1-9 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm is a “Contemplation of David” when Doeg the Edomite told King Saul that David and his men had been given refuge at the house of Ahimelech, the priest.  The story is found in 1 Samuel.  

“And the king (Saul) said, ‘You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!’ Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, ‘Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.’ But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, ‘You turn and kill the priests!’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep - with the edge of the sword. Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord’s priests. So David said to Abiathar, ‘I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe.’” 1 Samuel 22:16-23 (NKJV)

Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, as was Doeg.  It helps to understand that because none of Saul’s Jewish soldiers would dare kill Ahimelech, the priest—no problem for the Gentile.  David’s psalm is a reminder that God sees and repays injustices.  It is a psalm of hope in God’s justice, even when we are at our most vulnerable and helpless seasons of life (green olive tree in the house of God).  Have you put your faith and trust in Him, or are you still trying to reason & hustle your way through life?  All who turn to Him through the “Son of David,” Jesus, He will hold you in His hand (John 10:28-29) and by no means cast out!  (John 6:37)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

A Prayer of Repentance - To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight - that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.”  Psalm 51:1-4 (NKJV)

In order to fully understand the context of today’s psalm, we must see it through the narrative of 2 Samuel 12.

“…Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’  So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’ Then Nathan departed to his house.  And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.”  2 Samuel 12:7a-15 (NKJV)

I remember reading 2 Samuel 12 as a new believer, young in the faith, and I could not understand how King David could mutter, “I have sinned against the Lord,” and actually be forgiven.  Oh, the injustice!  Who would avenge Uriah the Hittite?  Something about God’s forgiveness seemed wrong.  But today’s psalm helps us understand that David did not simply utter a short prayer.  David fully acknowledged his sin and articulated to anyone watching-on (the whole nation soon saw David’s kingdom under siege from within his family) that, unlike Job, David was about to get what he deserved, but with mercy. Instead of dying for his sin, David had to live with it.

This account is both frightening and comforting. David knew he could never cleanse himself, but that God could and would.  He begged God for a new heart and a steadfast spirit.  And, like all believers, David received it.  (Romans 15:13; Jeremiah 24:7)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Amos 4. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

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Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Judges 14. Click the links below to watch or listen now!