YOU NEED A REAL GOD AND A
REAL FAITH!
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not
David hiding among us?”
Psalm 54
1 O God, save me by
your name,
and vindicate me by your
might.
2 O God, hear my
prayer;
give ear to the words of
my mouth
David had a real problem and real enemies! And on his own, he would have been in a real mess.
But David also had a real God and a real faith in Him.
Dear friends, it is our
reactions to difficulties that expose whom we
believe in and what we believe. David’s trust was based on the name and power
of God.
One of the questions we
should ask ourselves (for our reactions will always expose this) is what we
believe about the character of God and His power.
If asked, we all would
state that we believe God is holy, loving,
righteous, wise, meticulous, and caring. We would proclaim that He is
all-powerful and that He has no limitations. Our reactions to our trials and
difficulties will then show if we live with awareness that everything is
channeled through God’s careful, sovereign work.
We are challenged in our
beliefs continually. We know God is in control of every aspect of our lives,
from the smallest to the greatest. When David wrote these songs, his purpose
was to remind himself of these truths, though he lived confronted by harsh daily
challenges.
3 For strangers have
risen against me;
ruthless men seek my
life;
they do not set God before
themselves. Selah
David’s difficulties were
real and present! There were those who desired to kill him. They were enemies
of God, with no intention to submit to Him. It is difficult to deal with the
sinfulness of the world. At times we are overwhelmed by the viciousness of the
lies of those who seem to have no moral boundaries. Every believer, in every
time of history, has had to deal with these realities and has had only one
place to find refuge.
4 Behold, God is
my helper;
the Lord is the upholder
of my life.
God is our helper. He is
aware, He is capable, and He gives life and sustains life. His intentions are
always marvelously perfect. He can only do what is good and perfect, according
to His eternal purposes for us. And His purposes cannot be thwarted.
5 He will return the
evil to my enemies;
in
your faithfulness put an end to them.
In God’s timing, He will
make things right.
Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought
to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the
contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his
head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Not only does God expect
us to trust Him and to rely on Him for help, but as we wait on Him, our
behavior needs to be driven by love. We should be extending to others the grace
we have received from God and we should cherish the forgiveness He grants to us
every time we sin and repent before Him.
6 With a freewill
offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your
name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has
delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked
in triumph on my enemies.
Our lives should be filled
with thankfulness that we have a caring God whom we can rely upon. God will
triumph; His justice will prevail. We know exactly what our eternal destiny is,
and we know that the purposes of God are always good.
May our lives today
reflect these truths, and may we be prepared, as we tackle whatever challenges
the day brings.
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