In Psalm 55, David is quite distraught. Now, remember he was a man after God’s own heart. He was seriously close to the Lord, and no doubt loved the Lord with all his heart. But, David, like you and I was flesh and blood and struggled with temptations of all sort; as we do. He had enemies within and outside his own family. Unlike many of us, however, he was a King specifically selected by God.
And most of us will agree that when one has such position, usually more is required of him or her. Additionally, like many of us do, David faced the consequences of his choices and behavior. He had to hide from his pursuers and I can but only imagine how difficult that truly was.
David would cry out to God, “Listen to my prayer, O, God! Do not ignore my cry for help!” This indicates to me that he was truly desperate. He would cry out, “Please listen and answer me, I am overwhelmed with my troubles!” Oh, how urgency reminds me of those times I too, have cried out in my desperation. The sense of despair and yes, even hopelessness is a very real and fearful point of agony.
One feels as if God is not there, but He is. One feels that God doesn’t listen, but He does! One feels that God doesn’t care, and has given up on us. It brings us to a point of anguish. David’s anguish is clearly stated when he wrote, “My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I cannot stop shaking.”
I have felt this way before and I can relate to his despair. But he continues, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly away to the quiet of the wilderness. How quickly I would escape from this wild storm…”. This tells me ! David still had hope. He knew his peace was there in the Lord!
For he writes, “But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in distress, and the Lord hears my voice.” He knew God listened to him. He demonstrates this hope when he writes, “He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me.” Aside from his feelings of distress, despair and agony, he still hung on to his hope in God. He didn’t curse God, but continued to call on him.
He also advises the reader “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
He ends this particular Psalm by saying, “but I am trusting you to save me.” And, God did.
He does the same for us. But; we must call on him, live for him, face the journey with God’s help and trust.
God always comes through and on time. Isn’t He wonderful?
ritasalomon 