Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

 

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!

You gave me room when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?

How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah

3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;

the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 When you are disturbed, do not sin;

ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!

Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”

7 You have put gladness in my heart

more than when their grain and wine abound.

8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

via Psalm 4 (NRSV) – Biblia.com.

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There is much good to ponder in this Psalm. David knew what it was like to have enemies.  David was also confident that God heard his prayers. He knew that his enemies would not be victorious. Instead, God would answer.

The time between crying out to God, and feeling that God has answered is uneasy. It is easy to fear and fret. It is also easy to try to take matters into our own hands. Notice what David does here. After he prays, he reflects on what his response should be. Here is how I would list this response:

• Remember God’s love and how much he loves you.
• Do not sin.
• Ponder the situation.
• Be silent. (I love this one!)
• Offer right sacrifices.
• Put your trust in the Lord.

David then remembers the result of this approach. God has placed gladness in his heart. He also can lie down and sleep in peace (even though he has enemies who want to do away with him), because God makes him lie down in safety.

Perhaps David’s approach to the enemies in his life can help us as we deal with our own enemies!