Day 328: Psalm 55- Strength To Sustain

Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” 9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; 11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. 12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. 15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. 16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
 
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
 
Meditation
Does your prayer life focus more on changing your circumstances or on the unchanging God who is with you in your circumstances? God will not remove the burden as much as He will bless you with His presence to sustain you through burdensome seasons. God promises, “I am with you always.”
 
David pleads for mercy (1), moaning from the weight of misery from his enemy (2) and the trouble against him (3).  His heart is in anguish (4), horror overwhelms him (5), and he wants to escape the suffering of his days (6-8). Anarchists align against him (9-11) and close friends betray him (12-15).
 
David seeks to be dependent on God during his difficult days. David trusts sovereignty (16-19). Betrayed horizontally (20-21), David looks vertically to cast his burden on the Lord. David trusts God to sustain him (23).
 
“Sustain” is used throughout Scripture to speak of provision during problematic times. Joseph provides for his family in Egypt, strength to sustain life during famine (Genesis 45:11). God sustained Israel in the wilderness with food to eat and clothes that did not run out (Nehemiah 9:21). God does not remove famine or take His people out of wilderness wandering but He sustains them through. God strengthens His people with His provision, presence, protection, and providence.
 
God will sustain you through seasons of struggle. He is with you and invites you to cast your burdens upon Him- He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  Will you trust Him? God is with you and He loves you.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Does your prayer life focus more on changing your circumstances or on our unchanging God who is with you in your circumstances?
 
-David’s suffering points uniquely to the suffering of his greater son, Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered so we can have strength in our suffering. He is with you and understands. How can you cast your burdens on Him, allowing His presence to sustain you?
 
-God will always provide for His people- Always. Where have you seen God sustain you in the past? How does this strengthen you in hope for tomorrow?
 
Key Verse
22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved