Psalm 59: Divine Deliverance

Key Verse
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Meditation
God’s steadfast love is our fortress, a shelter from which we move from struggles to singing. When eyes of faith “watch for the Lord” (9) then souls sing praise to the Lord of love (17).
 
David’s prayer for deliverance and protection (1-2) climaxes with praising God as his “Strength and fortress, the God who shows steadfast love.” (17) David’s lament gives lyrics for faith in the midst of problems and pain in (at least) four ways: 
 
1- Honesty with difficulties (3-7). The historical context of today’s reading was king Saul sending men to take David’s life during the night (1 Samuel 19:11-24). David’s first step to seeing deliverance was lament, naming the need to be delivered from difficulties.
 
2- Strength from God’s word (8-10).  David used Psalm 2:1-6 for perspective, allowing God’s word to drive him to God’s character and deepen trust in God’s covenant faithfulness. Feasting on Scripture fuels faith and focuses hearts.
 
3- Victory is already and not yet (11-15). David celebrated God’s ultimate victory, but “Each evening they come back…” (14) Sin still resides in hearts, flows from mouths, and resists the plans and promises of God. God’s ultimate victory shapes the saints in the midst of struggle.
 
4- Steadfast love frees us to sing during storms (16-17). David sings of God’s steadfast love (1, 9, 10, 16, 17) pointing us to the person and work of Jesus. Jesus was handed over to His enemies, enduring difficulties unto death, so all who belong to Him can be free through His work, draw strength from His word, and sing by His steadfast love!
 
Today’s Reading
 
To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; 2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. 3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 4  for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! 5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
 
6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
 
11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! 12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob  to the ends of the earth. Selah
 
14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. 
 
16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the journey David takes from problems and pain to praise?
 
-Where do you look for strength during struggles and storms?
 
-How can you return to the Lord alone as your refuge and strength, trusting His steadfast love through the person and work of Jesus more than your struggles and uncertainties? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.