Divinely Shelter Series

Psalm 57:1-11 Divinely Shelter during Disaster

This Psalm 57 offered to the Pure and Shining One, i.e., Yahweh. David sang this Psalm in the tune of -Do not Destroy. It is one of the golden (Michtam) songs of David. There are four psalms in this pattern, namely Psalms 57, 58, 59 and 75. This individual lament refers back to those perilous times when David fled from Saul and hid in caves (1 Samuel 22: 24). From Psalm 57:1, I would like to share three lessons:

1. Deadly disaster,

2. Divinely shelter,

3. Devotedly pray.

Deadly Disaster:

David sings this Psalm while he was struggling for his survival. He was very nearer to Death. So he used the word disaster (Psalm 57:1). The word disaster translated by various scholars as Terrible Trouble(PT), Devastations(OJB), Destroying Storms (NSRV Catholic Edition), Calamities Pass over(YLT), and wickedness (Wycliff Bible).

Disaster is not new to the human race. The fall of Adam not only brought eternal death sentence to the soul but also death decree to the human body. Ever since that day human beings are passing away from this world almost every second of a day. People die of all kinds of diseases. The Black Death in the 14th Century killed one-third of Europe population i.e., 25 million. Spanish flu killed many millions in the last century.

But today the world is worried about only one thing known as CORONA VIRUS or COVID-19. Whether Coronavirus is a biblical plague? Is it the punishment of God? Is it the sign of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are the economic collapse, the continuous outbreak of the pandemic through the spread of viruses point to the fulfilment of the book of Revelation? Before we answer all these questions, it is good to know the definition of the plague and its place in the Bible.

According to Jewish Encyclopaedia: Bible uses five different words to denote plague. They are meggefah (a striking or smiting – Exodus 9:3-4, Numbers 15;37), negef (a blow -Joshua 22:17, Numbers 16:46-47), Nega (a touch or a stroke – Exodus 11:1, Leviticus 13,15), Makkah (a blow or wound – Numbers 11:3, 1 Samuel 4:8), and deber (rendered plagues – Hosea 13:14 Murrian of cattle plague and Habakkuk 3:5 -pestilence of the human).

Bible uses interchangeably in OT for 120 times as per KJV, but Hebrews Bible has 70 references to these words. Common words used are meggefah and deber to indicate the divine anger to destroy the idolatrous (Exodus 32:35) and rebellious people on earth by pestilence, death blow and the slaughter was numerous in every occasion of the Plagues in the Bible.

The New Testament used common words for plague are loimos and plege’.

Most of us are affected by Diabetes, Hypertension, tuberculosis, and much other terminal illness. Some of us had the experience of going through Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Malaria, Typhoid, Dengue, chikungunya SARS and MERS. By the grace of God, many healed from those diseases few are surviving with those diseases.

Life on earth is the uncertain end is a reality. We are walking every day nearer to the grave, but we do not know how many steps are yet to make. We are worried so much about this Coronavirus and death because of its power to destroy us quickly. Not only that we are bombarded with updates on the affected, diseased by COVID-19 through all TV Channels, Print and Social media.

It is good to know about the danger of this contagious disease but need not panic and depressed. Follow the instructions of cleanliness and live with a positive mindset and energy. Finally, put your trust in Divine Shelter.

As David pursued by King Saul, we are pursued by the Coronavirus as a great disaster. David offered this prayer for divine shelter. At this juncture, let us seek the grace of God to overcome our disastrous situations in personal and community living. We need not worry about the end times if we live under his shadow and shelter. Fear not about the deadly disaster takes shelter in God.

Divine Shelter:

David eagerly prayed for the shelter of God because of the hopeless circumstances in his circumferences. David pursued by King Saul and a great army. His comrades and relatives were against him. His close friend Jonathan was not able to save him from King Saul. David pushed to the end of his life. He was hiding in the clefts of Rocks. We understand that David had his best shelter at Adullam Cave (1 Samuel 22:1).

However, he was longing for the shelter of God. Therefore, he made this meaningful heart-breaking prayer for divine protection. David found real security, not in the hidden recesses of the caves but the shadow of the wings of God. Our Godly shelter is in Christ, the ROCK of Salvation. God is God of grace and Father of mercies. So it is most fit that we seek the mercies of God in distress from whom it dwells.