Take It To The Lord In Prayer.

TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

Psalm 55:16-22.

PSALM 55:16. King David was no stranger to ‘friends’ letting him down, but his bold assertion in the face of betrayal was: “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” The God upon whom he calls is the true and living God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth; YHWH, the Covenant “LORD” of Israel; ‘the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Ephesians 1:3), our Saviour. We can be sure that when we cry to HIM for help, HE will hear and answer and respond accordingly!

PSALM 55:17. The “morning” and “evening” prayer corresponds to the time of the morning and evening sacrifice in Jerusalem. The prayer at “noon” is nowhere commanded, but was certainly practised: by Peter, for example (cf. Acts 10:9). In response to the ill-advised policy of Darius that ‘whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions’ (cf. Daniel 6:7), we find Daniel with his windows open towards Jerusalem praying to his God (who is our God) ‘three times a day’ (cf. Daniel 6:10).

The idea is not so much that of having certain so-called ‘canonical hours’ for prayer, but rather of ‘praying always’ (cf. Ephesians 6:18). Importunity is not ‘vain repetition’ (cf. Matthew 6:7), but rather faithful, believing persistence (cf. Luke 18:7-8).

Sometimes a stressful prayer is nothing more than a “cry aloud” (PSALM 55:17). Thus the LORD could say to Moses, ‘I have heard the cry of my people’ (cf. Exodus 3:7). Our Father in heaven hears the cries of His children upon the earth: “and He shall hear their voice” (PSALM 55:17).

PSALM 55:18. “It is He that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.” This could refer to the past, to put it on record that, ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us’ (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12). Or it could be anticipating the future, foreseeing a happy issue out of all these afflictions.

“For there were many with me” – many to fight against him. From his youthful encounter with Goliath, David was familiar with the concept that ‘the battle is the LORD’s’ (cf. 1 Samuel 17:47). So the glory of the victory is of the LORD and not of man (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:15).

PSALM 55:19. Speaking of his enemies, David declares that “God shall hear and afflict them.” The LORD hears David’s prayers, and sits as judge against David’s foes. “Even He that abideth of old,” with whom there is ‘no variableness, neither shadow of turning’ (cf. James 1:17). “Selah” suggests a pause for thought at this point.

David continues, “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” Change IS required of them, in the form of repentance: a change of mind in their attitude towards God.

PSALM 55:20-21. The malice of David’s enemies is often seen in the activity of one individual. The smooth talking of Absalom whereby he ‘stole the hearts of the men of Israel’ is on record (cf. 2 Samuel 15:1-6), as is the betrayal of David’s counsellor, Ahitophel (cf. 2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 16:15).

But what we see here also is Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus. Jesus said, 'Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?' (cf. Luke 22:48). With that, we are reminded of how we must rather ‘fellowship’ with Jesus in His sufferings (cf. Philippians 3:10).

PSALM 55:22. David’s contemplation of a situation of hostility, betrayal and persecution led him to the conclusion that when we cast our care upon the Lord, He does take care of us (cf. 1 Peter 5:7). Even our friends might let us down, but God never will.

And “He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Though we may stumble, our heavenly Father will not allow any of His children to fall for ever.