Reading: Psalm 55-57

QUESTIONS
  • Psalm 55:12-14 describes why David is in such particular anguish. How have you been in a similar situation? “Cast your burden on the Lord” by bringing this to him in prayer (vs 22).
  • “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” expresses some of the most tender and watchful love of God (56:8). How does this give you a confident trust in God (verses 3-4)? Tell the Lord how you trust him.
  • Take note of the exuberant and public nature of the worship in Psalm 57:7-11. What would it look like for you to embody this same kind of thankful praise to God? Tell the Lord he is worthy of such praise.
DEVOTION

All three Psalms were intended for public worship. These laments focus on David’s enemies and his turning to God for help. In Psalm 55, David is asking for God’s deliverance against a close friend, companion, his equal (Ps. 55:12-14). In Psalm 56, his enemy is the Philistines and in Psalm 57, his persecution from Saul. After he laments regarding his situations, David returns to remembering who God is. Let us focus for a moment on Psalm 55 since David is lamenting about something most of us can relate to, a time when we were hurt or betrayed by a close friend. You assumed this person cared about you and it can be hard to work through, right? In this Psalm, David is crying out to God for deliverance from that exact situation. David describes this person as a close friend, a companion, his equal. This person was someone that David shared counsel with, and they worshipped God together (Ps. 55:12-14).

In Psalms 55, 56, and 57, David initially pleads for God’s help, but then he reminds himself and us of God’s nature. God saves, hears, redeems, sustains, is trustworthy, is for us, fulfills His purposes, and is exalted. Psalm 56 emphasizes that the Lord will save David, He hears his voice, and is for him. “What can man do to me?” (Ps. 56:4 and 12). We are also reminded that it is God who vindicates, not us. We need to trust that God will handle the situation in His perfect way and timing. We are not to revenge the wrongs done to us, but to wait on the Lord. 

As we approach God in our prayers, let these psalms remind us that God cares about our sorrows, heartaches and disappointments. He hears us. He wants us to cast our burdens on Him (Ps 55:22). Let these Psalms reminds us to start and end these times of lament with praise to the only One that can help us. His steadfast love and faithfulness are great. Our focus should be on God, the one who hears and cares. On praising Him and ultimately glorifying Him through these hard situations. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Ps. 57:5,11)

– Lisa Arnold