God’s Saving Word: Prayer

Introduction

Psalm 59: Today’s psalm is another prayer for God’s protection from enemies and is attributed to David. It refers to a time when King Saul sent men to watch David’s house at night and to kill him in the morning (see 1 Samuel 19). The writer expresses confidence in God, and the psalm concludes with an affirmation of God’s constant love.

Scripture Reading

A Prayer for Safety

59 Save me from my enemies, my God;
    protect me from those who attack me!
2 Save me from those evil people;
    rescue me from those murderers!

3 Look! They are waiting to kill me;
    cruel people are gathering against me.
It is not because of any sin or wrong I have done,
4     nor because of any fault of mine, O Lord,
    that they hurry to their places.

5 Rise, Lord God Almighty, and come to my aid;
    see for yourself, God of Israel!
Wake up and punish the heathen;
    show no mercy to evil traitors!

6 They come back in the evening,
    snarling like dogs as they go about the city.
7 Listen to their insults and threats.
Their tongues are like swords in their mouths,
    yet they think that no one hears them.

8 But you laugh at them, Lord;
    you mock all the heathen.
9 I have confidence in your strength;
    you are my refuge, O God.
10 My God loves me and will come to me;
    he will let me see my enemies defeated.

11 Do not kill them, O God, or my people may forget.
    Scatter them by your strength and defeat them,
    O Lord, our protector.
12 Sin is on their lips; all their words are sinful;
    may they be caught in their pride!
Because they curse and lie,
13     destroy them in your anger;
    destroy them completely.
Then everyone will know that God rules in Israel,
    that his rule extends over all the earth.

14 My enemies come back in the evening,
    snarling like dogs as they go about the city,
15     like dogs roaming about for food
    and growling if they do not find enough.

16 But I will sing about your strength;
    every morning I will sing aloud of your constant love.
You have been a refuge for me,
    a shelter in my time of trouble.
17 I will praise you, my defender.
    My refuge is God,
    the God who loves me.

Today’s Key Verse:  Psalm 59:17

I will praise you, my defender. My refuge is God, the God who loves me.

Reflect

Reread verses 1-7. How is the writer’s situation described? What verses in this psalm express the writer’s trust in God? Have you ever experienced a time of uncertainty when you needed to put your trust in God alone? If so, what was the situation and what was the outcome?

Pray

Almighty God, you alone are my refuge. Whenever I am afraid, I know that you are always near. Keep me close to you and calm my fears so that I may dwell in the safety of your steadfast love. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Psalm 61: Finding safety with God.