Slices
Prepare
What makes you feel unsafe? Some fear crime; others are more concerned about ideologies that threaten life as we know it. Whatever the threat, where can you go to hide?
Bible passage
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just;
listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer –
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
3 Though you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned no evil;
my mouth has not transgressed.
4 Though people tried to bribe me,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded.
5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not stumbled.
6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
7 Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
13 Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down;
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
15 As for me, I shall be vindicated and shall see your face;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Explore
In this psalm, David makes three pleas to God. The first is essentially ‘I am innocent!’ (v 1); then comes ‘they are attacking me!’ (v 6); and finally, ‘I am confident in God!’ (v 13).
Notice the physical descriptions David uses. His attackers have ‘callous hearts’, arrogant ‘mouths’ (v 10) and ‘eyes’ intent on evil (v 11). He then adds an animal description: a ‘lion hungry for prey’ (v 12).
And yet, despite their calloused hearts, arrogant mouths and sinister eyes, David finishes this psalm expressing confidence in God. Why? Because just before these verses he has also given physical and animal descriptions of God.
Our God turns his ear towards us to hear our prayer (v 6), his authority is used to save his people (see the ‘right hand’, v 7) and his people are the apple of his eye. This refers to the tiny reflection of the person in the pupil of the eye, revealing the focus of his loving gaze (v 8). And, like a hen, God spreads his wings to protect his people.
Respond
The answer David anticipates is not focused on the removal of any threat. Rather, it is the anticipated joy of intimacy with God himself. What if God himself is the greatest answer to your prayer?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jonah 3,4; Revelation 11
Pray for Scripture Union
SU Serbia give thanks for the encouragement brought by their young volunteers who were once participants in the camps and are now stepping up to serve the next generation. Pray that they will be open to learning and growing in ministry during the activities and training organised over the coming months and that their enthusiasm and dedication will inspire others.
