Slices
Prepare
When the going gets tough, how does God show his love and care for you?
Bible passage
For the director of music. To the tune of ‘A Dove on Distant Oaks’. Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1 Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise –
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words;
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps,
hoping to take my life.
7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll –
are they not in your record?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise –
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank-offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Explore
The psalmist was having a tough patch in his life. The Philistines had successfully pursued and perhaps reached him (v 1). Despite this, there is a positive note of hope that fills this psalm, best seen in the final section where the psalmist affirms that he will present his thank‑offerings to God (v 12). How easy do you find it to praise God in times of persecution or challenge? I wonder if this is one of the psalms Jesus reflected on as he talked and thought about the way he was being pursued by enemies who wanted to kill him. Have you ever had to keep going despite the opposition? How did you handle that?
Such persecution and opposition still happen today. A missionary had been through tough times. In a brutal attack her husband and two sons were killed. Though she pronounced forgiveness to the perpetrators, life was not easy. Haunting memories and questions kept coming back to her. When her faith was tossed like a roller coaster, she would always return to the promise in Psalm 56:11 – ‘in God I trust and am not afraid’. She drew strength from knowing that God does not overlook our misery and he keeps count of our tears (v 8).
Respond
Pray: ‘Help me, Lord, to be aware that when I shed tears you are there by my side and I can trust in you.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 41,42; Hebrews 5
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the 160 campers and leaders of SU New Zealand who will gather from Tuesday to Sunday asking that their study on wisdom in community and friendship will deepen their faith and form lasting connections.
