Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 54
Starting with Psalm 51 there are fourteen psalms that are
marked, “Of David.” Psalms 52, 53, 54, and 55 are all labeled as a “maskil.” We
do not know what this word actually means, but we think that is either a
musical or liturgical term because the Psalms have long been used in worship.
In this psalm David praises God for saving him from his enemies and declares
his intention to bring an offering to thank God for his deliverance. The
particular rescue that David refers to in this psalm can be read about in 1
Samuel 23:15-24. Today we can see many enemies who set themselves against us as
God and His people. These would include physical enemies like governments and
people who oppress and persecute Christians, but would also include enemies of
a spiritual nature like sin, death, and the devil. God delivers us from those
enemies – physical and spiritual – and in the end we will look in triumph on
them.
Teaching
There is a tendency among Christians to over focus on either
the physical or the spiritual part of our lives. This psalm was written about a
time that God delivered David from physical danger. We should recognize that.
When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “… deliver us from evil,” that evil includes
the physical ills of injury, sickness, violence, pain, and the like. However,
it should not be overlooked that we have spiritual enemies in this life, and
this psalm, which finds its full meaning in the salvation and deliverance Jesus
won for us, points us to thank God for that deliverance as well. Our lives are
not either spiritual or physical. They are both, and God’s salvation extends
into both.
Life
People often casually blurt, “O my god,” in all kinds of
situations. In this psalm God’s name is our salvation and we give thanks to
God’s name. There is a time and a place for us to call out, “O God!” We are
privileged to call on that name when we pray, praise, and give thanks. We call
on that name when we proclaim how God has saved us, helped us, and upheld our
lives. God’s name has become the name that comes to our lips when we face
struggles, enemies, dangers, and sorrows. This is especially significant as we
remember that the name Jesus means, “The Lord saves,” or “The Lord is
salvation.” We call on His name, and the Father, and the Spirit for God saves
and gives us victory over our enemies.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction, Thanksgiving, and Confession.
O God, You save us by Your name; Your name by which You
reveal Yourself to us so we may know You and call upon You. You hear our
prayers and give ear to our words, and when enemies – physical or spiritual –
rise against us You are our helper who makes us triumph. It is by Your name that
we lift our thanksgiving to You!
Thank You for Your name; Your name by which You reveal
Yourself as our savior. Thank You for hearing us when we call and for answering
in such a way as to save us. Thank You for giving us Your name so we can call
to You, and for placing that name on us in our baptism.
Forgive us for the times we have not honored Your name or
given thanks for hearing our prayers. Forgive us for misusing Your name. We
know there have been times we have even failed to call on You in our times of
need. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake – because You are the Lord who saves. Amen.
Comments