The Week of May 26, 2008

Psalm 54, 55, 56
Psalm 54
This psalm is a typical individual psalm of lament. The superscription recalls an event in David's life from I Samuel 23:19, when David narrowly missed being killed by King Saul. Notice that God's name and God's power are intimately connected with salvation here, as elsewhere in the Psalms. The lament follows the familiar pattern of calling upon God's saving name and power, describing the present trouble, and then expressing trust in God's faithfulness. The lament ends with a song of thanksgiving for the help that will surely come. Notice how the psalmist's enemies are also God's enemies in verse 3!

Psalm 55
While this psalm is also an individual psalm of lament arising from "enemy trouble," it has a more complex and poetic feel. There are two parts to this psalm; vs.1-15 and vs.16-23. The first part of this psalm goes into great detail concerning the psalmist's troubles. Enemies "clamor" against him, threaten him, and lie about him. Even more troubling, a close friend betrays his trust. The anguish of this poetry gives birth to one the most beautiful metaphors in Old Testament lament literature. The psalmist says "O that I could fly away on the wings of a dove." (vs. 6-7). The second part of the psalm expresses trust that God will "right" the situation, but also expresses pain a second time concerning the betrayal of a friend, "whose speech was smoother than butter" and "softer than oil."

Psalm 56
This psalm of lament is attributed to David, with the superscription referencing I Samuel 21:11-15 - a particularly close call in David's life! Once again, this prayer is for deliverance from enemies, and once again the anguish, worry and torment of the psalmist come through the poetry. In particular notice vs. 8, where the psalmist says that God keeps count of his tossing in bed, bottling his tears and recording of his distress. This beautiful imagery suggests trust in God, and the belief that human distress matters to our loving God.

From My Reading; Concerning Psalm 56
The psalmist finds comfort in the thought that God remembers.
The torments the psalmist has suffered are preserved by God in the scroll of life. This means that, even if his sufferings become a "cold case" it is possible that he can eventually be vindicated. God has "kept count" of his tossings and, in a poignant phrase, has "put my tears in your bottle" (verse 8). God remembers our sufferings and God cares.
Marshall Johnson, Psalms through the Year

My Thoughts

It is not enemies who taunt me - I could bear that;
it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me - I could hide from them.
But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend,
with whom I kept pleasant company;
we walked in the house of God with the throng.
Psalm 55:12-14

In the psalms, there are clear cut roles. "Enemies" are those who are not part of God's people; who do not share worship or history with Israel; who do not recognize the one true God. They are "wicked" and seemingly out to "get" God's people. The opposite of "enemies" are the "righteous" or the "servants of God," who walk in God's ways, and trust in God for deliverance. The poet of Psalm 55 cries out in agony because these clear cut roles have been reversed! Here the faithful one experiences harm, not at the hand of the enemy, but at the hand of a fellow believer. A fellow worshipper, a dinner companion, someone well known and of the people of God betrays the psalmist, and the pain comes swiftly and intensely.

Isn't it the same for us? It's one thing to be slighted or forgotten by acquaintances; to be maligned or mistreated by strangers; but when a fellow church member acts unkindly, or a best friend takes us for granted, it cuts deeply. More than one person has left a church over the thoughtlessness of a church leader or church group. Many friendships suffer SERIOUS ups and downs as friends play out the drama of unrealistic expectations. Betrayal ends marriages and splits families. The psalmist understands human frailty, experiencing first hand the duplicity and treachery that friends and loved ones can dish out. So what are we to do? Who can we depend upon when even those close to us disappoint? Once again the psalmist answers, saying "Cast your burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain you." (Psalm 55:22)

When the early church received advice concerning its life together; in the face of enemies and persecution, even betrayal by church members, the author of I Peter echoes the psalmist's instruction. "Cast all your burdens and anxieties on God, because he cares for you." (I Peter 5:7) We need to feel secure in friendships and in the Body of Christ. We need one another, and depend upon one another. But ultimately, no human being or human relationship is perfect. Ultimately no human group (the church included) is immune from disappointing us. Ultimately, we must remember to turn to God for unchanging and steadfast refuge.

O Most High, when I am afraid I put my trust in you.
You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling
Psalm 56:2, 13

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

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