READ: Psalm
27-28
David is the author of both Psalms. Psalm 27 shows
us David’s again. We see him fluctuate between confidence in God’s provision
and faithfulness, and the fact that God’s faithfulness may not look like he’d
like it to.
In the first three verses David tells the Lord of
his confidence in Him. He is surrounded by enemies. Things could go downhill
quickly, but he sings about how the Lord will save him. Then we see the heart
of David revealed in verse 4. He tells the Lord he wants to be in heaven with
him if his battle isn’t won on earth. As confident as David is that God will
answer His prayer, he cannot be certain the answer to the prayer will be what
he’d like. He wants to be prepared for any answer God gives – including that of
his own death.
He then continues to praise God for his
faithfulness, and the mighty things God has and will do for him. David feels
strongly that God can and will do anything for him! This is confirmed for us in
verses 13-14. David is “confident of this”, that God will bless him, give him
the desire of his heart, make him a victor again, and bless him with goodness,
in this life. He is willing to wait until heaven if that’s what God’s plan for
him is. Yet, he is confident he won’t have to wait that long.
Psalm 28 again shows us David crying out to the
Lord for help. This time his enemies are not nations or armies coming up
against him. This time it’s people. Neighbours. Friends. This can be the most
difficult battle to fight. When people we know and care about hurt us, our
hearts are damaged. When we run or fight for our lives, as David had to many
times, there may be physical loss or damage. The heart, however, normally stays
in tact. When our hearts are damaged it is very different.
In verse 3 we see his battle is with people who
speak nicely and act like great friends or neighbours, but who hold malice in
their hearts. Armies would be easier to deal with. Yet David prays. He is confident in the
Lord’s ability and willingness to help him – again. And sure enough, God comes
through – again.
By verse 6 God has heard his prayer and answered
him. It’s the next verse though, that’s powerful for us today. It says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped”. His heart trusts. Not his head, his heart.
David’s trust in God is not just intellectual. His heart actually believes God
will protect him. God has spoken to his heart. Sometimes we have the head
belief but we can’t trust it with our hearts. This Psalm encourages us to
continue praying for God to move our hearts to trust Him.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Ask the Lord to speak to you about a prayer request
you have now. Are you truly prepared for God to answer your prayer, but not
like you’d like? Is your heart ready to receive any answer from God, or
are you only going to praise Him if the answer is what you want? Ask the Lord
to reveal any hidden fears or struggles in regard to trusting God fully with
this prayer request.
2. Journal any names God shows you of people who have
hurt you in the past, or currently (or times when you have spoken nicely but
had malice in your heart). Ask God to show you if you have forgiven or asked
for forgiveness, and if not do that now.
3. Ask God to reveal your heart to you: Do you trust
God with your heart enough that you can continue to give and be vulnerable in
relationships? Ask Him to bring new depth of healing and even more trust to your
heart.
