READ:
Psalm 69
Again in Psalm 69 David is in trouble.
People are against him. He’s worn out and ready to be swept away with the
trouble and suffering. When David gets to this psalm he’s already worn out from
calling for help. He’s called for help so long his throat is parched. Those who
are against him have no good reason to be against him. Everything about his
situation seems unjust. David says it is unfair to be treated this way for
things he did not do. However, he also quickly points out to God he recognizes
he is not perfect. He has sinned and is confident God knows what those sins
are. Nothing is hidden. Yet people are accusing him of sin he hasn’t committed.
So David begs God not to let this false reputation bring disgrace to God’s
people.
David says in verse 13 that even though
all this is happening and he is overwhelmed with all of it, and even though
he’s prayed before and not gotten an answer, he is going to pray again. David
is not giving up on prayer or on God even though he hasn’t gotten an answer
yet. He declares his trust in God again, and in His love and salvation. His
prayer is simply, “Answer me. Don’t let me die now.”
We have another passage in which David
begs God for the punishment of his enemies. David’s enemies may have been the
army of Saul, or individuals who abandoned and tried to trap him. In this
particular psalm David gets specific with how deeply he wants them to be
attacked by God. He tells God to pour out His wrath over them, to charge them
with crimes, to remove their salvation, and have their names blotted out of the
book of life. Those are some serious requests!
We may think we have no enemies today.
Perhaps there are no armies chasing us down, and we are not running for our
lives. However, the dangers we face daily on a spiritual level may be just as ominous
as the enemies David faced; perhaps even more so. Some of us may struggle with
an addiction that threatens to tear our families apart. Others may struggle
with pride, bitterness or anger. Then there are those for whom gossip, gluttony
and greed are a powerful driving force. When we look at verses 19 through 29
with this perspective, we can pray this prayer along with David. Oh, that God
would slay our addictions to food or porn! Oh, that God would blot out of our
lives even the desire to think poorly about someone else! When the enemy is not
‘out there’ but rather within our hearts, this psalm can become our own plea to
God for freedom.
Verse 30 reminds us again how much more
God is pleased with thanksgiving than with sacrifice. God doesn’t need or want
bulls or goats. What He really wants is our hearts of thanks.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. David is concerned about the reputation
the people of God. He doesn’t want his actions, or even false accusations about
him, to negatively affect them. Spend time asking the Lord where your love for
His people and His Church lie. Are you more concerned about your own welfare
and reputation than that of the Church? Ask the Lord is there is something in
your life that is negatively affecting His people and His Church. Listen
carefully, write it down, confess anything if necessary, and give the Lord your
commitment to honoring His Church with your actions and words.
2. What is an enemy you are facing in your
heart right now? Ask the Lord to reveal to you what your enemy is, and how He
wants to fight it with you. Pray, like David, that God would put your enemy to
death and bring you freedom. Listen carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit
as He walks you from confession through to forgiveness, restoration, and
freedom. Make a commitment to follow any obedience steps God gives you.
3. God really, really wants your thankful
heart! Spend ten minutes (or as much time as you can) in prayer thanking God
for everything you can. If you can, thank Him on your knees in humble
gratitude.
