How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah. But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:2-3)
Jewish tradition believes that David wrote this psalm under the same circumstances as the previous psalm, that is, as he was fleeing from Absalom. However in this psalm, more than appealing to God, David addresses his adversaries and encourages them to consider their ways and the ramifications of their actions. To begin with, he chides those who know better — those notables who supported his rebellious son — for their attempt to shame and degrade the one God chose to be king over Israel. Furthermore he warns them, even if they enjoy temporary success, because their agenda is based on lies and an evil inclination, it will amount to nothing. He reminds them that, in the end, the Almighty will have the final say because He is observing all and knows who has acted wickedly and righteously.
Even though this truth is spoken confidently, one wonders what was going through David’s mind even as he was proclaiming confidence in God’s justice. In other words, did he ponder what God would do and when? Would He intervene in time to preserve David in his current plight? If those thoughts did cross his mind, it occurs to me that other thoughts would have come flooding in as well — for instance, his bout with Goliath.
Then there are the days God preserved him as he evaded Saul, not to mention preserving him through numerous encounters with predators that sought to harm the flocks under his care. In other words, David had a history with God; a history in which, time after time, God demonstrated His watchful care for His servant. David was convinced that this time would be no different.
With that in mind consider this: even though on the run, David spoke from a position of strength — not his own but a strength that existed because of his relationship with the Almighty. That being said, he didn’t take pleasure in the thought of his enemies’ demise necessarily. To the contrary, he was addressing the need for repentance on their part. In other words, it seems David’s heart was not set on ruthless revenge but was, in fact, inclined toward the possibility of a preferred reconciliation.
So think about this: how many of us would pursue this course with those who are trying to destroy us? Let’s face it, that doesn’t come naturally, and yet (and this is the point we are making today) this is what Messiah calls us to do. As He said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). If we could be as confident in God’s protection as David was (as we should be), perhaps we would be more inclined to pray for those who are trying to destroy us. Why? Because, like David, we KNOW He has set us apart for Himself and the wicked are powerless to do anything about it.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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