This is a prayer by David to keep him from sinning while going through trials and problems. Problems are common to man with regard to our life on earth. It has no respect for background, nationality, status, etc. We face big and small problems on a daily, weekly, lifetime basis. The older we get the more we seem to have them. Jesus warns us in John 16:33 that we will face tribulations and pressures and problems while in this world. Yet in the same breath, He tells us to take courage because He has overcome the world! This means every problem is to be seen as an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on our behalf (2 Chron 16:9) as David did.

At times like these it is good to remember that Jesus also suffered as written in 1 Peter 2:21&23: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously"

David had developed communion with God through an active "prayer life" as can be seen in this lamentation Psalm.

 

First Step  he takes is to give an early call for God to hear his plea. He declares his intention to prayer with hands raised toward heaven, as incense (Rev. 5:8) at the evening sacrifice, desiring that God accept it as such.

 

Second Step  he takes is to lay bare his own human shortcomings by asking God to help him safeguard his speech by controlling his tongue (James 3) and to avoid being drawn into enjoying the finer things of life while associating with the ungodly.

Third Step  he takes is precautionary— in case he leans the wrong way he prefers God would send a godly man to rebuke him.  He also prays for grace to accept this rebuke as kindness in contrast with the dainties of the wicked which he wishes to refuse.

 

Fourth Step  he takes is to remind God that:

 

• even during trials, his prayers will still be against wicked deeds, but his words will be seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) for when the leaders of the wicked fall they will remember his words as being well-spoken
   

• his eyes are fixed on Him for deliverance
   

• God is his refuge and no one else can keep him from death (Ps. 121)
   

• His promise is to keep him safe from the snares that the evildoers have laid for him (Ps. 91:3)

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Fifth Step  he takes is, to be honest with God about how he really feels towards his enemies.  He opens his heart out to let God know that he wants his enemies to fall into their own traps while he himself is kept in safety.

We should open our heart before God and be without guile for God knows what lies in our heart and He will repay according to what lies in there (Jer. 17:9-10). But thanks be to Christ Jesus, who has taught us to pray for those who hurt us because our enemy is not flesh and blood but powers and principalities that have taken flesh and blood captive to do their will. (Refer Matt.5:44; Eph.6:2)

We too have to cry out to be kept from the unrighteousness of retaliating or taking revenge or joining the wicked when hurt and pain assault us but instead allow God to work through it all.

 

Thought for the Day:

“Let God have your life; He can do

more with it than you can.”

-D.L. Moody