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God’s Blessings

Some days I get in a heap of trouble. My enemies are after me. King David had that in spades. Saul was after him and wanted to kill him. Psalm 59 starts out with that challenge. You can read the backstory in 1 Samuel 19. Saul was a very disturbed man.

I will sing! I’m not great at it but when I do it always lifts my spirits. I won’t just sing about anything though. I will sing about how great God is.

Here is what I know:

  1. God is stunning and powerful.
  2. God is God.
  3. God is a place where I can find safety.
  4. I can always count on God.
  5. God is faithful in His love.
  6. God is in a good mood.
  7. God has my back.

The Psalm ends though in a psalm of praise. David knows God will come through.

And me? I’m singing your prowess, shouting at cockcrow your largesse, for you’ve been a safe place for me, a good place to hide. Strong God, I’m watching you do it, I can always count on you — God, my dependable love. ~King David | Psalm 59:16-17 (The Message Bible)

This individual lament psalm includes some aspects of a corporate lament psalm (meant for group use). Though the psalmist mostly speaks for himself, his enemies affect his whole city as well. He asks God for protection and deliverance from his enemies, who lie in wait for him. He then asserts his innocence and restates his petition. He compares his enemies to a pack of wild dogs, expresses hope in God, and asks God to punish them. He then concludes with a song of praise.

Sources:

  1. The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
  2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 59:title–17). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.