#737 Midst of Lions

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;

I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—

I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path—

but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57

"Do not destroy" - A song from David to the chief musician, a michtam looking back upon a time that he escaped from Saul in a cave.

Be merciful to me - Twice said for emphasis, for despair, the torment of the soul that becomes aware of it's condition, does not cry out upon the basis of it's deeds. It does not scream to the heavens, "You owe me," but rather "save me, not because of who I am, but because You are my only hope. For the sake of Your glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love, because I put my trust in You."

Shadow of Your wings - The eyes of faith are set upon God, though the storm still howls outside the cave. The cave is only the cleft in the hill, it is the place where David can pause and take time to pray. The protection is in the shadow of God's wings, He is the deliverer, and the One that sustains Him through the disaster. Every idol, every security a man has, can in a moment be taken away, but those who come to trust in God, come to everlasting hope. Do not pray for wealth, for fame, for fortress, but pray that you may come to that place where you realize that God is all I'll ever need.

Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.…Matthew 23: 36-38

Who vindicates me - It is God Who justifies. This is the best seat in the house whether the theater or the electric chair, let God be my witness. If I am killed doing what God has said, if I am obedient to Him and His design, will, purpose, or if I am in chains, then let it be for good, for the gospel's sake. David has been righteous towards Saul, many men knowing that they were to replace another, would not hesitate to find any excuse to move things more quickly. David wants God to be His avenger, His mediator, not men, for they are unstable, not men, for they are quick to shed blood, their motives are not pure. Not me, Lord, for I myself am but a man. 

I am in the midst of lions - There are times, places, where you will know that those around you do not have your best interests at heart. I am reminded of Daniel, and though his king thought highly of his workmanship, he knew Daniel to be a better man than any that envied or accused him, yet for the sake of his own ego, to protect his standing among the pride, he threw his best man to the lions. At work I picture myself not so far from that same door, for men will honor themselves, lie to themselves, hold up such an image of who they are, and tell others that they must believe. Sometimes the simple truth will make their eyes bead, their jaw set, and all I can do is trust that God will see me through. 

Whose tongues are sharp swords - Everyone says, "it's only words", but the tongue is one of the sharpest tools of the wicked heart. I remember a time when a man would not talk to me at work, because someone in a position of authority told him I was a skin head, that my tattoos were gang related, and that I did not like him. I would smile at him in passing, but he was very cold back, and one day they were short people on his team, so I went to help them out. He was very nervous around me, but we got to talking and he found we had things in common. This happened again and so I worked with him again, then he asked me why someone like me would be so caught up in such hateful things. I asked him to explain, then I laughed, and then I told him the truth, which was very different then what he had been told. It taught us both something about the third party, and though the man that started it was in a position of trust, he was not trustworthy.

“Would any man take the Church’s picture, saith Luther? Then let him paint a silly poor maid sitting in a wood or wilderness, compassed about with hungry lions, wolves, boars, and bears.” (Trapp)

Be exalted, Oh God - If You will lift God up in your heart, you will find His place beyond the limits of  your mind. 

“David wants God to be exalted in his own personal circumstances and by the way he trusts and praises him even in difficulties.” (Boice)

There is no god of the good times, god of the bad times, only God, above all space and time.

Fallen into it themselves - Hold on to righteousness, keep your integrity, set Christ as your bar, and those that dig will make their own graves, like Haman they will swing.

Among the nations -

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy.As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” 10 Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”… Romans 15: 8-10

Above the heavens - Again, put God in His proper place in your heart, above the heavens, His glory over all the earth. He made us, not the other way around.