Introduction: David had fled from King Saul when the King had openly declared his intention to murder David! He was with members of his family and a group of outcasts many with past records! He was evading chasing troops through a deserted rough terrain. He had a tenuous hold on life! All his experiences of fame and fortune, all his times of joyous temple worship were in the past! One evening he sits and composes this psalm, probably softly humming or singing the words to encourage himself! Quietly because the enemy were very near!
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
Comment: I think that my comment will be short but go back and read the psalm again! In 1 Sam 23, we read of David rescuing the town of Keilah from the Philistine marauders, whose citizens were prepared to hand him over to Saul to murder! God ‘arranged’ his escape and David was in an area pictured above! His ending to the Palm is a bit gory but it happened! Saul was killed and eventually David was crowned in spite of detractors. His reign was, with some ‘ups and downs’ overall certainly exulted! Read the Psalm again if you have the time!
James 12: 1-3 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Prayer: You were hated by many, Lord Jesus. Help me to to endure hardship in Your Name, and be faithful until whatever end You bring me to.
As I read it! 