Psalms 51-55
FIVE SIMPLE PLEASURES:
Seeing my daughter’s face light up when she set eyes on us (I hadn’t seen her since Christmas)- Watching my daughter ride a racehorse
- Safe journeys
- Unwrapping a new book
- A warm welcome from my dogs
PSALM 51: SO, SO SORRY
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. v10-12
Most of the Psalms are pretty general. Could have been voiced on any day of David’s early escapades. This one is different. It’s written in response to a very specific situation. David has been caught. His adultery has been exposed. He’s consumed by shame. And this is his response. Which has become a landmark psalm of confession.
PSALM 52: GOD WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT
But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever. v8
We don’t have to worry about anyone else, or concern ourselves with them. God will make things right. We are all accountable to God. Trust. Obey. Focus on God. Flourish.
PSALM 53: WHERE ARE ALL THE GOOD ONES?
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! v6
However it looks right now, restoration will come. There’s plenty of evil in the world – always has been, always will be. But don’t despair – God is at work.
PSALM 54: STILL UNDER ATTACK
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me. v4
It’s hard to trust when we are under attack. When our children are being threatened. Fear consumes us. Terror tightens its grip. But we can have confidence. Confidence in God.
PSALM 55: WHEN YOUR FRIENDS TURN AGAINST YOU
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken. v22
It’s one thing when your enemies are attacking you; another thing altogether when your friends turn on you and betray you and talk about you behind your back. Maybe you start to wonder if they’re right. If there’s some truth in what they’re saying. You want to run away but there’s nowhere to run to. No escape. Who is left to trust then? God. Maybe only God. Tell Him all about it.
