SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)
- In Psalm 54 the writer is asking God to vindicate him. The writer (King David) has people who are wanting to hurt him but he is trusting God to save him.
- Psalm 55 opens with David asking God not to ignore his prayers. He says he wants to fly away from his troubles like a bird (which is reminiscent of a prayer in the movie Forrest Gump).
SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)
- David goes on to say that it’s his close friend who has turned against him and become his enemy. What a tough spot to be in.
- David closes the psalm saying that he will trust God.
- David wrote Psalm 54 when he was being chased by King Saul who wanted to kill him because he was jealous of David’s success.
- If you want to read more about Saul and David, see 1 Samuel chapter 23. This obviously was before David became king over Israel. The crazy thing is David had opportunities to kill Saul (see 1 Samuel 24 & 26), but refused and decided to let God protect him. David could do this because he had experienced God’s protection many times before.
- Earlier David told stories of how God protected him when he fought a lion and a bear. We can see why David trusts God this time.
NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)
- Do you think you could write a psalm like chapter 54 if you were in David’s position? Could you trust him like that now?
- When is a time or two that God has protected you, even if you didn't realize it in the moment? Take time to thank him for that.
