Thoughts for the Day

A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will not sojourn with you.
The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house,
I will bow down towards your holy temple
in awe of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me....

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover them with favour as with a shield.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The presence of enemies is rarely absent from the Psalms of King David, and here they hover on the edges of the psalm as he prays to God in the words of this morning psalm. We don't know the exact circumstances, but David thinks of himself as a man under authority. He is a king, but the Almighty is his King and his God, for he says "listen to the sound of my cry my King and my God". This picks up the covenant relationship, the agreement made with Abraham and his descendants, that was made with God, and which continues down the generations through to David and beyond until Jesus makes a 'new covenant'.

At the end of the psalm David recognises that he is not alone, and he expresses his trust in God, seeing Him as a shield for those who take refuge in Him. This imagery of God being a shield reflects the protection and security that God provides for His people. He goes on to say, “Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.” We see him shift to rejoicing in God, calling for those who trust in God to not only find safety in Him but also to experience real joy and gladness.

The final words should remind us that God’s blessings are poured out on those who walk in obedience and faithfulness. David echoes other psalms that emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s goodness and seeking refuge in Him alone. We too are encouraged to trust in God as our ultimate protector and source of joy. These verses remind us that in God, we can find safety, joy, and peace, regardless of our circumstances - our danger or our worries - emphasising yet again the eternal message of God’s faithfulness and His care for His people.

Heavenly Father,,
as king David turned to You
in the morning to praise You
and to ask for Your help,
may we praise You each day,
and learn to put all our trust in You.
In doing so may we find complete joy.
Amen.