Seeking refuge in God
Pleasing God can prompt those around us who despise God to attack us verbally and physically. But God still reigns supreme, and his hatred of evil means we can count on his protection.
A David psalm.
1 Listen to my prayer, YHWH
and consider my groaning.
2 Hear my cry for help
as I pray to you
my king and my God.
3 In the morning you hear my voice, YHWH
as I begin each day anew
laying out my case before you
and awaiting your response.
4 Because you’re not a god who delights in evil
who welcomes wickedness as a houseguest.
5 The debauched can’t stand in your presence—
you hate all wrongdoers
6 and destroy those who tell lies.
YHWH loathes the bloodthirsty and treacherous.
7 But as for me
through the overflow of your unyielding love
I will enter your house
there to fall in awe of you
before your holy temple.
8 Keep me on the path of righteousness, YHWH
Make your way plain to me
surrounded as I am by watchful foes.
9 Because not a single thing they say is true—
their hearts are utterly malignant
their throats an open grave
their tongues greased with flattery.
10 Declare them guilty, O God.
Let them be misled by their own counsel.
Banish them for their many crimes
because they’ve rebelled against you.
11 But may all who take refuge in you
rejoice and sing for joy forever.
Spread your protection over them
so that all who love your name may revel in you.
12 For you bless those who seek you, YHWH
and surround them with your favor like a shield.
Though God reigns supreme, David is targeted by enemies who attack him treacherously, thus making themselves God’s enemies. Though David seems to be writing in exile, he’s confident God will restore him to his rightful place, enabling him to worship in God’s house with joy.
All he says of YHWH stands against the backdrop of the pagan gods. More messed up than their worshippers, the gods were said to nurse over-inflated egos and care nothing for the weak and afflicted. By contrast, YHWH cares for the oppressed, which is why David pours out his heart to him every morning. Since God is holy and just, David knows God will inexorably oppose words and deeds aimed at violating and destroying him.
David’s prayer that his enemies will be misled by their own counsel reminds of his asking his friend Hushai to see if he could mislead Absalom by giving him bad counsel (2 Sam. 15:32-37). Refusing to fight evil with evil, David asks God to banish his enemies and guide him through the minefield of their treachery without letting him slip into their evil ways. He asks for and affirms his faith in God’s protection and blessing on all who take shelter in him.
The pagans had to merit their gods’ attention, but David doesn’t recommend himself to God. Rather, YHWH’s unyielding love flings the door wide open to the undeserving. Knowing his gracious God will welcome him, he pictures himself falling awestruck before his holy sanctuary. And he asks that God will enable all who take refuge in him to rejoice and revel in his faithfulness to them.
Prayer:
Jesus, I bow before you in a world bent on dethroning you. Thank you that you welcome and protect all who seek refuge in you. Keep me on the true path—looking to you, listening to you, honoring you—till the day you reign in glory over all and earth’s joy can’t be contained. Amen.
In your free moments today, pray these words:
May all who take refuge in you
rejoice and sing for joy forever.
Spread your protection over them
so that all who love your name may revel in you.