Help me now!
The world’s evil and oppression threaten us, but God is determined to rid the world of evil. Hence, he welcomes all our prayers for deliverance from evil.
A David psalm.
1 Rescue me, God!
Hurry, YHWH, and help me!
2 Let shame and confusion overtake
all those who want to take my life.
Rout in humiliation
all who want to see me hurt.
3 May all who say,
“Aha! You’re done for now!”
shrink back in shame.
4 But may everyone who seeks you
be glad and rejoice in you.
May all who love what you’re doing
to save humankind say,
“God is great!”
5 But here I am, weak and low.
Come quick, God!
You’re my help and my deliverer.
Don’t delay, YHWH!
David begins and ends begging God to save him from enemies bent on destroying him. In the Torah, God promised to protect his people from harm, and earlier he told Abraham he’d curse all who cursed him. As God’s anointed king, David has also been promised a royal line that lasts forever, implying that one of David’s descendants would play a key role in God’s great work of redemption. This means David is integral to God’s overall plan. So he naturally asks God to protect him. He tells him everything’s messed up and begs him to fix his situation without delay since God’s faithfulness to his promise is at stake and David has no other hope. We might expect all this even in a breathlessly short prayer.
But two things are surprising here. People usually respond to serious threats by hitting back even harder. David asks only that God leave his enemies in disarray, disgraced, and red-faced when their hopes are dashed and their nefarious plans fall flat.
Even more surprising is the fact that David anchors his prayer in joy. He knows God dwarfs the evil and oppression he’s up against and will yet overcome it. He prays it will happen—that all who seek God and love what he’s doing to put things right in the world will rejoice in him and celebrate his greatness. Though David is weak and helpless without God, he believes joy will yet triumph over pain. And he’s determined to declare that truth for however long it takes for the darkness to give way to light.
God, I long for the day when your light dispels every last shadow and you wipe every tear from our eyes. I believe it will come. But it often seems such a long way off. You’re my help and deliverer. Don’t delay! May all who seek you be glad and rejoice in you. Amen.
In your free moments today, pray this prayer:
May everyone who seeks you
be glad and rejoice in you.
May all who love what you’re doing
to save humankind
say, “God is great!”