Sometimes we need our enemies to help us define who we are.  More often, we need to go through trials so that we can recognize our weakness and vulnerability and the reliance we have in our God. 

Psalm 3

^1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
   Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
   “Hah! No help for him from God!”
^3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
   You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
   With all my might I shout up to God,
   His answers thunder from the holy mountain.
^5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
   Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady,
   Fearless before the enemy mobs
   Coming at me from all sides.
⁷ Up, God! My God, help me!
   Slap their faces,
   First this cheek, then the other,
   Your fist hard in their teeth!
⁸ Real help comes from God.
   Your blessing clothes your people!

Psalm 27

A David Psalm

¹ Light, space, zest— that’s God!
   So, with him on my side I’m fearless,
      afraid of no one and nothing.
² When vandal hordes ride down
      ready to eat me alive,
   Those bullies and toughs
      fall flat on their faces.
³ When besieged,
      I’m calm as a baby.
   When all hell breaks loose,
      I’m collected and cool.
⁴ I’m asking God for one thing,
      only one thing:
   To live with him in his house
      my whole life long.
   I’ll contemplate his beauty;
      I’ll study at his feet.
⁵ That’s the only quiet, secure place
      in a noisy world,
   The perfect getaway,
      far from the buzz of traffic.
⁶ God holds me head and shoulders
      above all who try to pull me down.
   I’m headed for his place to offer anthems
      that will raise the roof!
   Already I’m singing God-songs;
      I’m making music to God.
^7-9 Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs:
      “Be good to me! Answer me!”
   When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”
      my whole being replied,
   “I’m seeking him!”
      Don’t hide from me now!
^9-10 You’ve always been right there for me;
      don’t turn your back on me now.
   Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me;
      you’ve always kept the door open.
   My father and mother walked out and left me,
      but God took me in.
^11-12 Point me down your highway, God;
      direct me along a well-lighted street;
      show my enemies whose side you’re on.
   Don’t throw me to the dogs,
      those liars who are out to get me,
      filling the air with their threats.
^13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness
      in the exuberant earth.
   Stay with God!
      Take heart. Don’t quit.
   I’ll say it again:
      Stay with God.

The language is filled with confidence, the mood is exuberant- like a song of joy along this journey of faith.  David knows the LORD well and describes Him from his own experiences.

As light and salvation, a stronghold, beautiful in His temple ( still a tabernacle or tent at this point.)  David  has come through some nasty situations and uses them as a springboard to praise.  His past burdens and narrow escapes have become areas of strength.  His enemies helped David get a clearer vision of the Love and protection and provision of God in his life. 

David’s present song comes from his previous fears and shaken faith- in his darkest hours, he reaches out toward the light of the LORD , when caught in a trap, he recognized the salvation  offered by his savior , when camped upon a lonely plain, only God was his stronghold.  In the midst of slander, siege, war and personal attacks, he know he will prevail because the LORD is his beautiful safe place, keeping him like a protected guest hidden away from harm.

He ends this psalm with strong testimony of God’s goodness  The secret of this witness is in the heart of faith – verse 3 of psalm 27 says ” my heart will not fear”.  God can help us conquer fear when we obey faithfully and learn to worship Him, walk with Him, and wait for His leading and presence.

David has learned to trust in God.  And so must I learn that lesson.  Over and over I need to learn that even in the most dire danger and fearful moments I cannot trust in my own strength or wits.  I have watched too many action films and read too many comic books where men are the heroes of the story.  I want to rely on myself- I want to succeed in the face of my enemies by my own rights.

But over time, it has become clear that it is by God’s grace and protection that I have overcome life’s obstacles.  It is only through His mercy that I have not been consumed and succumbed to the sinful habits and unhealthy practices that I am so prone to follow.  I only know righteousness when I remain in His presence.  I am on a journey, but not by myself.  I walk with fellow believers, following the paths that were laid out for us by our loving Father.  We travel together, sharing our stories of salvation- the testimonies of victories we have experienced and as we share we come to recognize that it is Christ who has won our victories- Christ who is the captain of our salvation.

Our enemies help us to define who we are, but it is Jesus Christ who gives us our identity. 

Yesterday when I was Skyping with Meredith, she suddenly grew very quiet and looked up at the ceiling intently.  I could tell something was wrong- she quit speaking mid-thought and sentence and her concentration on the lamp hanging over her head was chilling to behold.

She was experiencing a small earthquake.

There is nothing that underscores our instability in this world like an earthquake.

Or the death of someone you love.

We are left feeling vulnerable.

Completely out of control.

And that is exactly the right place for us spiritually as Believers in Christ.

God is Sovereign.

We are vulnerable and IN  His control.

Luke wrote on Ash Wednesday for the ERD blog and I am going to share the link with you- it is a thoughtful and meaningful reminder of what “Ashes to ashes” means and how we can respond.

Hopefully, the significance of Ash Wednesday will shake up our world enough that we will respond.

Here’s the link.

Psalm 2

¹ Why do the nations conspire
       and the peoples plot in vain?

² The kings of the earth take their stand
       and the rulers gather together
       against the LORD
       and against his Anointed One.

³ “Let us break their chains,” they say,
       “and throw off their fetters.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
       the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger
       and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶ “I have installed my King
       on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
       He said to me, “You are my Son ;
       today I have become your Father.

⁸ Ask of me,
       and I will make the nations your inheritance,
       the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter  ;
       you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
       be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear
       and rejoice with trembling.

¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
       and you be destroyed in your way,
       for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
       Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This is one of my favorite psalms to study with the method I shared a couple of weeks ago.  It asks and answers questions and puts on a wonderful play of characters, as well.

1)  Who wrote it?

     David.  See Acts 4: 25

2)  What are the circumstances? ( historically, personally, nationally?)

     ??? conjecture- possibly when David was made King of Israel, and some of the surrounding nations resisted his authority.???

3)  Are there questions asked?  Identify them.

     Why are men rebelling against God’s authority and decrees?

4)  Are those questions answered?  By whom?

      Yes, by the Father (verses 4-6)

               the Son ( verses 7-9)

              and the Holy Spirit (verses 10-12)[ the reference to the Holy Spirit comes

             from the injunction to “be wise” in verse 10- references to wisdom in the

            OT  invoke the third Person of the Trinity]

5)  Can I pray this psalm?

       Yes, especially verses 10-12, which provide good prayer material from the  Holy Spirit.

6)  What names for God are used by the psalmist?

       LORD, Annointed One, Ruler of Heaven, King, Father, Son

7)  What is the relationship between the psalmist and God?

        There is a close relationship, David speaks as one inspired by the Holy Spirit

8)  Are there any New Testament references ( or any other Biblical reference)?

      Do the references make the psalm more clear?

      Yes!  Acts 4:23-27 .  It absolutely makes the psalm easier to understand, giving us the inspiration and authority to interpret this psalm in the light of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  This understanding comes from Peter who identifies David as the author and Jesus as the Royal Son and King in Psalm 2.

9)  Whose voices are heard?  (ex. psalmist, God, unbelievers, nations, etc.)

      This is where I get really involved from an artistic point of view, because this Psalm can be read as a skit.  In fact, we “performed” it in class, the Kings wearing crowns  and muttering mutinous statements to each other, a small group of nations waving flags and drawing up battle plans – the Father sitting in an armed chair with a light placed behind Him and a scepter of power, the Annointed one with a purple scarf and a HUGE crucifix around the neck and the voice of the Holy Spirit wrapped up in a diaphanous veil of mystery speaking her verses in a quiet voice.

10) What does it mean to me?

         This psalm is like the Scriptures in 3D!  Listening to the different “voices” and recognizing their part in this prophetic psalm gave/gives me a different perspective in the reading.  It is no longer a lament against treacherous neighboring kingdoms and ungodly people- it becomes  more of a morality play meant to remind me of the passion of Christ and our place in His universal Kingdom.  God’s authority and position is not threatened by the treachery of a rebellious mankind- hence His laughter.  The solidarity of the Trinity and the ultimate beauty and justice of  Christ the King is clearly evidenced in this psalm.

Try this psalm as a skit with your family or friends- you will be amazed at the power and insight it offers in this form. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.  I really treasure your thoughts and opinions.  I’ve always taught lessons in a small and personal setting and I need input, questions, disagreement,etc., to help me grow as well.

I’d also like to know if the questions and answer method is helpful to you.  I developed these for a specific group of women, but I myself found it a good tool into the study of the individual psalms. 

What do you think?