Psalm 54
Have you ever felt betrayed? Have you ever been betrayed? You had someone you thought was a friend, you did things with them even, but then when “push came to shove,” they weren’t present to be of help to you? Even worse, perhaps, they stabbed you in the back and took advantage of you. Maybe they had some bad things happen to them and rather than taking responsibility for their own actions, they blamed you?
One of the worst acts of betrayal in American history was that of Benedict Arnold. Benedict Arnold had graduated from West Point but then in 1780, in the heart of the American Revolutionary War, he tried to surrender West Point to the British. Now there is a plaque in Old Cadet Chapel where Benedict Arnold’s name use to be. But his name is scratched out. Our family visited West Point a few years ago and you can tell it was Arnold’s name.
David writes Psalm 54 in the midst of the feeling of betrayal. The story is told in 1 Samuel 23:19-32. I think we also can find some points for our encouragement when we are stressed from Psalm 54. Let’s feed our spirits on the words of this psalm this morning…
GOD HAS THE POWER TO SAVE AND TO HEAR – verses 1-3:
For God to save “by His name” means that God would save consistent with His name, or consistent with His nature. We should not and dare not ask God to do something that would violate His nature.
If we are dealing with false accusations, we should pray and ask God to vindicate us, to reveal in some way to our persecutor – whether it is family or friend or stranger – that we did not mean any harm and that we were not trying to do anything wrong.
David’s request from God is: please turn your head and listen to me; hear the words of my mouth.
These were godless men; they had no scruples, no moral qualms at all. It is hard for us sometimes to grasp the fact that there is evil in the world and sometimes evil is found in the hearts of people who are closest to us.
GOD IS THE HELPER – verses 4-5:
“God is my helper.” We say that often, don’t we? How much do we believe it? Do we believe that God is our helper? That God will do good for us? That God will work things out for our good?
“The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” This illustrates how important it is for me to walk with God myself, to have my own relationship with God myself.
God is the one who will take revenge. God has told His people from the very beginning not to take vengeance in their own hands. In Deuteronomy 32:35, God tells Israel: “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution” (see Rom. 12:19-21).
Pray that God will bring about justice at the right time and in the right way.
David still recognizes that all truth flows from God and David does not see everything and he does not know everything. God knows all truth and all God’s behavior is consistent with truth, so we too need to pray that in whatever way God answers our prayers – especially if it comes to vengeance – that God needs to do so in a way that validates and supports truth.
WHEN GOD HELPS, WE WORSHIP – verses 6-7:
First, note that David’s worship is freewill worship.
Secondly, David sacrifices to God. This refers to animal sacrifices.
Thirdly, David praises God’s name – that is, His nature, His character, His reputation. We ought to regularly thank God for Who He is, not just for what He does for us.
The reason why David worships is summarized in verse 7. David saw that God had conquered David’s enemies, if not in reality, at least by faith. David trusted God so much that David knew that if he prayed to God in truth and faithfulness, God would respond and God would deliver David from His enemies.
This statement is similar to Jesus’ statement about faith in prayer in Mark 11:24: “all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
When you feel betrayed, the Lord is your helper. When you are delivered, respond with worship.
Paul Holland