The Lord is your banner

 Psalm 60:1–12 (ESV):  

1  O God, you have rejected us, broken our defences; 

you have been angry; oh, restore us. 

2  You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; 

repair its breaches, for it totters. 

3  You have made your people see hard things; 

you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 

4  You have set up a banner for those who fear you, 

that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 

5  That your beloved ones may be delivered, 

give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 

6  God has spoken in his holiness: 

“With exultation I will divide up Shechem 

and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 

7  Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; 

Ephraim is my helmet; 

Judah is my sceptre. 

8  Moab is my washbasin; 

upon Edom I cast my shoe; 

over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 

9  Who will bring me to the fortified city? 

Who will lead me to Edom? 

10  Have you not rejected us, O God? 

You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 

11  Oh, grant us help against the foe, 

for vain is the salvation of man! 

12  With God we shall do valiantly; 

it is he who will tread down our foes. 

Often when we read of David in battle, we hear of the victory that comes. Yet it was not always so, as we can surmise from this psalm. Here David tells us how their defences were broken, the people have seen ‘hard things’ and are staggering to safety (v4). They need delivering as they are being beaten and having to retreat. It feels as if, ‘you do not go forth with us, O God’. So instead of running in triumph, celebrating victory, the Israelite army is having to run, in fear, to the ‘banner’ (v4) - A symbol of retreat. The banner was at the rear of the army, a visual representation of who you belonged to. Especially important in war as you could easily get disorientated. It was important to be able to see where you needed to go to re-join your team if you got lost, injured, or needed rest. For Israel, their banner also reminded them that God was with them (Exodus 17:15, 'The Lord is my banner'). The banner therefore represented for David and his army that God is the Commander of the battle, their protector, guide, refuge and safety, a fortress they can run to. A place of retreat where they can be reminded that God is present and so they can be comforted, restored and re-engaged. In this battle, they needed that. They were fighting and felt like they were losing, so they had to run for safety and restoration. 

Sometimes, in life, you need to retreat to the ‘banner’ too. You need to reming yourself that the Lord is your banner, just as He was Israel's. God is your refuge, retreat, safety, fortress and restoration. In life, you will get tired, hurt, and feel lost. God is waiting for you to run to Him. He can remind you that He is the commander, refuge, safety, protractor, guide and healer. He will refresh you and re-equip you for the battles you face, are you running to Him? God is waiting for you. 

Battles are never won by an individual, so you cannot do it alone. You do not need to, and should not be trying to. If you are a member of His army, and you are leading your life following Him then you are on His team, and He is your banner. You do not have the vision, strength or the level of strategic planning required to even navigate the battles that are coming but God does. He has the might, understanding and plan to get you through and to bring about His promises. Are you running to Him to hear what He has to say so that He can guide you to where you need to go?

When you seem to be losing, battling, struggling, feeling like you need to refresh, rest or retreat, what do you do? You should be running to God, your banner. You need to rest and re-evaluate sometimes. Make sure that when you do you’re not sitting by yourself doing it, trying to fix things and navigate battles alone, but that you are under God’s banner. Going it alone causes anxiety, stress, worthlessness and worry. Sitting with God however creates vision, peace, strength, restoration, healing, power and brings, ‘great salvation’.

As David sat and reflected under the banner as he wrote this psalm, he felt as if God had rejected and abandoned him and the Israelite army. He was wondering who was leading this battle? If God isn’t in it, should they be? Yet he and the army are fighting for their lives, their families freedom and the nation of Israel, surely that's a good thing? They are under pressure, frantically caught in the fight that they are losing. Yet they are God’s people, His army, trying to do God’s will. How can this be the situation? How can they be defeated? David came to God in his disappointment and confusion when it seemed like they were losing the battle. It seemed that David was failing in the mission even though he was trying to honour God and do His will. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes we feel that the battles and missions we are on are failing even though we know God has us on this path. I know that I have struggled with knowing God has sent me to do things and then it seems like life has become a battle. As a family we have experienced emotional turmoil and physical hardship, we have suffered, dangers have come and unexpected battles have needed to be faced. So where is God when these things happen? Does it mean that we have messed up and got the call of God wrong? Has God disappeared or withdrawn? No! It means that we need to continually run to God, our banner to sustain us in every way. When life looks bleak, disappointing and like a losing battle shift your gaze and look for the banner then run to it! For God is there and He is ready and waiting for you. In the battle, God is present - look for Him. He can envision and equip, restore and heal you if you go to Him.

Do you know the game, capture the flag? Each team tries to take the other's banner down, then they have won. When you are on God's team and He is your banner, then guess what?! You are never going to lose! His banner has been flying for eternity and will continue to stand in victory, so when the battle comes ensure that you run to Him for He will not let you down. You are on the winning team, so run to His banner for strength, refreshment and re-envisioning, with God as your banner what have you got to fear or lose? 

David knew he was on God's team, yet things got really desperate and difficult for him, so he ran to God as his banner and was upfront and honest with Him. He was wondering where God was, for wherever he looked, he didn’t see Him. He saw hard things, staggering, quaking land, torn kingdom and broken defences (v1-3), a far cry from victory. So, David says;

“You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 

11  Oh, grant us help against the foe, 

for vain is the salvation of man! 

12  With God we shall do valiantly; 

it is he who will tread down our foes.” (V10-12)

David tells God his experience, and wonders, God, where are you? For David cannot see God at work right now, only the enemies work, and it seems like the other side is winning. Yet, he still knows that if God turns up, ‘we shall do valiantly’ and there will be ‘salvation’. David's trust in God was steadfast. He knew that following God wasn't easy, that living a life of faith is hard and that sometimes God seems distant or even absent, but that doesn't mean He is. It just means that he lost sight of God and so needed to search for the banner. For the banner still stands and will stand. So when you know you are doing the things God wants you to, don’t be surprised if life gets hard and becomes a battle. It is an opportunity to run to God, seek and see His salvation and remind yourself whose banner you are fighting under.

David’s experience was so shattering because not only was he being personally attacked and having to wearily keep on going for survival, but good people, fellow warriors and friends were dying. That is what happens in war. There is loss, distress, fear, confusion, pain, suffering and sometimes, defeat. That is why there is a banner available for you to run to. It is not giving up or turning back, but running to God for rest, refuge and restoration. Run to God and implore Him to show up and do the work, for great is His salvation. Remind yourself that you are on God's team, and that He fights so that His, ‘beloved ones may be delivered'. He will sustain and help you. Even if you feel defeated, it doesn’t mean that you have lost. David was still king even when he was fighting a losing battle. Nothing can change the promises of God so keep your eyes on Him as your banner.

Whose strength are you living in?

 Psalm 59:1–17 (ESV):  

1  Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; 

protect me from those who rise up against me; 

2  deliver me from those who work evil, 

and save me from bloodthirsty men. 

3  For behold, they lie in wait for my life; 

fierce men stir up strife against me. 

For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 

4  for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. 

Awake, come to meet me, and see! 

5  You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. 

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; 

spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah 

6  Each evening they come back, 

howling like dogs 

and prowling about the city. 

7  There they are, bellowing with their mouths 

with swords in their lips— 

for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 

8  But you, O Lord, laugh at them; 

you hold all the nations in derision. 

9  O my Strength, I will watch for you, 

for you, O God, are my fortress. 

10  My God in his steadfast love will meet me; 

God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. 

11  Kill them not, lest my people forget; 

make them totter by your power and bring them down, 

O Lord, our shield! 

12  For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, 

let them be trapped in their pride. 

For the cursing and lies that they utter, 

13  consume them in wrath; 

consume them till they are no more, 

that they may know that God rules over Jacob 

to the ends of the earth. Selah 

14  Each evening they come back, 

howling like dogs 

and prowling about the city. 

15  They wander about for food 

and growl if they do not get their fill. 

16  But I will sing of your strength; 

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. 

For you have been to me a fortress 

and a refuge in the day of my distress. 

17  O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, 

for you, O God, are my fortress, 

the God who shows me steadfast love. 

David acknowledges in this psalm that he has no power to protect himself or his family as he is surrounded by the enemy. They are like a pack of howling dogs surrounding him. Wherever he is, there they are lying in wait for him evening after evening. What chance does a lone man have against a pack of ’bellowing’ beasts that prowl around? How terrifying it must be to feel in such a position, to be surrounded by those desiring your demise with no chance of escape. To hear those howls and packs in the night, not knowing how near or far away they are, but hearing the bloodthirsty cries threatening death. What would you do; give up, try to hide, fight back, run away?

For David, this is happening night after night, so he cannot hide. The howling threats are heard constantly, yet why have these threats not been carried out? David has been in this situation for some time so he has had a chance to observe what is happening. He hasn’t reacted in a panic-stricken way, he hasn't run away, hidden or fought back, but has noticed what is happening and talks to God about it. He has looked on for long enough to realise that these people’s bark is worse than their bite. They are making a lot of threatening noise ‘bellowing’ about David’s demise in order to terrify, but they are not getting close enough to actually harm him. Therefore David does not take their bellows or howling seriously. In fact, he sees the funny side - what harm are the hungry dogs even if they growl and howl when they can’t get to him?! What problems are they really causing? They are just winding themselves up, getting hungrier, more frustrated and making a noise! David may be able to hear them and see their threatening behaviour, but he knows that he is safe. Why? 

Through this situation, no matter how natural it is to feel unsafe in the city at night with howling noises around him, David has seen that night after night he has been protected. He has encountered threats but come to no harm. He has been able to return home to sleep in safety, not because he has bodyguards but because God is his ‘fortress’. David has seen how God has been protecting him. Therefore he does not need to take the words, shouts or threats seriously because God is his strength and fortress. David is so confident, assured and safe that he knows that God is laughing at these enemies! (v8). 

When you feel attacked and surrounded by people wanting to bring you down, what is your response? Do you become terrified by their howling and their threatening behaviour? Or do you take time to consider, what power do they really have? People may say horrible things, restrict your privacy or  watch your movements, but what can they actually do to you? They may come against you and try to make life difficult for you, but they cannot ultimately change your life unless you let them. For, if you are one of God’s people, He is your strength and fortress, and He laughs at them, so you can too!

So, consider how you will handle the next situation where you feel got at, let down, surrounded and accused. Where is your hope and strength going to come from? Are you going to battle alone, hide in fear, run away or look to God as David did, and depend on Him to deliver you from the noisy dogs?

David, even though he was a warrior, a slayer of giants and a leader of an army, he had no power to fight these enemies.This is why David calls out to God, ‘O my Strength’. David acknowledges that all the strength, power and victories he has been through have come from God. David has no power or might in himself, it is God who has been the source of his strength. God defeated Goliath, the Philistines and countless other raiders and enemies, God just allowed David to be a part of it, and David allowed God to use him. So, in this current situation where David is surrounded and harassed, he knows God will once again be his strength and fortress. For he realises that the things he had previously overcome were because of God being his strength, and God hasn’t changed, just the situation has. God’s power never fails, never sleeps and never runs out. Your strength and power will though. 

So, what do you do when life gets difficult? Do you try to power through? Or do you involve God who is able to be your strength just as He was David’s? You don’t need to battle alone. The howling dogs are scary when you’re out at night by yourself. So don't try to deal with them by yourself, relying in your own strength. Instead of feeling harassed, scared and limited you can rest in the security of knowing God’s refuge and strength. Why rely on your own capabilities when you can have a strength that is so much more dependable and steadfast? A strength that has; defeated nations, created and sustained the world and brought salvation to all mankind. Surely this kind of strength can help in whatever situation you face!

What do you do when you get fed up?

 Psalm 58:1–11 (ESV):  

1  Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? 

Do you judge the children of man uprightly? 

2  No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; 

your hands deal out violence on earth. 

3  The wicked are estranged from the womb; 

they go astray from birth, speaking lies. 

4  They have venom like the venom of a serpent, 

like the deaf adder that stops its ear, 

5  so that it does not hear the voice of charmers 

or of the cunning enchanter. 

6  O God, break the teeth in their mouths; 

tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! 

7  Let them vanish like water that runs away; 

when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. 

8  Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, 

like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. 

9  Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, 

whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! 

10  The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; 

he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. 

11  Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; 

surely there is a God who judges on earth.” 

Why are some people intent on evil and others intent on good? Where does right and wrong come from? Is there ultimate justice for the goodness and the badness in the world? These are a few of the question this psalm of David seems to be dealing with. At some point in our lives, we too consider the same things. Many people wonder why there is evil and suffering in the world, where does it come from? Why do some people have influence when their desires are harmful to others? It is good to consider these things, we can learn about life, ourselves and our own moral standards as we consider the big questions of life on Earth.

David was considering such things as he saw people grow from one form of injustice to another becoming venomous, cunning, deceitful and destructive. We can see from this writing that David is pretty fed up with seeing these people going around thinking they are ‘gods’, hurting the innocent and vulnerable. He got so incensed by the evil actions of 'the wicked' that he desires all these people to be violently punished as they seemed to go from one form of evil to another. Even though it seems like the rich and powerful, the corrupt and lying are those that have influence and power, one day God will, ‘break the teeth in their mouths’ - Their words will be futile, their attempts to cause harm will fail and they will ‘be like the snail that dissolves into slime’. These are David’s prayers for justice. He has seen enough of life, of good and evil to observe that the wicked seem to do well for themselves, and it has driven him to passionately pray for their destruction and obliteration. 

Are you fed up with some of the things you have observed in your community, country, family or government? If so, what are you doing about it? If you are moaning to other people, getting increasingly annoyed and bothered by the descent of the world into chaos and wickedness then how does that help? Turn your frustrations into prayers. 

Pray for God to break the evil in this world. He can; break teeth, tear out fangs, make things disappear, blunt, dissolve and put to death. You can know that when you see something that is unrighteous and evil, God doesn’t like it either. So, are you partnering with Him to see an end to it and trusting that one day you will be rejoicing when vengeance comes?! There is power in prayer. You can seek the end of the evil practices of this world plus you can vent your emotions and ask God for solutions. God will listen and those of this world can learn that For, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth’.

Is your love steadfast?

Psalm 57:1–11 (ESV):  

1  Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, 

for in you my soul takes refuge; 

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, 

till the storms of destruction pass by. 

2  I cry out to God Most High, 

to God who fulfils his purpose for me. 

3  He will send from heaven and save me; 

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah 

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 

4  My soul is in the midst of lions; 

I lie down amid fiery beasts— 

the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, 

whose tongues are sharp swords. 

5  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

6  They set a net for my steps; 

my soul was bowed down. 

They dug a pit in my way, 

but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 

7  My heart is steadfast, O God, 

my heart is steadfast! 

I will sing and make melody! 

8  Awake, my glory! 

Awake, O harp and lyre! 

I will awake the dawn! 

9  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; 

I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

10  For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the clouds. 

11  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! 

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

This passionate psalm overflows with worship and appreciation of who God is even though David is pursued and in hiding. David focuses on how great God is, ‘above the heavens’ and ‘over all the earth’ as he realises that the present situation is no reflection of the character, power or kindness of God. God remains glorious, worthy and steadfast so David chooses to dwell on these facts rather than the fear and pain that he feels. David sets his mind to consider God because He is greater than the heavens and the Earth, and so is definitely greater and more trustworthy than the dangerous position he is in and his own emotions. 

Even when you feel like you’re ‘in the midst of lions’, you can praise God. Even in darkness and despair, God is there and is still a merciful refuge. David knew this - he chose to see beyond the cave and trouble that he was in to the refuge and glory of God. He set his mind to focus on the One who was keeping him safe and whose, ‘steadfast love is great to the heavens….faithfulness to the clouds’. 

David never dwells on the negativity. He has some awful experiences, as well as some great ones and his writings display the emotions he feels. He doesn’t deny that he feels; pain, fear, disappointment, joy, love, hurt or grief yet David does not let these emotions direct him or influence him other than by being felt. David accepts and acknowledges his reactions to whatever is happening and brings them to God. Then he considers God. You see, the situation and your emotions should not be the overriding factors in your life. God should be. Therefore David expresses how he feels and then moves onto what is more reliable and true - He reminds himself of God’s steadfast love and that He is; good, loving, powerful, steadfast, strong, purposeful, caring and full of mercy. 

The truth of God never changes. David is certain that he can trust in Him even in the terrible trials of life. In this psalm, David is enduring a life-threatening situation, but you wouldn’t guess it from the way it is written would you? David is full of praise for the ‘God most High’ saying, ‘I will give thanks to you’, ‘For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds’. David has put both the trial and God in their rightful places - God being far higher and more important than the problems he is facing. The focus for David is to continue to honour and worship God. He does not deny the pain and suffering that he is going through, but he does submit it to his knowledge of who God is.

So, how do you respond when you're in trouble, afraid or persecuted?

What do you focus on when life is difficult? 

What do you think about God when you are in pain and suffering? 

Do you allow the truth of God to inspire you and overwhelm you rather than your own fears and emotions?

Do you remember to extol and worship God? 

Even when life gets tough David does not stop worshipping or praying. In fact he makes sure that he is still doing these things. David does not turn his back on God or walk away, he goes towards God, talks to Him and honours Him even in the difficult times. David knows that God’s power, influence, greatness and love are worth being grateful for no matter what else is going on. God is worthy of praise whether today and tomorrow are good days or not. God is still steadfast in His love for you whether you experience it or not. God is still majestic, powerful and in control even when you are not. God never changes even when situations do. Therefore you can depend upon Him and praise Him in the cave as well as at the party. God is always above all things and He will always have His way, and His love will always be steadfast. Is yours?

"This I know, that God is for me."

 Psalm 56:1–13 (ESV):  

1  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; 

all day long an attacker oppresses me; 

2  my enemies trample on me all day long, 

for many attack me proudly. 

3  When I am afraid, 

I put my trust in you. 

4  In God, whose word I praise, 

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can flesh do to me? 

5  All day long they injure my cause; 

all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

6  They stir up strife, they lurk; 

they watch my steps, 

as they have waited for my life. 

7  For their crime will they escape? 

In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 

8  You have kept count of my tossings; 

put my tears in your bottle. 

Are they not in your book? 

9  Then my enemies will turn back 

in the day when I call. 

This I know, that God is for me. 

10  In God, whose word I praise, 

in the Lord, whose word I praise, 

11  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can man do to me? 

12  I must perform my vows to you, O God; 

I will render thank offerings to you. 

13  For you have delivered my soul from death, 

yes, my feet from falling, 

that I may walk before God 

in the light of life. 

Even though David is undergoing strife, he still has hope and confidence. He is oppressed and attacked, yet this is not the focus of this psalm, why is that?

This I know, that God is for me.

Wow! This is what David says even when life is troubled and terrifying, when things are not going his way and he doesn’t like it, David still is assured that God supports him! What is your response when you are battling and afraid? When things are not going your way? Do you, as David did, ‘put my trust’ in God because you are assured of His love and support? Or do you have one of the common responses of; fight, flight or freeze? We are taught, aren’t we, that these are the three responses of the primitive brain to danger; fight, flight or freeze. Yet David seems to have come up with a fourth! An alternative reaction to the dilemmas that you face - know that God is for you. In the midst of trouble David assures himself of this. He doesn’t let his primitive brain get in control, instead he focuses on what he knows is real and true - God is for him. If you are living your life following God, then you too can repeat David’s words and say, ’This I know, that God is for me.’ It may not look like it, or feel like it but this is the truth. You may feel frightened, oppressed, forgotten, hurt, yet the truth still is that God is for you. It doesn't change just because life gets hard or scary.

‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’ 

Do you do that? In a time of difficulty and trouble where do you turn? Where do you get your confidence and solutions from when there is a dilemma? There’s only one response that can give you the best outcome, and that is turning to God and relying on Him to sort out the issue. Anything else may release endorphins or stress, make you feel better for a moment, but nothing else can produce a powerful, long-term solution. Only God can be depended upon to bring out the best of a bad situation, do you stick with Him when life gets tough?

David has discovered through his life that God has always been constant. God has provided for and sustained him, and so he is sure that God will now too. Just because life gets difficult, doesn’t mean that God has disappeared or doesn’t care any more or that his favour has run out. Sometimes we can mistakenly believe this of God because we know what we are like as humans! Yet God is constant. He has always provided for and sustained you, so you can be assured of His continued favour, strength, love and care even in the times of attack and oppression. Therefore, learn to, ‘when I am afraid, I trust in you’ and remind yourself, ‘that God is for me’. These are the keys to knowing peace in turmoil, assurance in persecution and love through trials. David discovered it, and he shares his secret with you today. When you set your mind to trust in God, He has a way through every situation, will you trust in Him?

"This I know, that God is for me."

Where do you go with your internal battles?

 Psalm 55:1–23 (ESV):  

1  Give ear to my prayer, O God, 

and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 

2  Attend to me, and answer me; 

I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 

3  because of the noise of the enemy, 

because of the oppression of the wicked. 

For they drop trouble upon me, 

and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 

4  My heart is in anguish within me; 

the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 

5  Fear and trembling come upon me, 

and horror overwhelms me. 

6  And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! 

I would fly away and be at rest; 

7  yes, I would wander far away; 

I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 

8  I would hurry to find a shelter 

from the raging wind and tempest.” 

9  Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; 

for I see violence and strife in the city. 

10  Day and night they go around it 

on its walls, 

and iniquity and trouble are within it; 

11  ruin is in its midst; 

oppression and fraud 

do not depart from its marketplace. 

12  For it is not an enemy who taunts me— 

then I could bear it; 

it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— 

then I could hide from him. 

13  But it is you, a man, my equal, 

my companion, my familiar friend. 

14  We used to take sweet counsel together; 

within God’s house we walked in the throng. 

15  Let death steal over them; 

let them go down to Sheol alive; 

for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. 

16  But I call to God, 

and the Lord will save me. 

17  Evening and morning and at noon 

I utter my complaint and moan, 

and he hears my voice. 

18  He redeems my soul in safety 

from the battle that I wage, 

for many are arrayed against me. 

19  God will give ear and humble them, 

he who is enthroned from of old, Selah 

because they do not change 

and do not fear God. 

20  My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; 

he violated his covenant. 

21  His speech was smooth as butter, 

yet war was in his heart; 

his words were softer than oil, 

yet they were drawn swords. 

22  Cast your burden on the Lord, 

and he will sustain you; 

he will never permit 

the righteous to be moved. 

23  But you, O God, will cast them down 

into the pit of destruction; 

men of blood and treachery 

shall not live out half their days. 

But I will trust in you. 

David has not only experienced physical battles, but also the inner turmoil of the soul. This psalm explains a situation where he was emotionally and mentally strained by the betrayal of, ‘my equal, my companion, my familiar friend’. David was battling with the pain and despair of a broken relationship and the disappointment, chaos, life change and mental strife that this caused. Have you ever experienced such heartache and mental anguish? 

Most of us have. The thing is, this battle that we face is not usually obvious because it’s predominantly internal. Our emotions and mind replay events, conversations and memories, and these can lead to; confusion, anger and sadness all raging inside. It is a furious internal war, yet not many others would be aware of it. In a physical war it is obvious - you see the damage and physical discomfort, but an internal battle is often hidden even though there is also extensive damage and pain. The internal battles that we face are tougher and more wearing than any external ones and we cannot escape them. 

David says, ‘I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3  because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked.’ He hears the sound of the disappointment, the grief and pain, the ‘noise of the enemy’ clanging around inside him as the memories and recent events replay. The noise of the internal processing of the betrayal and the personal turmoil that has been caused is louder than any trumpet blast or roar of a crowd. David doesn’t deny it or downplay it, instead he admits the difficulty he is having trying to get his head round what has happened. You don’t have to try to explain, minimise or hide from the internal anguish you suffer either. The internal battles are difficult as they are often unknown to others and rage constantly, day and night, with no rest. David was experiencing this as he wrote Psalm 55. He accepts that he is; restless, oppressed, in trouble, feeling terrified and in anguish. If you feel that way today, or have ever felt like that, know that it is ok. It is alright to feel disappointed, hurt, afraid at times, restless and concerned, and it is ok to admit it too. Even as a person of God, even as a friend, parent, manager or colleague, it is ok. It is usual for people to suffer with their thoughts, you are not alone. David was troubled with a hurt heart and mental anguish and he was a loved and respected king, father, husband and a faithful man of God. Yet here we are thousands of years later reading about and relating to his internal pain. He was not ashamed to admit how frustrated, disappointed and upset he was about things. He was open and honest about it. He told God exactly what was going on for him, how he felt, how troubled he was, and that he expected God to do something about it! 

You see, although David knew he was suffering, he did not choose to dwell in the despair and disappointment. He did not want to stay feeling like this, and he knew where his help and comfort would come from. He had a strong, personal relationship with Almighty God, so he told God about what was going on in his life. He let God know how he felt, even the worst bits such as wishing his enemy dead and wanting to permanently escape (v7 and 15). David was not ashamed to be really honest about his emotions, even admitting when he was in deep despair and inner turmoil. Are you that honest? With yourself and with God?

I cannot imagine that this psalm was spoken clearly and calmly, can you? I imagine it to have been a passionate outpouring of tears, anger and sobs, releasing some of the hurt and disappointment as the words spilled out. David was overwhelmed, hurt and disappointed as he goes to the God - the One he can trust with it all, and the One that can help, strengthen and comfort. David admits he wants to escape this torment, yet he knows that even going to a different place will not change the internal discomfort. For it is his heart that ‘is in anguish’ and no matter where he goes he cannot escape his own heart or memories, so he knows he has to deal with it. Therefore, David’s response is to ‘call to God’. No-one else can help him, restore his soul, bind up his broken heart or breakthrough this trouble. So he goes to the One he knows can influence any and every heart and situation for, ‘the Lord will save me’. David knows that although he feels overcome and like he wants to get away from it all, God, ‘redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage’. Both the physical and internal battles God can help with. He is the one who can inspire, strengthen and give your soul refuge (v1). He is the one that can bring you; relief, provision, strength and redemption. Are you allowing God to it? 

Do you go to God with your struggles? Are you really real about how you are doing when you speak to Him?

When you feel overwhelmed and overcome by circumstances and experience internal strife, you can, ‘cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you’. Yet God can only help you as much as you let Him. David wanted God’s help in every area of his life, even the messy bits. Are you allowing God to see and have influence in every area of your life? Will you allow Him to see and heal the internal anguish? God will hear and help you if you go to Him, then like David you too will be able to say, ‘in you my soul takes refuge’.

Is your faith as secure as David’s?

 Psalm 54:1–7 (ESV):  

1  O God, save me by your name, 

and vindicate me by your might. 

2  O God, hear my prayer; 

give ear to the words of my mouth. 

3  For strangers have risen against me; 

ruthless men seek my life; 

they do not set God before themselves. Selah 

4  Behold, God is my helper; 

the Lord is the upholder of my life. 

5  He will return the evil to my enemies; 

in your faithfulness put an end to them. 

6  With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; 

I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. 

7  For he has delivered me from every trouble, 

and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. 

Prayers do not have to be long, even when you are desperate. In this psalm we see David calling out to God in distress. He needed his life saving, he was confused and on the run. David had been anointed king years ago, he had been the soother of Saul’s soul through music and was a loyal and successful soldier in the king’s army, and now he is running for his life! King Saul who had once delighted in David had turned vehemently against him and now sought to kill him. So, David had to escape. David knew the promise of God on his life, yet right now, he had to run away to survive. Even though David did not understand what was happening and certainly did not like it, he still honoured and obeyed God. He did not take the change in circumstance as a withdrawal of God’s purposes, plans or favour. He still trusted and believed in God and set his heart and mind on following Him rather than pursuing his own ease and comfort. That is tough isn’t it?! When it seems like the opposite to the promises of God are happening, you can feel abandoned and rejected by Him. You can feel hurt, confused, angry, disappointed and in despair. What is your response when things like this happen? Do you run away from God, get involved in unhelpful habits, or do you continue to trust and believe in Him and proceed to honour and obey Him like David did?

David was uncomfortable and scared as he wrote this psalm, he implored God to intervene and ‘save me’. He saw the reality of what was happening and he called upon God as, ‘the upholder of my life’. David trusted God to sustain and provide for him, not just material things but every breath. Even when he was chased and persecuted he recognised that God is the only one who was in control of his life - how long it lasts and how it ends. David’s security was in God. He knew that God's promises still stood, and that they would be fulfilled because a) God had promised and b) his life was not yet over so there was still time! David was assured through the relationship that he had developed with God  that God supports those who honour and obey Him. He knew that God is faithful, powerful, helpful and has a plan beyond any human one. He accepted that God will fulfil His will even when it seems ridiculous or impossible. 

Do you have confidence in God like that?

The problem with this kind of admirable, secure faith that David has is that it grows through adversity. David knew God had saved him from; bears, lions, giants, and mighty warriors. Therefore David was certain that God would not allow anything to thwart the promises God had made to him. David had learnt that God was trustworthy and true and worth betting his life on. If David stayed close to God, he knew that God would continue to save him, ‘from every trouble’ and allow him to look ‘in triumph on my enemies’. David knew this because of the trials he had already faced with God so trust had been built. When you face troubles do you know that God is right there with you in it? Have you successfully followed God through the trials so that your faith is built and becomes secure? Security in God and the confidence that David had come because you have previously overcome through hard times honouring God and following Him throughout. Keeping your eyes open for what God can and will do and holding firmly onto His promises. So, take some time to consider, what troubles has God got you through? Where are your victories? 

You too can trust in God today as the ‘upholder of my life’. Recall the promises He has spoken over you and keep following Him, then you too will know God’s power, deliverance and remarkable triumphs.