Slideshow image

"But I call to God, and the LORD will save me....Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you;"

~ Psalm 55:16,22a

 

Psalm 55 reveals one of the deepest cuts one can have in their heart.  Here, David is recounting the pains which come from betrayal by a close friend.  But David is not totally dismayed as he considers who his God is.   

David begins by pleading for God to listen and hear him (v. 1-2).  His enemy is ever present and oppressive (v. 3).  He begs that God would see and hear the situation he is in.   

This external trouble runs deep into his own heart.  The internal troubles of his heart are then expressed as David describes his anguish, fear, trembling, and horror (v. 4-5).  David’s only wish is that he could run away and be far from everything (v. 6-8).  He asks that God would take action (v. 9).  

This situation would be bearable if David’s enemy was the nations around him who sought violence to Israel, or any one of those troublemakers within Israel who worked evil in the nation.  Instead, David’s enemy is a dear friend (v. 13).  A friend who he spent time with in counsel and walked along with in God’s house (v. 14).   

In this terrible time, David looks to his personal God, a God closer than his closet friend.  David calls upon God to deal due vengence (v. 15).  He knows that his God will save him (v. 16) and that he hears his cry (v. 17).  David knows that his God will redeem him (v.18).  

David’s hope is set fully on his God.  Even when his close friend is deceiving (v. 20-21), David is certain of who his God is.  God will deal with those who are wicked (v. 23).  While David cannot trust all men, he can trust God.  

Whatever situations face you today, know who your God is!  Our first instinct is to run away from what is hard, but our first instinct should really be to turn to our Heavenly Father.  When we are in unbearable times, we can cast our burdens on God (v. 22).