God Sees And Hears!
Psalm 59 (NIV)
(Alice Hsieh, Pastoral Team Member, Mandarin Ministry)
READ:
Psalm 59 (NIV)
This is a psalm written by David when he was in danger and he prayed for God’s deliverance and protection from his enemies.
The content is divided into 2 sections:
- Cry for God’s deliverance and protection (verses 1-9).
- David’s reliance on God for victory (verses 10-17).
The background of this Psalm is Saul sending his men to kill David (a man after God’s own heart) out of jealousy (1 Samuel 19:11-12). God allowed evildoers and those who love the shedding of blood (Psalm 59:2) to pursue his anointed, precisely to do the work of tearing down and building up David; breaking down the old man and building up the new man.
OBSERVE:
Saul sent people to spy on David’s house, preparing to kill him at dawn. But David’s wife, Michal, who is also Paul’s daughter, warned David and let him loose. Saul’s soldiers, however, continued to pursue David. Just as he was surrounded by his enemies, the Holy Spirit came to remind David that only God is in control and has the power to sanction life. Therefore, David obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit and did not kill Saul, who was God’s anointed, when he had two opportunities to do so. He only asked that the enemies be scattered, so that the people could see God’s deeds and know God’s work in him.
APPLY:
As the saying goes: If you do not want people to know what you do, don’t do it! The wicked curse God, thinking that God will not hear and will not respond.
But as Psalm 59:7-8 put it:
7See what they spew from their mouths – they spew out swords from their lips, and they say, “Who can hear us?” 8But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations.
God is watching patiently until the day their wickedness is full. As believers, we must be careful not to commit these foolish sins. We must remember that no matter what we do secretly, God still sees and hears.
David was hunted down by those who were jealous. Jealousy drove them to want to kill David. Trusted friends, even his own son, rose up against him. People were so fickle, but David knew that God’s love for him would never change.
“His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 100:5).
God showed eternal mercy to David, and the same is true for all who believe in God. I would like to encourage all of you that when others do not love us or discourage us, we can still rest in the eternal love of God.
DO:
1. Be humble:
David knew that God was his strength; he was humble to seek God for protection and deliverance.
2. The Lord as my ‘high tower’:
David used “my strength” and “my high tower” to call God three times. When he was abandoned and persecuted by his king (Saul), David turned his eyes to his real king and high tower.
3. The Lord builds up people:
David was hunted down because of Saul’s jealousy, and also because God wants to build up David through difficulties.
4. The Lord is my fountain:
David not only sang praises to God, but also sang the love of God in the morning, because the love of God is to be the source of our daily strength.
Indeed, how much God loves us. Since He has given his only begotten Son, what else will He not give me, and us?
PRAY:
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for being our ‘high tower’ in our times of trouble. Your steadfast love has enabled us to regain strength to face the challenges of life. Thank you, Lord, for training and testing us in every situation, and edifying our lives. May we experience together the faithfulness of the Lord; our loving and unchanging Lord!
Thank you, Lord, for giving us the grace to come before you, to look to you. And may our days be filled with abundant blessings from God. I pray in the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
