Psalm 59: That They May Know God Rules

Today’s reading is Psalm 59.

In Psalm 59:11-13, David focuses not on his own safety, but on God’s glory. He pleads for God to awake, not simply to deliver him (though I’m sure he cared about his personal safety and his kingdom’s), but to make people aware Yahweh reigns in Israel. More than that, Yahweh reigns to the ends of the earth. David wanted God to avoid instant destruction of the enemy because he feared Israel would forget God’s work. However, he wanted God to judge the nations so the nations would know Yahweh rules all.

David didn’t simply develop this concern when Saul attempted to kill him. He wanted to prove this to the world from the very beginning. In fact, when David earlier checked on his brothers at the battle with the Philistines, he did not care about battlefield glory. He cared about God’s glory. When Goliath asked, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” David responded:

You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV)

David faced Goliath because he wanted Israel to know about their God. He also wanted the Philistines and all the earth to know about their God. In Psalm 59, when Saul behaves like Goliath, David takes the same approach.

Too often, I focus on me, my glory, my satisfaction, my convenience, my desires. May we all become more like David in this psalm, concerned more with God’s glory and reputation than our own. He deserves it. He is worthy.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 59.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What in Psalm 59 provides or increases your hope in God?