Our Loving God
TRANSLATION
(6) They return each evening. They growl like a dog and prowl around the city. (7) Look! They spew forth (evil) from their mouths. Swords (are) in their lips, for (they think), “Who will hear?” (8) But you, Yahweh, will laugh at them. You mock at all the nations. (9) O my strength, I will watch for you, for God (is) my fortress. (10) My God in his steadfast love will meet me. God will cause me to look (in triumph) on my enemies.
Observations:
This middle segment of Psalm 59 is notable for the strong contrasts drawn between the principal players in this drama of confrontation: David’s enemies, David’s God, and David, himself. David’s enemies acted like wild dogs, growling, prowling, and spewing forth evil from howling mouths with razor-sharp lips (vss. 6 & 7). Yahweh (vs. 8) was portrayed as laughing, mocking at their hollow threats, recalling a similar description in the second psalm, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs in derision; the Lord mocks at them” (Ps. 2:4). David then described himself as trusting in Yahweh who will lovingly protect him and cause him to triumph over those who have surrounded him in order to destroy him (vss. 9 & 10).
OUTLINE
David described…
– the bestial conduct of his enemies. (6 & 7)
– Yahweh’s contempt for their empty threats. (8)
– his confidence in God’s loving protection. (9 & 10)
IDEA STATEMENT
No matter how threatening our enemies may seem, we can trust in our loving God to protect us and cause us to triumph.
APPLICATION
Christians often speak about the importance of a personal relationship with God, an intimacy made possible by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Becoming an integral part of God’s family is the goal of discipleship as expressed by Jesus in the Upper Room Discourse: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me” (Jn. 15:4 NASV). Paul used the phrase, “adopted as sons” (Eph. 1:6), to describe the intimate relationship we have with our heavenly Father because of trusting in Christ.
The idea of a close, personal relationship with God did not originate in the New Testament. David eloquently portrayed his relationship with God as something quite intimate (vss. 9 & 10). He first called God “my strength and my fortress” (vs. 9). He then declared that “my God in his steadfast love will meet me” and cause me to triumph (vs. 10). He knew what it meant to consider Yahweh a loving father who would never forsake his child. How much more should we who have been given new life in the Son rest in our Father’s eternal love!