Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 54-56
Devotional Thought:
Has there ever been a time when your heart was broken and you just ran to the Lord for comfort? Here in Psalm 55 David pours out his heart to the Lord. In this Psalm, God reveals several different ways that we can handle difficult and painful times. (1) We can have a pity party. “Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make noise; because of the voice of my enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.” (vs. 2-3) We can cry and whine about how bad people are treating me and how they are saying mean things, but what does that really accomplish. David goes on to express how badly this is making him feel and how it is affecting him physically. (2) We can have an escape plan. When we have been hurt or are being hurt, we often feel like running away. The problem with that is we just take our problems with us. Problems must be solved Biblically if they are going to go away. “Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest… I would wander off and remain in the wilderness… I would escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (vs. 6-8) People who cry a sad story to a pastor about their last church and the problems there, will one day typically cry to another pastor about your church and the problems with you. (3) We can have a complaining party. Too many times when people are hurt they gravitate to other people who have been hurt. Critical and complaining people tend to find each other. They rehearse their sad stories and complain about the circumstances. David is thinking that the Lord should destroy these enemies who are doing all these things wrong. It is typical that people rehearse the sad circumstances that he is in with himself and probably any one else that will listen. (4) We can have a faith party. David confidently says, “As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.” (vs. 16) David resorts to prayer! “Evening, morning, and noon, will I pray…” He concludes this chapter with really good advise, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into a pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” (vs. 22-23)
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to always trust you with the circumstances that you feel are good for me. I need my faith increased.
• Lord, thank you for being a God who cares about the details of my life. Thank you for always defending me the right way, in the right time, for your ultimate glory.
• Lord, help me to cast all my cares upon you, knowing that you care for me.