Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 1-085 Sunday 29 Apr 2001

Reading: PSALM 59 – OUR STRENGTH DAY AND NIGHT

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

‘Lord, thank you that you are my refuge and strength, my everpresent help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1).

To most of us, night is sweet. It promises rest, quiet and sleep. To others, however, the night brings unwelcome visitations, real or imagined, and only fitful sleep or anxious waiting for the dawn.

This psalm describes the latter. It is a song of desperation from one whose nights are haunted by real enemies whose voices and words are within his hearing. These ‘evildoers’ in the city, who are shouting their taunts into the air, are intent on doing violence.

David was himself the victim of such harassment. Though he was son- in-law to King Saul, the king, in a fit of jealousy and madness, called for his destruction. (See 1 Sam 19:1,18-19) He had David’s palace surrounded by men who are described in this psalm ‘snarling like dogs’ (vs 6,14).

So David’s cry is urgent and desperate: ‘0 my Strength, I watch for you’, ‘You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God’ (v 9).

Discovering that God is indeed his strength, David stops lamenting, and begins to sing (v 16). No longer is he preoccupied with the dangers of the night, but now looks to the morning with music on his lips. His night-time fears give way to confidence in the morning as his focus shifts from his enemies to the loving God who protects him.

We may not have enemies like the ones described here, but it is often hard to find peace of mind and rest for our spirit. Fears may lurk in some corner of our imagination. If this is so, David has shown us an example of how to face such difficulties. Calling upon the God we trust as our strength can change our desperation into deliverance. And yes, even to delight. God does indeed make a difference – day and night.

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee – Help of the helpless, O abide with me’ (HF Lyte, 1793- 1847).

– Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano

Copyright Scripture Union, 2001