This week, I would like you to take the time to read Psalm
59 – it’s only 17 verses long – and if you can, please read Psalm 57 (11
verses) as well. Both these psalms are among the psalms David wrote while King
Saul was murderously pursuing him. It is valuable to consider those
circumstances as you read these psalms, so you can better hear the earnest
pleading in David’s words but also be buoyed by his confidence in God’s mercy.
It is interesting to note that the actual term “God of mercy”
(or “God of my mercy” as it is sometimes translated) is only
found two times in the Bible, both in Psalm 59, yet one could readily argue
that God is accurately described and depicted as a God of mercy throughout the
Bible; there are hundreds of verses that speak of His mercy and lovingkindness
toward men, the greatest ones being those that tell of Him sending His Son to
save us from our sins – that is surely the greatest possible proof of His mercy
(John 3:14-21, 1 John 4:7-10)!
“My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire
on my enemies. Do not slay them, lest my people forget; scatter them by Your
power, and bring them down, O LORD our shield.” (Psalm 59:10-11 NKJV)
Why was David so
confident in God’s mercy? He knew that he was upholding God’s law and
abiding by it to the very best of his abilities. He states, “The
mighty gather against me, not for my transgressions nor for my sin, O LORD.
They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine” (Psalm 59:3b-4). At the beginning of his
troubles with Saul, it says in 1 Samuel 18:14 that “David behaved wisely in all his
ways, and the LORD was with him” and later, when given two opportunities
to end Saul’s life, David stated on both occasions, “The LORD forbid that I should
stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:1-22; 26:1-25)
David could be assured of God’s mercy because he had been
merciful (consider Matthew 5:7) and
he loved God and kept His commandments (Deuteronomy
7:9, Psalm 25:10). Time and time again David trusted in God’s mercy – consider
David’s prayer for forgiveness in Psalm 51 and his choice of punishment in 2
Samuel 24:10-25 – and so we find him speaking of God’s mercy throughout his
writings: “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great
in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all his
works” (Psalm 145:8-9).
“To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, My
God of mercy.” (Psalm 59:17 NKJV)
In your troubles, can
you do as David did? Can you trust in God’s
mercy enough to praise Him in the midst of the storm, fully confident that He
will help?
In Psalm 57:1-3 David begins his plea to the LORD: “Be
merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the
shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed
by. I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all thongs for me. He
shall send from heaven and save me; He reproached the one who would swallow me
up. God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.” (NKJV)
Are you assured of God’s
mercy as you faithfully serve Him? He is “the Father of mercies and God of
all comfort” (as we studied
earlier, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7), you can trust in His mercy – it is renewed
every morning; it will not run out (Lamentations 3:22-24)! Learn from David and let his trust in God
lead you to trust Him more – let David’s words become your words:
“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth will I
make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, “Mercy shall
be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens”…
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth
go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!” (Psalm 89:1-2, 14-15 NKJV)
You can do it! So can I!!
