March 22, 2018: Save Me, O God!
Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 27-28, Psalm 69:1-18, Matthew 27:45-56, Romans 14
David is asking to be “saved” (69:1, 13, 35; cf. 69:18). This is the theme throughout this psalm: salvation. But salvation from what and by whom? It’s one thing to know that you are in trouble and you need help. It is another thing to get the help that you need. Perhaps you are in a situation where you are longing for some sort of solution to the problems you face. But where is that help going to come from? What steps do you need to take to secure that help? Where will the help come from? David dramatically and passionately turns to God to be saved. “Save me, O God!” He “sinks in deep mire”; he has come into “deep waters.” His eyes “grow dim.” Why? What is going on? He has people who “hate him without cause.” In fact, his enemies are more than the “hairs of his head”! (69:4). It is one thing to have an enemy; it is a terrible thing to have thousands of enemies! What is more, their hate towards him is “without cause.” “What I did not steal must I now restore?” There is no justice in their opposition towards him or in their demanding of recompense from him. David is not claiming to have sinless perfection. The “wrongs that he has done are not hidden from God” (69:5). But nonetheless, it is “for God’s sake that he has born reproach.” There was one who perfectly fulfilled David’s righteous suffering: “Zeal for your house has consumed me” (John 2:17). Have you ever experienced even some of this unjust suffering? If so, remember you have a Savior who truly in every way experienced unjust suffering—and can “save” you! David’s pain, nonetheless, is real. “When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach…the drunkards make songs about me.” Being famous is something that many people desire; but with fame comes exposure. And the crowd that sung your praises one week may make up rude songs about you the next week! And so David turns to God for help. “But as for me my prayer is to you O Lord…answer me in your saving faithfulness…Hide not your face from your servant…redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!”
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