Our God Reigns

Introduction

Over the last few weeks in our Bible reading plan, we’ve been studying about David in 1 Samuel and Psalms and now we are doing the same in 1 Chronicles. This Bible reading plan is helpful in seeing how there truly is unity from Genesis to Revelation as David serves as one of the most important figures in all of Scripture as He points to Jesus Christ. Throughout these books, especially as we’ve seen in Psalms, there are many prayers echoed by God’s people calling on Him to save them. These are prayers that we cry out from time to time as well! We find ourselves struggling or in a time of confusion and we pray that God would give us an answer and rescue us from whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Tonight we’re going to spend some time studying out of Psalm 59 and examining David’s prayer whenever Saul was trying to kill him. This Psalm and overall time period is a very difficult one for David as he is trying to honor God and part of honoring God means also honoring God’s chosen king: Saul. Imagine how difficult it would have been here for David to go about praying to and obeying God whenever Saul was trying to have him killed! It can be hard for us to depend on God whenever things don’t exactly go our way - would we depend on Him whenever our life was at stake? Like we studied this morning, I pray that we would, but that is easier said than done!

After we study this Psalm, we’ll spend a little bit of time in prayer as we remember those in our community who are undergoing difficult moments and brothers and sisters in Christ who are undergoing persecution similar to that of David in our text as their lives truly are in danger right now.

Psalm 59 CSB

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him. 1 Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me. 2 Rescue me from evildoers, and save me from men of bloodshed. 3 Because look, Lord, they set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine. 4 For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position. Awake to help me, and take notice. 5 Lord God of Armies, you are the God of Israel. Rise up to punish all the nations; do not show favor to any wicked traitors. Selah 6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city. 7 Look, they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips. “For who,” they say, “will hear?” 8 But you laugh at them, Lord; you ridicule all the nations. 9 I will keep watch for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold. 10 My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries. 11 Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget. By your power, make them homeless wanderers and bring them down, Lord, our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. They utter curses and lies. 13 Consume them in fury; consume them until they are gone. Then people will know throughout the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah 14 And they return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city. 15 They scavenge for food; they growl if they are not satisfied. 16 But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble. 17 To you, my strength, I sing praises, because God is my stronghold— my faithful God.

Our Foes (1-5)

David immediately opens up with a petition in this lament Psalm, “Rescue me from my enemies, my God.” Throughout our lives, we have prayed this type of prayer many times, haven’t we? Whenever difficulty arises, our prayer often defaults to this quickly. Protect me. Rescue me. Save me. Why do we pray this prayer? Because we know that regardless of the situation or the power of our enemy, our God is greater. David notes that his enemies are attacking him not because of his sin or action, rather it is because they are evil. This can happen to us from time to time. We can be doing what God calls us to do, much like Peter and John in Acts 3-4, and lo and behold what happens? We get in trouble with others. They confront us and we are opposed. In such moments, what should we do? David cries out to God to take notice and rise up to these wicked traitors. What a timely reminder for us in the midst of persecution.

Though our enemies might be powerful and plan evil, we know that we can call upon the Lord of Hosts as Psalm 46 says, or as Psalm 80 says

Psalm 80:4 CSB

4 Lord God of Armies, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

Even though we have foes, we see in Scripture and from experience that our God is on the side of His people.

Our God (6-10)

What David points to in the middle of this Psalm is the actions of his enemies. They spew sharp words from their lips and prowl around, snarling like dogs. These people are mean and powerful. Yet, David says that God laughs at them! Why would God laugh at such people? Because even though men might be powerful, God is infinitely more powerful.

What an important thing to keep in mind whenever we pray! Many times we look at the obstacle or opposition and we stop then and there. What do we fail to do? We fail to look at the attributes of our God. Notice that David says that the Lord is “my strength” “my stronghold” “my faithful God.” Whenever we look at the attributes and proven track record of our God, everything changes.

Consider for a moment some of our brothers and sisters in Christ up in Canada. Did you know that the Canadian government has had police invade multiple church buildings and build fences around at least one church? Did you know that there have been multiple pastors and elders face jail time due to holding services in recent months? The world looks at this and shakes their head. Why would you defy the government? Why would you not just go with the flow? Why, why, why? There are even Christians following along with this and opposing churches holding services in the name of loving our neighbor. Friends, whenever we remember who our God is, we are reminded that we are commanded to fellowship and part of fellowship means we worship with one another. While this might give us some enemies, we are reminded that our God is faithful to His promises and to His Word. While this promise does not include things necessarily going our way, we are reminded time and time again that He’s got this and we must obey what He says.

Our Victory (11-17)

As we obey and trust in Him, we see what happens to those who oppose God. They lose! In our world today it might seem like evil and wickedness is winning the day; however, we know that eventually their time will come. We see David call on God to consume these enemies in fury until they are all gone. We know that our God wins - as Christians who have read their Bibles - and we know that since our God wins, we win too! The whole earth will know that God rules over Jacob.

Though we are not promised to have victory or prosperity or success in the moment, we are promised ultimate victory in Christ. Therefore, we too can sing with boldness like David does in the conclusion of this great Psalm as we sing of God’s strength and faithfulness.

Conclusion

Think of what it will cost you to remain faithful to God in a difficult season of life. Think of the consequences of not remaining faithful to God in this season of life. What is worth it more? Is it better to go with the flow and win the approval of man, or to stand firm on God’s Word? It’s always worth it to remain faithful to God and His Word.

Acts 5:29 CSB

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

This is our anthem! But it cannot stop with a simple cry - we are called to pray, as David does here. We pray that God would show up and consume those who promote and live out evil. We pray that He would strike them down so that everyone would see that there IS a God who is faithful and just.

In the next few moments, I’d like for us to spend some time in prayer. We did this a few months ago, and I’d like to continue doing this every few months in order to, as a corporate body, emphasize corporate prayer. Pray for those in your life who do not know Christ as Lord. Pray that the Lord might convict them and use you to do so! Pray for those in your life who are experiencing difficulties today. Pray that the Lord would solve the situation and be glorified in doing so. Pray for those in our congregation and community hurting today. Pray that there would be restoration and redemption as relationships are mended and Christ is glorified.

Pray for our church to remain faithful in the coming days to stand firm on God’s Word and to love our community effectively. Pray for boldness to do this.