Friendly Fire
Opening Prayer
Thank God for friends and family members who’ve stood with you in times of trial. Ask God to bless them today.
Read Psalm 55:1-23
[1] For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; [2] hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught [3] because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. [4] My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. [5] Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. [6] I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. [7] I would flee far away and stay in the desert; [8] I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” [9] Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. [10] Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. [11] Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets. [12] If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. [13] But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, [14] with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers. [15] Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them. [16] As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. [17] Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. [18] He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. [19] God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change- he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. [20] My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. [21] His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. [22] Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. [23] But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does David deal with his "fear and trembling"?People do disappoint us sometimes. At the same time as withstanding outward assaults (2,3), David is crumbling within. He fantasizes about being able to fly away from his overwhelming troubles (4-8). But the hardest thing for him to bear is the treachery of a friend, “with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship … as we walked with the throng at the house of God” (14). A close friend has become a sworn enemy, and David rages against him (20,21). Everything else he can withstand, but this betrayal threatens to push him over the edge. He cries out to God to sustain him by his redeeming and saving power, to ransom him “unharmed from the battle waged against me” (18). “Friendly fire” is so hard to take; we don’t usually see it coming. Sometimes in church the spiritual warfare seems to come more from people within our fellowship than from those outside, and it hurts all the more. As here, we must tell God how we’re feeling, without holding anything back. We also can cry out for God’s redeeming power to be at work in our situation, bringing forgiveness and new relationship. And we must put our trust in God once again.
Apply
Pray for God’s blessing upon those whose “friendly fire” has wounded you. Renew your trust that God will defend you.
Closing prayer
Lord, I’m thankful that I can cry out to You whenever I hurt, knowing that You’re always there for me.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.