October 7, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

An Unjust World

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Dear Father, You are the giver of life and truth and grace. I thank You for all Your mercies.

Read Psalm 59:1-17

For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.

[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me. [2] Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood. [3] See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, LORD. [4] I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! [5] You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors. [6] They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. [7] See what they spew from their mouths- the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?” [8] But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations. [9] You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, [10] my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. [11] But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. [12] For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, [13] consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. [14] They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. [15] They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. [16] But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. [17] You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Reflect

In Luke 9 we see the rejection of the one who alone can heal that tortured boy. Think about injustice and let the feeling seep into your soul.

The feeling of injustice is vivid in this psalm. The setting, given in the preface, is 1 Samuel 19:11-17: Saul sends storm troopers to kill David at home in front of his wife (Saul’s daughter), even though David has served him faithfully and victoriously, not least in giving him victory over the monstrous Goliath. It is a brutal and unjustified abuse of power, motivated by jealousy and fear. David compares his attackers to a pack of ravenous dogs running wild in the streets, scavenging wildly for food and vomiting in the gutters (6,7,14,15).

Three things are remarkable about this psalm. First, David doesn’t get lost in his own pain, but sees his experience as an instance of a worldwide scar. Appealing to God, he says, “rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors … you scoff at all those nations” (5,8). The dogs prowl round the houses of the innocent all over the world, and David knows that others face the kind of injustice he feels.

Second, David looks wholly to God to answer his need. He looks to God for deliverance and protection (1,2), for justice and the punishment of his enemies (11-13), and for encouragement right now (9,16,17). Of course, we know that this trust didn’t make David passive: he took steps to escape, and all through his life trusting in God went hand-in-hand with sharpening his sword. He felt no incompatibility between these! He trusted God to deliver, protect and bring justice, as he took vigorous steps of his own. Finally, David is animated by a vision of love, totally at odds with his situation: “in the morning I will sing of your love” (16). This is surely the wonderful factor that underlies everything else here.

Apply

Can you share David’s anger at injustice? Express it to God in prayer today. Should you do something about it?

Closing prayer

Lord God Almighty (5), my strength, my fortress (9), my loving God (10). You go before me through the ups and downs (10), in that I am completely secure.

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