Singing On the Journey

This short song takes us on a three-stage journey–from the valley of panic, through the slopes of prayer, and onto the mountains of praise. 

We do not often talk about enemies. It seems unpleasant, reactionary, alarmist. I think many of us would like to think that we are beyond enemies, that we are so committed to being peacemakers and reconcilers, that we have reached our goal of an enemy-free life. Perhaps we consider having enemies as the consequence of unwise actions. There are others of us who feel backed into a corner and surrounded by enemies and opposition, both from outside the church and even from within. But the psalmist is neither an idealist nor an alarmist; he is a realist. Enemies are real. They bring struggle and anguish (2), their dominance is persistent, and they gloat–even rejoice–at our downfall (4). The plaintive start to the song and the feeling that God has abandoned us (even though he has not) needs to be expressed. It is honest and authentic, but it is only the start and not the destination.

Prayer can often begin with a sense that, like soil after a dry summer, we have been deprived of nutrients, with the happiness stripped from our hearts by opposition (3). With hurtful words echoing in our memories and imagination, our prayer can be quite desperate: “please answer me, God, please speak to me, please bring me relief.” But like a train working its way through the desert, when we pray using a psalm as tracks for the soul we will arrive in the fertile plain at last, able to sing and rejoice in God. Jesus is the Rescuer and the sympathetic Savior.

Be honest before God in prayer about those who may oppose you, and pray a blessing on them. Use this psalm as a prayer; consider singing it out loud in praise to God.