Under the Threat of Attack

Psalm 11:1-7

      In our Post 9/11 world we have developed different systems to express the perceived level of danger for the population. Some countries express these in colors, or numbers, or with labels. Whatever the particular system used, the current threat level is articulated. It is then up government agencies and citizens alike, to act and react accordingly.

      The writer of our Psalm feels under attack. It could be that David is the writer and it is during the time when King Saul is trying to kill him, before he becomes king in his place. Saul had put a contract on David’s head. There were rewards waiting for the one who would kill David. So it is understandable that David wants to stay below the radar. He values his life and doesn’t want to become an easy target.

      Someone warns David of the impending danger. They tell him to flee. This happened several times in David’s life. But fleeing requires leaving the relative safety of the known and moving into the unknown. It can be easy to stay put when danger approaches. Once you move, you may draw attention to your presence. Our eyes are naturally drawn to movement, to changes in the environment.

      And David has taken refuge in the LORD. Is there a safer place to be? I think we can be in right relationship with the LORD and still need to move to a safer place. Just because we are a Jesus-follower does not mean that physical danger and threat can’t reach us. David is told to change address. Sometimes we need to change address in order to stay safe.

      But what was the danger? David faced arrows. You might think that arrows aren’t as bad as all that. But there were two threats from the bow and arrow. First is what we would call the sniper archer. He is extremely accurate with the bow. If you were in range, you were in danger. And once an arrow hits, you slow down, making yourself a sitting duck for the next shot.

      The second threat from arrows comes when many archers fire into the air at one time in your direction. They aren’t going for accuracy. When you have several hundred arrows raining down on you from the sky, it can be very difficult to avoid getting hit. They are moving exceedingly fast, and an arrow coming at you is visually a very small object to see. And because these arrows can be fired from a much greater distance, it would take the victim by complete surprise. You could be in the safety of your back yard and in come the arrows.

      The one hope our writer has is the LORD’s care. He knows that nothing escapes His knowledge. The enemy may get away with it in the short run, but ultimately the LORD’s justice will catch up with them. His surveillance system has not gaps in coverage. He sees every text message and chat session. He listens in on all our communications. He even knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

      The wicked face this same scrutiny. They won’t get away with their actions. Judgment is being stored up for them and one day it will rain on their heads. Our struggle, and the writer’s struggle, is the time between judgment out there in the future and the present moment. We must learn to trust Him even more during the intervening moments. This can be extremely difficult when the treat to our lives and family is real. But this is exactly what we need to do.

The Twenty-Plus-Seven’s

Psalm 27, 57, 87, 117, 147

We could all use a bit more confidence! Psalm 27 tells of an unexpected source of confidence. The writer, facing an advancing army, draws in close to the LORD and recognizes that from that position, he has nothing to fear. Imagine that, an army coming toward you and you are not afraid! He recognizes that in the LORD is safety (v5). That does not mean that we will live forever without any pain or suffering here on earth. We live in a world marred by sin, and we get the effects of that brokenness in our lives, even when we are Jesus-followers. Even the writer has to focus his attentions of trusting the LORD (v8), and on patience (v14).

 A steadfast heart is what we need when we feel overwhelmed (Ps 57:7). It is easy to get distracted and look at all the troubles coming our direction (vv4 & 6). Twice in this psalm (vv 5 & 11) the writer say “Be exalted, O God.” Of course we know that He already is exalted, but the writer doesn’t see it. He wants that exalted position to be made evident in his life and his world. Do you need Him to be exalted in that way in your life? I hope so!

In the life of Israel Jerusalem held a special spot (Ps 87). When someone was born there it held special significance. Even Israel’s enemies at times acknowledged the special place of Jerusalem (v4). I have several places that hold special significance in my spiritual life. Maastricht Holland, Oberusel Germany, Allison United Methodist Church, Baghdad International Airport. Each hosted an event at the LORD’s invitation where I encountered Christ in a new way. Each brought death for me and life in Christ. Each involved more surrender and more filling. I am open to more encounters.

Sometimes I wish the Psalmists had written down the music they sang with the psalms that they wrote. I want to hear their rendition Psalm 117. This two verse psalm keeps me focused. Everyone praise Him because of his faithful love toward us. It is a simple message. Let’s do it.

Do enjoy praising God? We should (Ps 147:1)! The writer lists some things that he sees that give him reason to praise the LORD (vv2-6 & 8-9). He delights in us when we put our hope in Him (v11). We shouldn’t trust in our own resources to live our lives. No earthly entity, including the government, is our source of security, though they do play a role. We are to trust in the LORD. He brings strength and peace (vv13-14).

The Twenty-Plus-Five’s

Psalm 25, 55, 85, 115, 145

Love changes things. As we think about the process of forgiveness Psalm 25:7 provides some insight. As the writer expresses his trust in the LORD (vv1-2) he also recognizes his own sinfulness (v7). He asks that the LORD would use His love as a filter when He remembers his past. All of us have things in our past, large or small, that we would not want the world to know about, that we would not want plastered on Facebook. We want a future employer, or spouse, to filter what we did in our youth, because we are different people now. Hopefully we have matured a bit! The writer wants to be taught (vv4-5) and recognizes that the LORD wants to teach (v14). He wants help with both the inner and the outer battle (vv16-19). He does not want shame to overtake him.

One of the greatest pains is when a friend betrays you. Psalm 55 records the thoughts of someone in this situation. A close friend is opposing him (vv12-14). I hear of best friends becoming business partners and then parting ways over some small matter. They lose not only the business, but their friendship as well. The turmoil expressed in this psalm, and the solution the writer seeks can speak to us today. We need to cast our cares on Him (v22), and when we do, He will sustain us. We still might lose the business and the friendship, but we will make it through.

The LORD’s work in our life is not a one-time event. We need His touch repeatedly in our lives. This is one of the messages of Psalm 85. The writer recounts past experiences before he asks for restoration again (v4). One important aspect of the LORD’s work is that righteousness is not optional (vv10-13). We can’t have restoration without right being and right living. The LORD will not bless unrighteousness. If we want the LORD’s presence and the blessings that accompany His presence, then our attitude and actions need to line up with His.

Psalm 115 gives us a good list of the things an idol is incapable of doing. To sum it up, they can do nothing. They have no power in and of themselves. The only power they have is the power we give them. For some of us our past has become an idol. We give it power to rule us now, yielding to its messages, cowering before the images and experiences. The antidote to this idolatry is found in verses 9-11. We are to trust in the LORD. This can be a very difficult task. We get wired by the past experiences in order to protect ourselves from harm. This wiring does not immediately get redone when we start of walk of faith. It takes trust and receipt of safety before the wires get rerouted. Trust the LORD.

One of the responsibilities that must be upheld is that of telling the next generation of the LORD’s work in our lives (Ps 145:4-7). Perhaps it is because we have allowed the culture to influence our statement of the Truth in a culture that labels this profession as “intolerant”. But we need to express the LORD’s gracious and compassionate nature (v8). Our culture does not need to hear condemnation of particular sins, but of the abounding grace and changing power of our Great God. They need to see the difference in our lives. If we are not different, the hypocrisy shouts louder than our bumper stickers. We need to live it so that our lives don’t block the Light of the Gospel!