April 28, 2022 - Psalms 11-17

David is struggling. It seems to him as if God has forgotten him. He is sorrowful, and his enemy exalts over him. Nevertheless, he testifies: “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (13:5,6). I’m always moved by the acknowledgment of God’s goodness by a person who is suffering. It’s as if the person has experienced God’s goodness so regularly and in all sorts of situations that he knows, he just knows, that God will be good to him again.

And from Psalm 17. David finds himself surrounded by enemies who are always pursuing him. Not only that, but his enemies, the wicked, are prospering even as he is under duress. He closes with these words: “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” (Ps 17:15). Whatever happens. Whatever others do or think. To look into the face of God and be satisfied! Now, that's joy and peace and contentment! And, then, we might think of corporate trust and hope, that is, the hope that we, not only as individuals, but as a church have. He has dealt bountifully with us his people. We are satisfied in him.

The Church shall never perish.

Her dear Lord to defend,

to guide, sustain, and cherish,

is with her to the end.

Tho’ there be those that hate her

and strive to see her fail,

against both foe and traitor

she ever shall prevail. -- S. J. Stone (1866)