February 18, 2015 – Wednesday

Start Time: 6:23 AM

End Time:  7:24 AM

Title: Of David. 

Scripture: Psalm 35:1 – 28

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ This chapter was dramatic - what I meant by that is, it's very emotional for David.  Just look at the first 3 verses he wrote, he said, contend Lord with those who contend with me, fight against those who fight against me.  Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.  Brandish speak and javelin against those who pursue me.  Say to me, "I am your salvation." - Wow!  David was pleading for God to fight for him and for God to tell him personally (this could be literal or not), HE is his salvation!  How many of us ask God to fight for us?  Most of the time, we make assumptions that God will automatically do it because He is our God and yes, God is our protector and He will keep us safe. But sometimes, there's no harm in asking God to fight for us.  In fact we should do this often especially when we are struggling or in distress.  God said, ask and it shall be given.  So let's ask him to fight for us!

From verses 4 - 8, David again spoken what he would want to happen to his enemies yet again, the reverence is there.  It all starts with "May" - not telling God what He needs to do, but telling God what David wants but in the end it will be God's will and not David's. 

In verse 9 - 10, David told God what his actions will be when God saves and delivers him.  This is more on his reaction when God delivers him rather than when God does what he asked of Him.  Let's look at the intention of David.  Yes, he wants his enemies shut down and gone but in the end, he said in verse 10, "Who is like you Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."  - Clearly, David's intention is to be amazed of what God will do in saving him from his enemies.  David considered himself poor and needy.  This is how he sees himself in his troubles - again emphasizing on his need for a savior.  Question, do we emphasize on our need for Jesus!  Most of the time, we pray for solutions to our problems but here we learn from David, that in all his troubles, he always seek or ask for his NEED of the Lord and not his need for a solution to his problem.  He was focused on his need of God not answers to his prayers or questions.  Wow!  What an amazing revelation!  Praise God!

In verses 11 - 16, David illustrated what his enemies are doing to him.  But there's one verse that I want us to focus on, David said in verse 13, "Yet when they were ill, i put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.  When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning as though for my friend of brother."  Here David referred to his enemies...when his enemies were ill, he prays for them and if his prayers were unanswered, he went on mourning as if he was mourning for a friend or a brother.  Now, that's amazing Grace and love of God manifesting in David's life, right?  Have we considered David's action and understood the value of what he does for his enemies.  He prays deliverance from his enemies and wants them gone yet when his enemies were ill, he prays for them.  Isn't it weird in any ways we look at it?  But clearly, David was portraying the amazing love of God to us - His amazing Grace bestowed upon us!  Amazing!  I am speechless with this knowledge.  May I be able to do the same; I know it is hard and knowing myself Lord, it will be struggle for me but I know You also and I know nothing is impossible to You!  Amen!

David then surrendered everything to God.  In verses 22, he said "Lord, You have seen this; do not be silent.  Do not be far from me Lord."  David now, pleading God to wake up and fight and vindicate him in God's righteousness. And in the end, his prayer for his enemies, resulted to them declaring "The Lord will be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."  Wow!  Who among us prays for our enemies?  Well, David did and though he asked God to destroy his enemies' evil plans, in the end, David's core intention is for them to declare God's faithfulness to His servant.  So David's prayer is for his enemies to realize that God delights in the well-being of his servant.  Thus, David's tongue will proclaim God's righteousness and will praise Him all day long!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, amazing Father and King!  Thank You for a wonderful treasure of truth that You revealed to me today.  I am amazed that each day You show me new secrets that I can share, that shows who You are and just leading me to draw more to You.  Lord thank You for helping me realizes one of the important lessons of prayer.  I am guilty of praying to You and seeking only for answers to my problems or solutions to my troubles.  But today, You showed me why David is the man after You own heart.  Because David prayed and asked more of His great need for You rather than his need for answers to his prayers.  He sought for more of You rather than solution to his troubles.  May I apply it in my prayer life as well.  Lord help me as I am weak when it comes to application of Your truth but I know that with You by my side each day, I can work it out because I am more than a conqueror in You.  Also, Lord, help me to practice praying for my enemies like David, who in the end sought for them to see Your faithfulness to us, Your servant.  May I develop the same practice in my prayer life too.  In Jesus' name, Amen!