1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him."
Think about a time when you felt everything was against you. What emotions and thoughts did you have?
This psalm was written by King David regarding the time when his son Absalom rebelled against him. Knowing what you do about David, explore what he must be feeling in verses 1-2:
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Again, David's faith rises through difficult circumstances. What would your life look like if God was a shield around you?
What action does David take in verses 3-4? What would that look like in your life?
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
Notice the progression of David's thoughts in verses 5-6 compared with verses 1-2. How do you explain David's dramatic change in attitude? Is David manic? Is he confused? Is a naive? Is he full of faith?
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.NIV
Consider that Absalom is the one orchestrating the rebellion against David. How do you feel about David's words in verses 7-8? Do you have any problem with him praying this way: Why or Why not?
In terms of your own relationship with God, what could you learn from David that you need to take away from this study today?
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