1 To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
This is one of the many psalms attributed to David that begins with a cry for mercy and help. What patterns do you notice in David's life from the first few verses of these examples of other Davidic Psalms: Psalm 4 / 5 / 6 / 13 / 20 / 22?
As you consider David's cry in verses 1-2, how would you describe his emotional condition?
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.
What does David consider as evil? What makes this such a terrible thing?
If David were to request punishment like this in our culture today, how would our society react?
6 Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. NIV
What happened in verse 6? What gives David the confidence that this is true?
Scan back through this psalm looking for the personal descriptive titles that David gives to the Lord. What reassurance do these personal titles give to David?
Considering all the times that David cried out to the Lord, how do you think David get to a place in his life where he believes verses 8-9 are true?
::::: EQUIPPING CHALLENGE :::::
What steps could you take today to strengthen your belief in the truths of verses 8-9?
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