9 Confuse them, Lord, and frustrate their plans,
for I see violence and conflict in the city.
10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
11 Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.
12 It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God. NLT
After reading verses 9-11, describe the setting of the city where the writer of this psalm, David, lives?
Does this sound anything like anywhere you have lived? What examples do you have?
Do you think David is responding over-emotionally to the condition of the culture around him? Why or why not?
Look at verses 12-14. Surprisingly, who is it that is causing the city, and David, the most trouble?
::::: APPLICATION CHALLENGE :::::
One of the most difficult things in life is when one of your most trusted friends turns away from God, from you, and chooses instead to live selfishly and destructively. With this in mind, think about the application to these two questions:
1. How does David choose to handle his disappointment in this psalm?
2. What does David's honesty reveal to you about how we can pray to God.
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